Sucre and the surrounding area are famous for handicrafts. If you happen to be in town on a Sunday and you're looking for handicrafts, you should head to the market in Tarabuco (about 56km/35 miles from Sucre). Here, you will find thousands of different textiles, hats, gloves, bags, and other hand-woven goodies. The market is one of the best in Bolivia. On Sunday mornings, buses leave from Sucre for Tarabuco from 7 to 9am at the corner of Avenida de la Américas and Manco Capac. The 1 1/2-hour ride costs 15Bs ($1.90) each way. Candelaria Tours, right off the central square at Audiencia 1 (tel. 0104/6461-661; www.candelariatours.com), also organizes day trips to the market and the surrounding area.
The gift shop at the Museo de Arte Indígena ASUR/Textile Museum on San Alberto 413 (near the corner of Potosí) offers the best selection of textiles and handmade crafts in Sucre. Artesanías Sucre, Calle Olañeta 42 at Plazuela Zudáñez, and Artesanías Tesoros del Inca, Calle Camargo 514, also sell local handicrafts. You will find everything under the sun at the unique Central Market on the corner of Junín and Ravelo. I recommend heading up to the second floor to try the local tojorí drink for breakfast. The drink consists of boiled corn, cinnamon, and sugar. Because of its high protein content, it's called "the cornflakes of the Andes."
Para Ti on Arenales (about 1/3 block in from the plaza) sells delicious handmade chocolate.