Bolivia SIM Card for Tourists: Prices, Registration & Where to Buy

Visitors can register a Bolivian prepaid SIM using an international passport. Entel’s fixed-data packages offer useful seven- and thirty-day options, while Tigo combines unlimited phone data with a separate hotspot allowance.

The main buying decision is how much local service you need. Local SIMs suit visitors who want a Bolivian number or substantial data allowances; Roafly offers a simpler route to travel data with installation before departure and no ID verification.

Bolivia prepaid SIM prices

Compare the package’s validity as carefully as its allowance. Entel’s 30-day option, Tigo’s eight-day offer and Viva’s fifteen-day pack cover different lengths of stay.

Package prices and allowances checked on October 28, 2026, using Entel, Tigo and Viva’s official pages. Prices and terms may change.

These are data-package prices, not complete new-SIM purchase totals. Ask for the combined cost of the SIM or starter card, your chosen package and any applicable activation or service charge before paying. Keep those items separate on the quote so you know what your initial payment buys.

The amounts are in bolivianos, written locally as Bs. Keeping the comparison in local currency also makes it easier to match the advertised price to the amount requested at the counter.

Entel, Tigo or Viva: which package fits your trip?

Entel: useful fixed-data options for a week or a longer stay

Entel is a straightforward starting point if you want a defined allowance with enough validity for your itinerary. Its MEGAS PRO packages include the two options above, available to prepaid customers.

The choice is practical:

• Seven days or less: MEGAS PRO 20 provides 6,000 MB for Bs20.

• More than a week: MEGAS PRO 50 provides 15,000 MB with 30-day validity for Bs50.

• Ordinary phone calls: Keep credit available or select a bundle that explicitly includes minutes.

The longer package avoids having your data expire halfway through a two- or three-week visit. Entel states these allowances in megabytes, so the table preserves its published figures.

You can purchase packages through Entel App or by dialling *10#. Adding credit and activating a data package are separate steps; have the assistant show you the active allowance before leaving.

Tigo: unlimited phone use with a smaller sharing allowance

Tigo’s eight-day offer costs Bs30 and includes unlimited phone data, 15 minutes and 1 GB for hotspot sharing. It is worth considering when you expect frequent internet use on your phone during a short visit.

That hotspot limit matters if you plan to connect a laptop or share with a companion. Budget shared usage against the 1 GB allowance rather than the unlimited phone-data label.

Match the eight-day expiry to your departure date. Someone staying for two weeks will need another package to cover the remaining days, so the first purchase alone is not the whole-trip budget.

Viva: a fifteen-day option for lighter use

Viva’s standard PACK 5.2 GB costs Bs30 and lasts fifteen days. Its longer validity can suit a two-week visit built around messages, navigation, bookings and occasional browsing, with larger downloads handled over accommodation Wi-Fi.

Viva also runs promotions that increase allowances on specified occasions. The comparison uses the standard 5.2 GB pack so your budget does not depend on buying during a particular promotion.

Package purchases are available through VIVA APP and the *511# menu. Ask the seller to identify the exact pack and expiry, especially if the counter is advertising a promotional version.

Register your SIM and your phone before leaving the shop

Bolivia distinguishes between the person who holds a mobile line and the owner of the device using it. Registering the SIM and registering the phone’s IMEI are separate requirements.

International passports are accepted for foreign visitors under the registration framework. Bring your passport and the unlocked phone you intend to use to an official operator shop.

Complete the purchase in this order:

1. Select a prepaid line and package. Make clear that you are visiting Bolivia and want prepaid service.

2. Register the line in your own name. Use your passport rather than accepting a line registered to someone else.

3. Have the phone’s IMEI registered. Dial *#06# to display the device identifier.

4. Activate the selected package. Ask the assistant to show its allowance and expiry.

5. Test mobile data with Wi-Fi switched off. Open a webpage or send a message before leaving.

Tigo explicitly directs foreign customers to its stores for device registration. Its online self-registration route should not be your only plan as a visitor.

Complete both registrations during the purchase rather than relying on a grace period. An unregistered device can be blocked even after the SIM initially connects.

Dual-SIM phones may display two IMEIs. Show both to the assistant and identify which SIM slot or profile you will use for the local line.

