Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
The easiest way to get to Tarabuco is by charter bus (B$40 round-trip, two hours each
way) from Sucre, which leaves from outside Hostal Charcas (
Click here
)
on Ravelo
around 8:30am. Tickets must be bought in advance from bigger hotels or any travel agent.
From Tarabuco, the buses return to Sucre any time between 1pm and 3pm.
Alternatively,
micros
(B$10, two hours) leave when full from Av de las Américas in
Sucre on Sunday between 6:30am and 9:30am. Returns to Sucre leave between 11am and
3:30pm.
Candelaria
The Sunday market in Tarabuco is fairly touristy these days, so to get a better idea of the
regional culture and textiles you could visit the appealingly rustic indigenous village of
Candelaria, which produces many of the finest handweavings - blankets, rugs, ponchos
and bags - in the local style. There's a very traditional way of life here and it's far re-
moved from the bustle of Sucre or Tarabuco. The community has established a weaving
association, which owns a
museum
(admission B$5)
and textile store that explain the in-
tricate weavings with displays depicting their culture rendered in vividly colored yarns.
The store contains a large selection of the same high-quality weaving found in Sucre but
at lower prices, with 100% of the profits going back into the small fair-trade association.
Some Sucre operators (
Click here
)
run tours leaving for Candelaria on Saturday, stay-
ing the night and proceeding to Tarabuco's market on Sunday morning. Candelaria Tours (
Click here
)
runs a highly recommended excursion, overnighting in a beautiful colonial
hacienda. The weaving association can also arrange stays in private homes but this is best
arranged in advance through an agency in Sucre. Do not arrive in town without an ar-
rangement for accommodation, as there are no formal hotels.
There are buses from Sucre to Candelaria at 4pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
They are run by
Flota Charcas
and leave from the clock tower on Av Mendoza (the ring
road). Several
camiones
pass through Candelaria daily, heading for Sucre.
