Fuel Prices in Bolivia
 

Hi folks,

I received some interesting info when I was back in Bolivia a couple of weeks ago from a Bolivian. I was told that foreigners should only pay the inflated price for fuel at stations within 70km from the border. Thereafter, the national price applies to forgeiners and locals alike.

I've found a document on line which appears to be an extract from a formal Bolivian legal document, which states this (actually the distance is 50km), but it is dated 1996. There is also a more recent report on a Bolivian news website that also stipulates this. But this is info is dated.

Does anyone have any up-to-date info on this, or better still success at buying gas at the national price under these regulations?

I'm familair with the whole 'sin factura' tactic for getting cheaper fuel, so no advice on that please! In this instance I want the facts and ideally the documentation to prove it. In the mean time, I'll keep searching the web when I have more time and will post if I find anything.

Cheers!!

Paul

Bump, we are keen to know as well, another month here in Peru and we will be looking over the fence into Bolivia too.

Is the cost of fuel (especially for a motorbike, and especially compared to prices in UK, Europe and even Australia)) such a major part of your travelling budget that it would make any difference what you paid for it?

The price for foreigners is three times that of the national price - about USD1.50 (for 85 Octane at best). On my budget, travelling for a couple of years and using gas at approx 17km/l - yes, it makes a difference.

And furthermore, I hate dishonesty and being ripped off. It's not going break my bank to pay $1.50/L and I'm happy to pay if it's legit, but not if the 200% difference is going into the back pocket of the pump attendent. It's a matter of principle, just like not caving into a cop fishing for a back-hander.

Surely the money is better in the back pocket of the pump attendant or cop than the government ? It will help feed their families.

We're now getting into ethics territory!

The Bolivian government subsidises fuel heavily to help business and general day to day life in the country to run (including the lives of the pump attendant and the cops). That's why it's so cheap. As a result, the govt budget is taking a big hit. They want to raise the price of fuel to try to get the budget sorted, but every time they attempt to do so the country goes crazy - demos, strikes, etc. so they are in a difficult situation.

So as a matter of principle, I think the govt should get the money when a gringo pays, given the situation I've outlined above.

And without wishing to sound pious, in my books neediness doesn't justify dishonestly - aka theft in this case.

I'll leave it at that - I don't want to get drawn into a moral debate,I just want to know how much I should be spending on gas.

The problem I had in Bolivia wasn't about how much I paid for gas but rather getting a gas station to bother with selling me any gas. I was refused several times because the station didn't want to deal with the hassle of processing the additional charge for foreigners.

I crossed into Bolivia yesterday from Peru (near Copacabana) and I was refused gas at every gas station(4-5 different stations) along the way to La Paz.. They wouldn't even sell it to me at the foreigner 9bs/liter price.. sigh.. I hope it's not like this all over Bolivia or else I'm gonna be in trouble. I even tried the trick of offering 5bs sin factura.. no luck.

Did you try going up to the fuel pump attendant with your helmet on and asking for fuel in a plastic container ???
This worked for me every time. It's not a case of trying to fool them ( im blond with crap spanish) just not letting the cameras see its a gringo asking for fuel

I'll try that next. Thanks

Never had problems with fuel!
 

Just buy a 20 liter plastic container for 20 B and give it to a moto taxi you see everywhere and give him 100 B and he will bring you back change! worked for me everywhere and was never afraid of running out![IMG]http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/q...a/IMG_2421.jpg[/IMG]

Agreed, there is that and if they are short of gas they don;t like to sell it to foreigners either. But a handy "bidon" to walk up with works a treat.

Pretty much like that until about 90km south of La Paz last year. Hopefully you filled up in Copa and a fuel can.

All great ideas here!.........I just arrived in La Paz with a Bolivian bike, but my license plate fell off in Peru. Looking at all options now to get gas - jerry can, fake plate backed up by my real papers, and maybe even a legit replacement, but Ive heard it can be time consuming and expensive.

Oh Bolivia!
 

“No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten.”
― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

I would say Bolivia is one of my least favorite countries in South America, if it weren't also one of my favorites. Raw, amazing and out of control. The Bolivians do it their way and they don't really care if you like it. I hated trying to buy gas in Bolivia, because everything about it sucks.

Even if the distance from the border particulars were legal fact, they getting an traction with a pump jockey what really could care less for your business. Its a seller's market. Never forget that the station is going run out of gas before the next shipment arrives.

Sure it bugged me to feel like I was get ripped off every time I managed to find a pump with gas and an attendant that would fill out two receipts, and maybe manage to pocket a few coins in the process. Good for him. If that kind of petty Robin Hood thing really bothers you, go tour Sweden.

