3 Days / 2 Nights
Besides being of historical interest, this is also an important cultural center with colonial and textile museums, as well as one of the first universities in America, the University of San Francisco Javier, which is older than Harvard, e.g.. The rich textile traditions (weavings) of this area, centered around Tarabuco, are another very popular attraction.
The lovely subtropical weather enhances Sucre´s special ambiance for international tourists. Days are sunny with bright blue skies and the nights are filled with stars.
Potosi: Located at nearly 13,100 ft (2,550 m) and only 3 hours from Sucre, this city is one of the highest in the world. Potosí´s fame comes from centuries ago, when it supplied extraordinary quantities of silver to Spain. This metal was extracted from thousands of mineshafts in "Cerro Rico" (Rich Mountain) and processed in hundreds of smelters. In fact, you can still visit a working mine where conditions have not changed in centuries.
During the 16th Century, the city had over 160,000 inhabitants, approximately 10 times more people than New York at that time. Some of the richest people in the world may have lived here. You can still see many examples of the gothic and baroque architecture from this era. The city of Potosí was the largest silver producer in the world until Bolivian independence in 1825, when its population decreased to 9,000 inhabitants. World demand for tin created a second boom by about 1880, which lasted until the mid-1960s. Today the city has a much lower population than three centuries ago, but mining is still its main industry. The most important building in Potosí is The Royal Mint House, one of two built to mint the silver coins used by the colonial Spanish empire. This impressive mint operated until 1953 and can look back on 400 years of continuous coinage. There are other important buildings open to visitors, including the Santa Teresa Convent (still occupied), the San Francisco Monastery, and the Potosí Cathedral.
Day 1 - La
Paz - Sucre
Transfer from your hotel to the airport. Early morning flight to Sucre.
Transfer to the hotel. Sucre is the most beautiful city in Bolivia, and
has many attractions. One of them is the Recoleta Convent, which also
offers a great view of Sucre from the hills around the city. Later, you
will visit The House of Liberty where Bolivia's Act of Independence was
signed by Simón Bolivar in 1825, creating a free republic. Lunch. Afternoon:
a visit to the Colonial Museum to learn about Bolivia´s fascinating colonial
history. The museum occupies a large house built in the 16th Century,
and preserves a valuable collection of antiques, paintings, and other
artifacts. Among other attractions are the main square, the Cathedral,
the former Legislative House, and the Congress. You can also view Bolivia's
best examples of indigenous textile art (weavings) at the ASUR museum,
a unique and colorful exhibit. Dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2 - Sucre
- Potosí - Sucre
Breakfast. Morning bus trip (about three hours) to Potosí. This part of
the tour will take you from the warm Andean subtropical valleys where
Sucre is nestled to the high puna grasslands and the Altiplano at over
13,000 ft. Arrival in Potosí, a city founded during the 16th Century,
due to the extraordinary amount of silver found in the nearby Cerro Rico,
which supported the Spanish economy and its dominance for over 2 centuries.
The city is considered a World Heritage Site with its narrow streets and
mix of baroque, gothic and indigenous architecture - all evidence of what
was once the largest and richest city in the Americas. A visit to the
impressive Royal Mint House is a must; this monument preserves 400 years
of history. Other attractions are the Santa Teresa Convent, the main Cathedral
and churches, smelters, and Cerro Rico´s mineshafts. Trip back to Sucre
before sunset. Arrival in Sucre, dinner and overnight in hotel.
Early breakfast and visit to the dinosaur tracks near Sucre. Transfer to Sucre´s airport to take a morning flight to La Paz. Transfer to your hotel.