Quick Facts
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Duration
10 hours 30 minutes -
Rating
-
Experience
wineries, waterfalls, hiking -
Best Price
USD $ 30
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Maximum comfort or class
Good -
Departures
2 departures daily -
Recommended by
68 travelers
Price may fluctuate due to seasonal demand and other market-driven and regulatory events.
A Guide to the bus journey from Sucre to Tarija
For bus trips in the medium-length range, about a full day on the bus, this is one that I remember more than most. It’s a splendid bus route that takes you from the constitutional capital of Bolivia through breathtaking highlands all the way to the gorgeous wine country of Tarija.
But before you leave Sucre going south, take a day trip east to what I think is Bolivia's best traditional market town, Tarabuco. On your way there, make sure to stop and walk with the dinosaurs at Cal Orcko, which contains over 5,000 tracks of 294 species of these ancient beasts.
Going southward from Sucre, just before you get to Tupiza, you might be tempted to do as I did, which was to just get off the bus and do some hiking around the picturesque Laguna Kharachi Orcko. If you pass it by, and then regret it, you can also get off in Tupiza where you'll find lots of outfitters to take you horseback riding or mountain biking through the area’s canyons and valleys.
By this time you do get into the Tupiza area, you will be thoroughly convinced you are on the set of an old western cowboy movie, and so it shouldn't surprise you that your destination Tarija is the rodeo home of Bolivia! It is also the wine capital, and also the flower capital! How about doing them all? Get a bottle of locally produced wine and a bouquet of flowers and take yourself out to the rodeo!
To get started, you’ll need to reserve your tickets by clicking the Reserve Now button above.
But if you’re wanting to get some more information to plan out your epic journey to Tarija safe and sound, read on and I’ll fill you in on all the details.
How are the buses in Bolivia?
Even though it is rich in natural resources, Bolivia is the second poorest country in South America (after Suriname). Therefore you shouldn’t expect to see the same level of luxury or pampering when it comes to transportation that you might experience in neighboring Argentina or Brazil.
That said, Bolivia is still a very large country in which a lot of people travel long distances by bus. This helps create a demand for coaches that are decent and well-maintained, if not opulently furnished. All coaches have cushioned seats and reclining seats, and the longer you travel (like from Sucre to Tarija), then you will get to be on a bus with seats that recline even more and often with two decks.
Long-distance buses (which are the only type we promote on AndesTransit) usually don’t stop between cities, as that kind of thing is left for municipal or intra-provincial buses that are more used for getting between villages. Even so, you will be stopping usually once for a necessary rest break, to use sanitized restrooms, stretch your legs, and grab a quick hot meal or packaged snack before getting back on the road again.
How long is the bus ride from Sucre to Tarija?
Expect the bus ride from Sucre to Tarija to take you between 10 and 11 hours. Most of this you won’t notice because the only buses that make the route depart at 19:30 (7:30 pm), so you’ll be catching most of the scenery outside your window in the dusk and dawn light, and the rest you’ll be sleeping.
The major intersecting towns you’ll be going through are Padcoyo (which has a loop road that goes east up into the mountains before coming back down and rejoining the highway at El Rosario); and El Puente (which is where you would jump off if for some reason you wanted to abandon going to Tarija and go west to Tupiza instead).
Aside from that, you’ll arrive at Tarija early the next morning, fresh to take on the town’s sights, sounds, and aromas.
How much is the bus fare from Sucre to Tarija?
The bus ticket from Sucre to Tarija will cost you between $30 and $32 USD, with the cheaper one actually the shorter trip by a half hour. The fare goes up on weekends and holidays, but only by a small amount. The price goes down on occasion when the exchange rate lessens the value of the Bolivian peso or in the low season when tourists are creating less demand for seats.
Are the bus schedules reliable?
Yes, this route from Sucre to Tarija rarely changes its departure times and is rarely delayed or canceled. Nonetheless, you should book online in advance to avoid showing up only to find the bus was canceled. At AndesTransit you will find a professional travel team that speaks English and Spanish fluently, and we work with downstream providers directly to be made aware of any changes based on road conditions, fleet repair, or other potential disruptions so we can notify you too.
