Bolivia ATM Travel Guide
ATMs in Bolivia don’t usually pose any challenges for travelers as all sizeable towns have cajeros automáticos (ATMs). Whilst ATMs are slowly arriving in smaller places they are not often from any major bank networks and they frequently reject foreign cards…. or even worse, retain them.
We’ve heard of problems in places like Uyuni and Tupiza, where it is not uncommon for ATMs to run out of cash or not be working. Also many travelers get caught out arriving in Uyuni for a Salt Flats Tour and have trouble withdrawing money for the entrance fee.
If there are no ATMs close by or the ATMs in Bolivia are not working with your card, check back here for our guide below about how to send yourself money online and pick it up at an authorized local cash pick up point.
It is a very similar process to buying something on the internet with your debit card and is probably the quickest way to send yourself money online to Bolivia.
There’s also currently a promo code so you pay NO FEE on your first money transfer. What’s more, it’s convenient, safe and cheaper than paying high ATM withdrawal fees allowing you to transfer more than the maximum ATM limit.
Bolivia ATM Fees & General Information
Most ATMs in Bolivia don’t charge for withdrawing, though you will probably get charged a fee by your own bank. The currency conversion rate is not always the best and the money lost in the exchange can really add up.
Having a TransferWise MasterCard can help reduce your home bank fees and gives a great exchange rate on purchases.
Withdrawal limits depend on the bank, but tend to range from 1500bs to 6500bs, with 3500-4000 being the average maximum withdrawal per transaction.
The best banks to try are BNB, BCP, BMSC and Banco Union.
VISA cards are the most widely accepted though MasterCard is increasing in coverage. American Express is rarely accepted anywhere.
Check out our Travel Money Tips for more general information covering pre-trip planning, fees, scams, skimmers and general safety.
Getting Cash Without Using The ATMs In Bolivia:
– Send Money To Bolivia & Pick It Up Locally
With so many overseas workers sending money home to their families, there are lots of local cash pick up points to collect these funds.
In a similar way, you can use your ATM card (debit/credit) or bank details to securely send yourself funds online through a reputable International money transfer service that has a partnership with a local cash pick-up point.
Check to see if there is a local authorized cash pick-up point where you are. Click HERE for a list of locations.
In Bolivia, this is any branch of the BTS network:
- Banco Mercantil Bolivia
- Ganadero Bolivia
- More Money Transfers
- Banco Bisa Bolivia
If there’s a branch locally, then follow the step-by-step guide below.
– Step By Step Guide…incl fee free promo code
Note: The process is quicker than the detailed guide suggests. It is currently possible to send from 50 countries, however, Israel and a few others are not yet included due to local government policies
- To begin, click World Remit LTD
(IMPORTANT: If you don’t see ‘Bolivia’ in the Choose a Country To Send To list, this is because you must first choose which overseas country to send money from. The “Send From” option can be found at the top of the page on PC/Laptop. On mobile it is the last option in the drop down menu at the top of the page represented by the 3 horizontal lines) - Once You have chosen ‘Bolivia’ as the Country To Send To, click “Get Started”
- On the next page make sure the Cash Pickup tab is ticked and click “Continue”
- On the next page, where it says “Select a cash pickup payout network” choose the local pick up point you identified to be convenient in the previous section.
- Enter the amount to send in your currency or receive in USD. The exchange rate & fee (which you can remove with a promo code later) will automatically show. Once you’re happy click “Continue”. You are then prompted to register / create an account.
There is no need for a referral code on this page as you will apply your fee-free promo code on the payment page as you process your money transfer. - Once registered you will input details of who you are sending the money to, so for the recipient, put yourself (as your name appears on your Passport) and use the address of your current accommodation. You will also be required to provide a local mobile number, however if you don’t have one, people have successfully used all zeros, or asked their accommodation to use their number. For the sending reason, select “Sending Funds To Self”.
- When it comes to payment details, it is important to make sure your name and address match the name on your Debit card and the billing address is used. Don’t forget to use the promotion code “FREE” (without quotes) on the payment page to get your first transfer FEE-FREE!
If your card payment fails for any reason, select the Sofort option and pay using your online banking log-in details. - Almost instantly you will receive a welcome email (don’t worry if this does not arrive) and a confirmation email of your transfer informing you to wait for a further email. In most cases this takes 10-30 minutes (longer if paying via bank details & not debit card or your financial situation is complicated). The final email will say whether identity / regulatory checks have been completed and inform you if your transfer is available to pick up. Note: Sometimes further information may be required from you before they can process the transfer in order to comply with regulatory requirements, however this is unlikely in most cases.
- Once complete just go to the pickup point you chose, show your Passport and quote “BTS” and the 11-digit reference number to collect your money
We update this guide every month or so, however, if you have any feedback to help keep this guide up-to-date or make it more comprehensive and easier for others to follow, please Message us on Facebook
Sending Money To A Bank Account Instead
You can also use the above method to quickly transfer money to an overseas bank account, perhaps to pay for your accommodation or an activity. The promo code above for NO FEES on your first money transfer also applies for these transactions.
Click HERE for this service.
IMPORTANT: If you don’t see ‘Bolivia’ in the Choose a Country To Send To list, this is because you must first choose which overseas country to send money from. The “Send From” option can be found at the top of the page on PC/Laptop. On mobile it is the last option in the drop down menu at the top of the page represented by the 3 horizontal lines.
Once You have chosen ‘Bolivia’ as the Country To Send To, click “Get Started”
On the next page make sure the ‘Bank Transfer’ tab is ticked, click “Continue” and proceed with your transfer. Don’t forget to use the promotion code “FREE” (without quotes) on the payment page to get your first transfer FEE-FREE!
For more information visit this FAQs section.
Wise, formerly TransferWise is another service that also offers bank transfers. If you are new to the service, and follow THIS LINK, you will automatically pay NO FEES on your first transfer of up to £500 (or the equivalent amount in any other currency).
Arguably the best thing about them is that they give you the mid-market rate on the currency exchange, so it’s much cheaper than a traditional bank to bank wire transfer. You won’t need any SWIFT or IBAN numbers, just the name of the account holder, their account number, the bank name and branch location.
Useful Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivia
Here are two useful links to find the nearest ATMs in Bolivia : Visa / MasterCard