Where to buy a SIM card and add credit

Official operator shops are the most useful buying channel for visitors because the purchase and registration can be handled together. Entel calls its service centres Multicentros; Tigo and Viva also operate branded stores.

Entel’s current service-centre directory includes options along common travel routes:

• La Paz: Ayacucho, Calacoto and Cielo Mall.

• Santa Cruz: Cine Center, Ventura Mall and other city branches.

• Cochabamba: Ayacucho and América.

• Uyuni: Uyuni and Mercado Uyuni branches.

• Viru Viru International Airport: An Entel Minicentro.

Airport buying can be convenient, but arrival time matters. The Viru Viru branch is listed as operating from 03:00 to 20:00 daily, so a late flight may leave you needing another arrangement. Check the directory for your travel date rather than assuming round-the-clock service.

City stores also give you a chance to settle the registration before a longer bus journey or tour. If your itinerary moves quickly from arrival to Uyuni, make connectivity part of your first stop in town.

Understand what a top-up actually does

Adding credit gives the line a balance. Buying a data package allocates that balance to a particular allowance and validity period.

Before leaving the shop, ask the assistant to demonstrate:

• How to view your remaining data and expiry.

• How to add credit using a channel you can access.

• How to purchase another package.

• What happens when the package expires or its data runs out.

Keep your local number and purchase receipt somewhere accessible. Do not rely exclusively on a payment app that requires a Bolivian bank account you do not have.

When a Roafly eSIM is simpler

Roafly is a practical choice when you mainly need internet access and want to prepare before travelling. You can install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before departure, without visiting a local shop or replacing a physical SIM.

Bolivia plans use Tigo Bolivia, with 4G where available. They are data-only, support top-ups and require no ID verification.

Hotspot sharing uses your purchased allowance without a separate hotspot quota. That makes it easier to allocate a fixed amount of data between your phone and occasional laptop or companion use.

The smaller plans suit different schedules: 1 GB has seven-day validity, while the 3 GB and 5 GB options have thirty-day validity. Your choice should reflect how often you upload photos, make video calls or share the connection.

Compare the current Bolivia eSIM plans and select the allowance that fits your trip.

Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Roafly does not provide a Bolivian number or ordinary cellular calls and SMS; messaging and internet calls use your data allowance.

If you are still deciding between travel-eSIM packages, the best eSIM for Bolivia guide covers that comparison separately.

Prepare for gaps beyond the cities

A working connection in Uyuni town should not be treated as continuous coverage across the Salar de Uyuni or the longer lagoon routes. The same planning distinction applies when leaving other settlements for remote mountain or Amazon itineraries.

Buy enough data for your connected days, then prepare the information you need for the stretches between them:

• Download maps for the route before departure.

• Save accommodation addresses and booking confirmations.

• Keep pickup instructions and tour contacts available offline.

• Agree on meeting points before leaving town.

• Finish important uploads while you have a working connection.

Network choice and package size solve different problems. Extra gigabytes help with heavier usage; they cannot supply a signal where your route has none.

Questions about using a Bolivia SIM

Can I keep my existing WhatsApp number?

Yes. WhatsApp can continue using your existing registered number while a local SIM or Roafly eSIM supplies the internet connection. Changing the SIM used for mobile data does not require changing your WhatsApp number.

Will these packages work in Peru or Chile?

The local packages compared here are for domestic use in Bolivia. Continuing into Peru or Chile requires a separate plan or a roaming allowance that explicitly includes the next country.

Check that arrangement before crossing the border, particularly if you rely on mobile data for onward transport or accommodation details.

Can I leave my home SIM active?

With a compatible dual-SIM phone, you can keep your home line active while using the Bolivian SIM or travel eSIM for data. Select the intended data line in your settings and disable data roaming on your home line.

Calls, SMS and other activity on the home line remain subject to your home operator’s roaming terms.

Which option should you buy?

Entel’s thirty-day fixed-data package is a useful starting point for a longer visit, while Tigo’s eight-day offer suits heavier phone use and Viva provides a fifteen-day fixed allowance.

Roafly suits visitors who want travel data arranged before departure. If you need a Bolivian number, buy a local prepaid line and complete the passport and IMEI registrations during the same shop visit.

Roafly publishes this guide and offers the travel-eSIM service discussed above.