There’s a language barrier

The majority of people in the tourist business can communicate in English, while practically everyone else can't. Learn a few basic Spanish words and acquire as much information from the hotel receptionist as possible. The language barrier should not be too difficult to overcome with a little patience and good humor.

Bolivia's constitution of 2009 declared Spanish and 36 indigenous languages to be official languages. Previously, the country's official languages were merely Spanish, Aymara, and Quechua. Many Indians speak or comprehend Spanish, especially in cities, market towns, and new colonies.

The number of Roman Catholics has gradually dropped, although they still make up more than three-quarters of the population. Bolivia's ecclesiastical hierarchy is led by a primate cardinalship based in Sucre. Since the 1940s, the Roman Catholic Church has expanded its role from virtually entirely ceremonial to include social services, the news media, and education. Various Protestant faiths (particularly Evangelical churches) saw increased membership in the late twentieth century, as did the numbers of Bahs and Mormons. Bolivia has a small Jewish population.