The only problem I had to get gas was when the energy was gone everywhere for half a day. Even then I could convince a truck driver who delivered gas to the nonworking station to give me 2o l directly. In teamwork with the lady of the gas-station ("no pictures") the deal was done and I had to pay about the same as the bolivians. Once more, coming back from the Death Road, I paid the bol.price. Phil uses the coca-number: when he pulls up to a gasstation he puts some coca-leaves in his mouth and asks the attendant if he also wants some. Result:ways better atmosphere and price : ).
Being stuck in Monteagudo for some days, with no ATM in sight, several people gave me free gas, money, shelter, food...incredible!!
Gotta love Bolivia : )

From Bolivia with Gas
 

Here is our experience. After a 5 hour delay with fun, friendly and helpful Bolivian officials rigging an entrance visa for me (u s citizen with DNI for permanent residence in Argentina) I had to buy a red pen to color background of 2 required photos and write myself 3 letters regarding an invitation to visit Bolivia, hotel reservations and itinerary and provide a copy of deposits into an account for the last 3 months. We also had to provide proof of moto insurance and all documentation for our 2 Argentine registered NX400s. And, of course, our yellow fever jabs doc...

Elisa who is Spanish did not require a visa and was issured a tourist card on request. I walked with a five year multiple entry visa at a cost of the standard entry fee for u s citizen of $135.00 US.

Then decided to top up tanks and paid the international tourist price approx 3X local price at the station in a city called Prof Salvador Massa where we entered Bolivia.

I vowed to pay only local price which I have done so far once inland about 100K.
No probs. we are at the former Peace Corps hostel in Santa Cruz and loving it.

Any one close. PM for a beer. Whoever said NX400s we're not overland bikes has never ridden one overland....We even found after market bash plates which we needed for Ruta 40 and off road.

Xfiltrate

TMI - too much information
 

Five hours, wow, they put you through the wringer. It could be you provided the Bolivian border officials with too much information. I guess you were hoping your Argentine permanent residence application would spare you. Bolivia and Argentina have a friendly history, but borders are about collecting fees for the homeland. Wonder how long it would have taken if you just showed your US passport and paid the $135 USD. Were you trying to get more that the standard 90 days per year visa?

What a drag that Bolivia is charging US citizens a tourist fee when entering overland. Argentina started the overland collection at the beginning of 2013.

I make it a habit to only give a border official the minimum number of documents. One time I accidentally gave too many documents and the official started studying them, until I interrupted, saying something like "oops...you don't need that one..." Giving officials more documents than they need is just opening the door to problems. Immigrations and Customs are nosy folk that love to study documents and find problems. As a duel citizen of Ireland I avoided the fees and special visa requirements several times...but do you think I pull out two passports and ask them to pick one? No way! Although I heard a story from a rider (duel citizen of US and UK) who would slap one passport down and if it raised issues he would grab it back and slap down the other one.

My motto is, "keep it simple." I have ready two small stacks, copies of the key documents: title of ownership, vehicle registration, drivers license, passport...full stop. Original license, registration, passport in a separate neat stack, and the original title in a presentation book with plastic sleeves. Officials respond well to those that are prepared. They might want to give the original title a quick look, sometimes they skip that part. Having the original title in a plastic sleeve keeps it in handy and in good shape. Like government works everywhere, they want to process the paperwork, fill out the dumb forms (paper or electronic) and get you out of their space. It helps to gently point out on the various documents the info they they need: location of the VIN on the title and/registration, license plate number, color of bike, your name (it needs to match the rest of the documents...)

In the presentation book with plastic sleeves, I have carried an International Driver Permit, once current, the second time I carried the expired one...and a yellow fever card. Glad I had the paperwork, even if it never was needed. As far as having a yellow fever card, I was bitten by a few mosquitoes here and there, so who knows. All of the papers that were given to me at a border go right into the presentation book, the one with plastic sleeves. I never lost an important scrap of paper in months and months of international travel, across dozens of borders.

Enjoy Bolivia! It is brutal and beautiful.

Perhaps if you ask your government to drop the fee when their citizens visit, they may do the same ? :-)

oh yeah
 

I totally agree that the US government has its collective head stuck were sun don't shine. On this point and many others. And US citizens that don't travel outside of the US borders typically have an inflated opinion of how their country is perceived by others. In the words of Richard Freeman (New York Times), "you gotta go to know."

Regarding dropping the reciprocal fees, there is little chance of the US taking lead. I assume the following: high fees keep poor people out of the US and give a few US citizens pause before taking their money out of the country. What is the downside from a isolationist politician's point of view?

So when I paid 2.5 times to price locals paid in Bolivia, I chalked it up to the price of adventure and kept in mind how poor the country is. Anyone that complains is really whining. The problem I had was getting gas. Pay extra? No problem here.

That was part of the fun :-)