Uyuni and Tupiza, Bolivia

Hi.
Heading to Uyuni then Tupiza from Potosi, Bolivia. There are loads of ATMs in Potosi but I am not at all sure about Uyuni or Tupiza, and if no ATMs is there a Prodem or something? Can anyone shed some light on this please.
Also, info on decent places to stay (tranquilo and with reliable hot water).
Many thanks.
Mark

The following are previous reports:

ATMs in Bolivia - Uyuni, Tupiza, Villazon.

> > > Does anyone know if there is an ATM in any of the above towns. I have been told that there is not and I should get American Dollars out before leaving Salta to last untill I get to a larger Bolivian city. Is this correct or can I get Bolivianos at the border?. Also does anyone have a recommendation for a hostel in Uyuni?

Make sure you have some cash, whether it is USD of Argentine Pesos. You will be able to change your Pesos to Bolivianos at the border but after that you will need some USD as you will not be able to use your card for many things.

There is no ATM in Tupiza but we managed to get money out in Uyuni inside the bank using our bank debit card. Other than in Tupiza we had no problems finding or using ATMs in Bolivia but I definitely agree with number 1 to make sure you have some USD just in case you get stuck. There are loads of casas de cambio at the border to change pesos and USD
I cannot remember the hostel I stayed at in Uyuni but there are a few
around so you should be able to find one fairly easy.

There is an ATM in Uyuni ( pretty sure I used one there last time I was there ) but I agree you should always carry some dollars with you as things are not too reliable in Bolivia.

I do not think there is a cash machine in Uyuni, but several places to change USD cash. Same for Villazon (casa de cambio next to Bolivia immigration also changed Chilean and Peruvian). There is an ATM in La Quiaca on Argentine side in Banco Nacion that takes Visa, etc, but was not working when we tried (was Sunday though). Nothing on the border between San Pedro and Uyuni. Definitely have some USD as back up.

I used a cash machine in Uyuni in January 2007, no problems with it at all. Would still carry USD as well though. I was going the opposite direction (from Uyuni via salt flats to San Pedro) and only spent a couple of bolivianos here and there on snacks (and wine in the salt hotel we stayed in!). You will not spend a whole lot in Uyuni, because it is probably not somewhere you are going to hang around too long, so if you can get by just on dollars, that might work out just as well.

I was in Uyuni four days ago.. (April 1, 2007). There were two cash machines at least. One BCP and the other I cannot remember. However I am currently in Tupiza and there is none here. You can change travellers checks at a bad rate and dollars, euros etc. Also if you have a credit card you can get a cash advance as there is a bank but NO ATM.. If you have a debit card only.. bring cash..

Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

Thanks a lot Jorge for the information from previous posts.
Cheers

I was in Bolivia way back in September 2002 and there were no cash machines in Tupiza then.

I went to the bank and got a cash advance on my credit card, but since the machine had never been used before and the bank staff didn't know how to use it, I had to take the shiny new terminal out of its box, figure out how to connect it, then process the transaction myself. My eventual success was greeted with much amazement by the bank staff, who then gave me my cash, seemingly without fully understanding what had just happened, or how. This was pretty lucky, otherwise I might still be in Tupiza now.

Be sure to go horseriding around Tupiza - the scenery there looks more like the American Wild West than the real thing.

I was in Tupiza 5 weeks ago and don't recall seeing any ATMs.

Hi,
I was in Tupiza a couple of weeks ago and there is an ATM (shiny & new) next to a bank in the main plaza (might be Prodem) HOWEVER my friends tried using it and it didn´t accept their international cards.
Banks there will give cash advances on credit cards, but most useful is $USD and the bank or casa de cambios will change them for you.
2 or 3 ATMs in Uyuni which work fine.

Not sure if you are doing a Salar trip - but if so, I have to recommend El Grano del Oro - we were well impressed by them.