Visiting Bolivian Sucre with kids is something you should do mainly because it is a very beautiful and cozy city. The city is known for its many white buildings and the center of the city is very lively. Sucre is the capital of Bolivia and the old center of Sucre is therefore on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Sucre is therefore a popular city among tourists who make a tour through Bolivia. In this blog we list the best children’s activities in Sucre.
Best travel time Sucre with kids
The best travel time to visit Sucre with kids is from May through September. During this period you have the least chance of rain. The temperature in Sucre is around 16 degrees all year round, so you don’t really have a hot summer. Because of this, especially in the evenings it can cool down quite a bit and it is important that you bring warm clothes for the kids.
The months of July and August are the busiest months in Sucre and, as a result, prices of accommodations, for example, may also rise during this period.
Transportation to and in Sucre
Sucre has an airport, so you can reach the city with your family by plane. Still, most tourists visit Sucre by bus. Luxury buses run between the major cities in Bolivia, and from La Paz you will spend 12 hours on the night bus to Sucre. With kids, of course, this is not very ideal, despite some of the buses being quite luxurious. Many buses leave in the evening and then arrive in Sucre in the morning.
From Uyuni it takes about 8 hours to reach Sucre by bus and from the city of Potosi in Bolivia it takes about 3 hours by bus to Sucre. You can usually bargain well for the prices of the bus ride, so be sure to do so.
In the city itself you can do some great walking. In addition, you can always take a cab in the center of Sucre for not too much money (do negotiate the price in advance) or go on an organized tour if you want to see something outside the city. Most families with kids do not rent a car in Sucre, as the roads in Bolivia are not of the best quality.
Of course, keep in mind that Sucre is also 2790 meters above sea level and that you should not do too many strenuous activities on the first day so that you as a family can get used to the altitude. Obviously, you don’t want the kids to suffer from altitude sickness.
Children’s activities Sucre
#1 Center of the city
The main reason families with kids visit Sucre is because of its beautiful historic downtown. This is definitely not to be missed when visiting Sucre with kids. The main square of the city is Plaza 25 de Mayo. This is also one of the most beautiful squares in South America and especially with the beautiful colonial buildings a place you should definitely visit.
In the park you have plenty of greenery, which makes it great to sit here in the shade, and it’s already fun to just look around to see how local life is going on here. In addition, there are many catering establishments here where you can go for a snack and a drink. You also have the city’s cathedral on this square that you can visit.
A 2-minute walk from Plaza 25 de Mayo is Iglesia de San Felipe de Neri, which you can visit for a small fee and whose rooftop offers stunning views of the city. Walking around the center of Sucre, you will immediately understand why the city is nicknamed the white city. If you want to get some more background of the city, there are lots of Free walking tours you can book with the family.
If you search online for Free Walking Tours Sucre, you have lots of choices of tours. On a Free Walking Tour you will be taken around the city for a few hours by an English or Spanish-speaking guide and you will tip afterwards. This tip you can then decide how much you think it’s worth. So it’s not really a free walking tour, because it’s decent to give the guide some money afterwards.
#2 Parque Cretácico
One of the most popular outings you can do in Sucre with kids is to Parque Cretácico. This park is located slightly outside the city about 25 minutes away by car from downtown. Also, a double-decker bus plastered with dino plates runs from the city center to the park. This can also be a fun mode of transportation to visit the park with kids.
A huge number of prints (5,000 of them) of dinosaurs have been found in the park and you have several hiking trails here that you can take through the park. There are also several large dinos in the park. Fun for kids of course! You also go down into a cement quarry with a guide and helmet on where you can also see prints of dinosaurs.
However, it is only several times a day (at least at noon) that you can view these prints of dino’s. Count on spending about half a day to visit this dino park.
#3 Glorieta Castle
You can also visit a castle in Sucre with kids. The Glorieta Castle is located just outside the center of Sucre about 15 minutes away by car. You can easily take a cab or minibus number 4 from the center to this castle. You can also visit this castle inside.
Just keep in mind that the online reviews are very variable and if you don’t have much time in Sucre that’s fine to skip this castle.
#4 Inca Trail
If you are traveling with older kids (kids 9 and older) you can also book a day trip to Camino del Inca and the Maragua Crater. Of course Peru is known for its famous Inca Trail near the town of Cusco, but in Bolivia you can also walk a mini Inca trail in the town of Chataquila. The trail is beautiful with big rocks through the mountains and you walk here with the family on the original roads of the Incas.
This hike takes a total of 2.5 hours and therefore this tour is not immediately suitable for families with young kids. Keep in mind that Chataquila is situated a lot higher (at 3650 meters) than Sucre (2790 meters). Make sure that your kids don’t suffer too much from the altitude.
After visiting this Inca Trail, this tour will take you by jeep to the Maragua Crater. This crater has several colorful rocks and has a special landscape. You will also go on a hike here of about 3 quarters of an hour. Afterwards you will drive back to Sucre. This day tour is a full day. For more information about this organized tour, take a look here.
#5 Tarabuco market
A market worth visiting near Sucre is the Tarabuco market. The town of Tarabuco is about a 1.5-hour drive from Sucre and on Sundays one of the most colorful markets in South America takes place here. The market is very photogenic and you can buy all kinds of things here. At many accommodations you can buy a return bus ticket to this market.
You will then be driven to the market and given some explanation of the market and a small map of the market. This is because the market extends into the various small streets of Tarabuco. The market is mainly in the morning, so head out early to visit this market from Sucre with kids.
Family-friendly restaurant Sucre
You can eat great food in Sucre with kids! You have plenty of family-friendly restaurants you can go to. We list some of these restaurants below.
Cosmo Cafe Restaurant: this restaurant is right in the center of Sucre at Plaza 25 de Mayo. You have a menu here in both Spanish and English and you have free WIFI. Especially with kids, the latter can be nice in a restaurant. You can go here for both breakfast, lunch and dinner and you also have plenty of vegetarian options.
Monterosso: This is a small Italian restaurant in Sucre. You have to ring the bell to enter and are welcomed by the Italian owner. The restaurant serves pasta and pizza. Also, the Italian desserts at this restaurant are very tasty.
Bienmesabe: this restaurant is located right in the center of Sucre and the atmosphere in the restaurant is very relaxed. You can eat different kinds of wraps here with the kids. They have several vegetarian options here and the portions you get are quite generous.
Mercado Central: If you are looking for a cheap meal in Sucre then you can eat cheaply at the central market. Especially if you eat the menu of the day, you will only spend a few euros to eat something here.
Family-friendly hotel Sucre
You can stay in Sucre with kids just fine. You have plenty of family-friendly accommodations you can book in Sucre. We list the accommodations that are best rated by families with kids. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Colors House
Mid-range accommodation: Capital Plaza Hotel
Luxury accommodation: Hotel Monasterio
For the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Sucre, take a look here.
