Why Does Bolivia Have Two Capitals? A Short Quirky Tale

Combination of City Images of Bolivian Capitals La Paz and Sucre

Most countries have one capital. Bolivia? Nah, they went for two – Sucre and La Paz. So why does Bolivia have two capitals I hear you ask?

I’ve been to both and they could not be more different. This led to me asking questions and poking my beaky nose where it didn’t belong, turns out there’s a cool story behind it.

I’ll keep it short and sweet!

Sucre: The Original Capital

Sucre is Bolivia’s constitutional capital. It’s where independence was declared in 1825 & where the early government lived. Whitewashed buildings, colonial charm, proper capital vibes. But over time, power started to shift.

To give you an idea, here’s a photo I took of the city with the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the background. If you’re visiting and want to know opening times etc, the link will have you covered!

Boy Walks In Road with Cathedral in Background in Bolivia Capital Sucre — *Boy wanders the street in Sucre, Bolivia*

La Paz: The Capital That Took Over

By the late 1800s, La Paz had become Bolivia’s economic powerhouse – thanks to mining in the west. In 1898, the government moved up there. These days, La Paz holds the executive & legislative branches, while Sucre keeps the judiciary.

La Paz is also home to endless adventures such as Huayna Potosi and the famous Death Road.

Here’s another pic I snapped so you can really see the contrast between the two! A lot of the city features colour and my experience was of a pleasant chaos, compared to the relaxed, slower life in Sucre.

Colourful Umbrellas Hanging in the Street in Bolivia Capital La Paz — *Famous Umbrella Street in La Paz, Bolivia*

So Why Two Capitals?

It was a compromise. Sucre kept its symbolic role, La Paz took on the admin work. So now Bolivia has two capitals – one official, one practical.

What Bolivia doesn’t just have two of however is regional dishes of which there are plenty!

Some Quick Facts to Enrich Your Pub Quiz Knowledge

La Paz is the highest capital city in the world (3,640m)
Sucre is where Bolivia’s Supreme Court still sits
Most Bolivians are fine with the split – it just works. I made sure to ask a couple locals in both cities while I was there and the general attitude was that it just was the way things are

Final thoughts

So, why does Bolivia have two capitals? Short answer: history, pride & a bit of politics. Works for them – and now you’ve got a cracking trivia fact in your pocket.

If this hasn’t sated your appetite for Bolivian info, take a look at the best things to do I’ve compiled in my Exploring Bolivia Guide.

Any questions? Make sure to drop them in the comment section below and I’ll do my best to get back to you. And as always, Happy Travels!