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POST

The Main Post Office (ECOBOL - Correos de Bolivia ) is on the corner of  Mariscal Santa Cruz (El Prado) and Calle Oruro.

There is also a small post office service in the building of Angelico Colonial on Calle Linares 922 which provides a basic mailing service.

The Bolivian post is reliable and even though costs were increased around 30% in early 2007 it remains one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) postal services in South America. There are several different types of service available.

The main post office is open Mon–Fri 8.30am – 8pm, Sat 8.30am-6pm; Sun 9am-12pm. From 12.30 to 2.30 there tends to be less staff working due to lunch breaks and more people trying to send things …. due to lunch breaks! It is best to go early morning.

Standard Post

This is used for sending cards,letters and small parcels up to 2 kgs both within Bolivia and world wide.  It requires no form filling (except maybe a small green customs declaration slip) and you simply write the delivery address and a return address (required) on the letter/parcel, have it weighed and  purchase the required amount of stamps.

Costs depend on weight and destination. Typical costs are 7.5/9.0/10.5 Bs for a postcard or letter 20g or less (to N America/Europe/Aus & Japan) up to 204/280/420.50 Bs for a small parcel between 1 to 2kg (to N America/Europe/Aus & Japan).

Registered Post

This is the same as standard post but for the cost of 6Bs you will receive a certificate and the person receiving the item will be required to sign for it.Simply request ‘con certificada’ .If it doesn’t arrive you can claim the value of the item back , although this is a time consuming process.

Parcel Post - Economy or Air

If sending anything over 2kg in weight you will need to use the parcel post in the main post office.This is located down the stairs to the right of the main hall as you enter and is sign ‘encomiendas’. Be prepared for this to take anything from 15 mins to 1.5 hours (Depending on the amount of Israelis in front of you sending huge parcels of cloths home!). You are required to take 2 photocopies of your passport with you and the parcel must NOT be sealed as the contents need to be checked first to make sure your not sending anything forbidden.

If sending something fragile you should source a box beforehand as they charge a lot for boxes if they have any at all. For clothes and soft non fragile items you can have them sewn up securely into a strong material bag in the packing office.

When you go down the stairs you should first get two forms (CP71 & CN23) from office 9 on left hand side. You need 2 forms per parcel you wish to send. There will probably be a queue here but its OK to just slip to the front and quickly ask for forms. Now go and queue in the office signed ‘Embalajes’’ – this is where the parcels are checked and packed. Fill in the forms as best you can whilst you wait to be served. The women who work at this counter are very used to helping people through the process and although they don’t speak much english they know enough  to guide you. They will check the contents, give you address label forms to fill out and sew up the parcel into a strong bag (fee around 12Bs) for you. Once all this is completed you need to go back to the counter at office 9 to have your parcel weighed and pay the required amount. Both services are reliable the difference being sea is slow at around 4 to 8 weeks and air can arrive in as little as 10 days. If you are in no rush sea service (economico) is fine and is of course cheaper.

Economy (Sea) Costs

South America – 0 to 1kg 85Bs then 17Bs per additional kg

Central & N. America – 0 to 1kg 90Bs then 27Bs per additional kg

Europe - 0-1kg 120Bs then 30Bs per additional kg

Asia, Africa & Oceania - 0-1kg 140Bs then 56Bs per additional kg

Air Frieght Costs

South America – 0 to 1kg 100Bs then 25Bs per additional kg

Central & N. America – 0 to 1kg 155Bs then 46.5Bs per additional kg

Europe - 0-1kg 200Bs then 50Bs per additional kg

Asia, Africa & Oceania - 0-1kg 255Bs then 76.5 Bs per additional kg

EMS (Express Mail Service)

This service is used for sending cards, letters and small parcels that need to arrive quickly. This is the most expensive service and is located in the main post office up stairs to the right of the main hall as you walk in.