Beyond Sucre

Sucre to Potosí

Sucre's main connection with the rest of the country is along the scenic paved road to Potosí, The town holds its Feria de la Papa within the first two weeks of May with folk dances, music and costumes. There is also a good market and 6 km away there are well-preserved rock paintings at Incahuasi.

Southeast from Sucre

The main road southeast from Sucre continues unpaved past Tarabuco towards ever greener valleys and mountains that signal the proximity of the tropical eastern lowlands and El Chaco.

Monteagudo (population 27,500, altitude 1130 m), Chuquisaca's second city after Sucre, is the centre of a cattle ranching and agricultural area. This is the access to Parque Nacional Serranía del Iñao, Bolivia's newest park, created in 2004 to protect Tucumano-Boliviano and highland Chaco habitats between 600 and 2800m.

Padilla (population 12,200, altitude 2102 m), is the centre of an agricultural area producing many varieties of hot peppers and another access point to Parque Nacional Iñao. Villa Serrano (population 12,000, altitude 2170 m), is where the musician, charango designer and sculptor Mauro Núñez lived. There is a museum and a music festival is held on 28-29 December.

North from Sucre

A poor unpaved road leads northwest through mountainous country from Sucre to Oruro. It is a long, difficult trip and in the rainy season it can be impassable. Along the way, in the department of Potosí, are remote towns known for their textiles including Ravelo, Ocurí, Macha, Pocoata and the mining towns of Uncía and Llallagua.