You'll need your sunglasses in white-washed Sucre

Bolivia's wannabe capital, the low-key, white-washed city of Sucre has been recognised by UNESCO as a colonial gem.

You'll definitely need your sunglasses when wandering around the historic centre of the so-called 'La Ciudad Blanca'.

The leafy main plaza is an elegant public meeting centre and also the focus for the frequent political demonstrations that paralyze Sucre (the city is vying to be the political capital of Bolivia).

Churches, convents and museums abound, and just 7km out of town lies a viewing platform where you can feast your eyes on a glut of ancient dinosaur footprints.

Thanks to the presence of two universities, Sucre is home to a young, bubbling student population and a good bar and nightclub scene.

The numerous Indian villages and weaving centres in the nearby countryside also infuse Sucre with a rich indigenous flavour. The best place to get an education about the region's unique textiles is at the Museo Textil-Etnografico.

Numerous tour operators in Sucre offer one-day or multi-day trips to see nearby Inca trails, volcano craters, ancient rock paintings and traditional weaving villages.