Chuquisaca Department

Chuquisaca is an administrative region in central-southern Bolivia, extending from the Andes into lowland areas. The area includes ten provinces with varying landscapes, from mountain ridges to wide valleys.

The Spanish founded the current capital Sucre in 1538 near silver mines and made the region an administrative center. Later, the area became one of the important locations during South American independence movements.

The name comes from the language of the indigenous Charcas, whose descendants continue living throughout the valleys. Many communities still speak Quechua in daily life alongside Spanish.

Administration functions through a legislative assembly with representatives from all provinces, coordinating regional programs. Travelers should prepare for changing elevations and climate zones, as conditions vary considerably across provinces.

Different elevations create multiple microclimates within short distances, so subtropical fruits and Andean potatoes grow just a few kilometers apart. This variety lets residents combine very different harvests from neighboring valleys and slopes.

Location: Bolivia

Inception: January 1, 1826

Capital city: Sucre

Elevation above the sea: 2,554 m

Reference: H

Part of: South America Midwest Integrated Zone

Shares border with: Santa Cruz Department, Cochabamba Department, Potosí Department, Tarija Department, Boquerón Department

Website: https://chuquisaca.gob.bo

GPS coordinates: -20.00000,-64.41667

Latest update: December 15, 2025 00:28