Making phone calls in Bolivia

Thomas_Holding

My phone company has roaming in most countries but not Bolivia. Any ideas on how to make phone calls there without it costing an arm and a leg?  Like many Latin American countries whatsapp is the main way to communicate.

Mark_d

Airalo are quite popular:
https://www.airalo.com/

DullGreyGuy

Thomas_Holding said:

My phone company has roaming in most countries but not Bolivia. Any ideas on how to make phone calls there without it costing an arm and a leg?  Like many Latin American countries whatsapp is the main way to communicate.

The use wifi hotspots and WhatsApp?

Alternatively use wifi hotspots and a VOIP provider to call regular lines, will still be considered international but much cheaper than roaming costs. 

Third option is to get an secondary sim... it could be one of the "international" types that are data only for being able to do the above without hotspots or it could be a local sim in Bolivia, Entel, Tigo and Viva are the main operators

Airalo recommended above is a "travel" SIM card so data only. 

vacheron

If your phone is relatively modern purchase a regional Bolivia (or worldwide) data e-SIM and add it to your phone. 

Activate it when in flight and de-activate your UK SIM.  You won't be able to make regular calls or texts, but whatsapp will be fine. 

My wife did this moving through 2 exotic countries and they worked perfectly and only cost a few £ each.

Thomas_Holding

DullGreyGuy said:

Thomas_Holding said:

My phone company has roaming in most countries but not Bolivia. Any ideas on how to make phone calls there without it costing an arm and a leg?  Like many Latin American countries whatsapp is the main way to communicate.

The use wifi hotspots and WhatsApp?

Alternatively use wifi hotspots and a VOIP provider to call regular lines, will still be considered international but much cheaper than roaming costs. 

Third option is to get an secondary sim... it could be one of the "international" types that are data only for being able to do the above without hotspots or it could be a local sim in Bolivia, Entel, Tigo and Viva are the main operators

Airalo recommended above is a "travel" SIM card so data only. 

I was worried about places where there is no wifi. I once got lost in the countryside in South America and was very glad that I could use contact people without fear of a big bill.

jbrassy

When you say you want to make calls in Bolivia, do you mean calls back to the UK, or do you mean make calls to other people in Bolivia? Either way, you have options.

1 - buy a local (physical) Bolivian SIM card. This website provides a guide on local SIM cards in Bolivia: https://abrokenbackpack.com/bolivia-sim-cards/ 

2 - buy an esim for Bolivia before you leave the UK. This page sets out a number of the top suppliers: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/cheap-roaming-calls/#furtherafield

In both cases, you can use your mobile data or WiFi to make phone calls back to the UK via WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can use an app called Rebtel (www.rebtel.com) to make cheap calls to the UK or to Bolivian numbers.

The main benefit of a local physical SIM card is that you can ring Bolivian numbers without having to use Rebtel. 

Hope that helps.

DullGreyGuy

Thomas_Holding said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Thomas_Holding said:

My phone company has roaming in most countries but not Bolivia. Any ideas on how to make phone calls there without it costing an arm and a leg?  Like many Latin American countries whatsapp is the main way to communicate.

The use wifi hotspots and WhatsApp?

Alternatively use wifi hotspots and a VOIP provider to call regular lines, will still be considered international but much cheaper than roaming costs. 

Third option is to get an secondary sim... it could be one of the "international" types that are data only for being able to do the above without hotspots or it could be a local sim in Bolivia, Entel, Tigo and Viva are the main operators

Airalo recommended above is a "travel" SIM card so data only. 

I was worried about places where there is no wifi. I once got lost in the countryside in South America and was very glad that I could use contact people without fear of a big bill.

Then it depends if you are happy with WhatsApp/VOIP only or want local calls... if its the later you get a sim when in the country, if its the former you either get a data only "travel" esim like the brand recommended or a local sim. 

Local sims are typically a little cheaper but it depends how long you are going for etc if it's worth the time/effort for the cost saving.

531063

Viber out   

Thomas_Holding

jbrassy said:

When you say you want to make calls in Bolivia, do you mean calls back to the UK, or do you mean make calls to other people in Bolivia? Either way, you have options.

1 - buy a local (physical) Bolivian SIM card. This website provides a guide on local SIM cards in Bolivia: https://abrokenbackpack.com/bolivia-sim-cards/ 

2 - buy an esim for Bolivia before you leave the UK. This page sets out a number of the top suppliers: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/cheap-roaming-calls/#furtherafield

In both cases, you can use your mobile data or WiFi to make phone calls back to the UK via WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can use an app called Rebtel (www.rebtel.com) to make cheap calls to the UK or to Bolivian numbers.

The main benefit of a local physical SIM card is that you can ring Bolivian numbers without having to use Rebtel. 

Hope that helps.

I meant calls to the UK and use data in Bolivia for whatsapp. Sorry I should have been clearer.

jbrassy

Thomas_Holding said:

jbrassy said:

When you say you want to make calls in Bolivia, do you mean calls back to the UK, or do you mean make calls to other people in Bolivia? Either way, you have options.

1 - buy a local (physical) Bolivian SIM card. This website provides a guide on local SIM cards in Bolivia: https://abrokenbackpack.com/bolivia-sim-cards/ 

2 - buy an esim for Bolivia before you leave the UK. This page sets out a number of the top suppliers: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/cheap-roaming-calls/#furtherafield

In both cases, you can use your mobile data or WiFi to make phone calls back to the UK via WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can use an app called Rebtel (www.rebtel.com) to make cheap calls to the UK or to Bolivian numbers.

The main benefit of a local physical SIM card is that you can ring Bolivian numbers without having to use Rebtel. 

Hope that helps.

I meant calls to the UK and use data in Bolivia for whatsapp. Sorry I should have been clearer.

In that case, you can either buy an esim or a local SIM and use data to make Whatsapp calls.

Thomas_Holding

I should have said this at the beginning but my phone is a Galaxy A9(2018) presumably that will use an esim?