Tucked between five other South American countries, Bolivia is a landlocked, developing, Spanish-speaking democracy. The population is multiethnic with thirty-seven official languages: thirty-four indigenous languages, Quecha, Aymara, and Spanish. The country broke from Spanish rule in 1825 and is named for Simon Bolivar.

Bolivia is one of the most remote countries in the Americas and still mostly unexplored by tourists. The people here are friendly and welcoming. If you speak some Spanish and have a sense of adventure, you should be able to explore the out of the way destinations throughout the provinces. Many of the destinations not listed in the guidebooks are Bolivia’s most exciting.

The North Yungas Road, also known as Camino de la Muerte meaning Road of Death, was named the world’s most dangerous road by the Inter-American Development Bank. The road winds from the city of La Paz to Coroico, a town in the Amazon. The single lane road allows traffic in both directions and runs along steep hillsides and sudden drop-offs. Over two hundred people are killed on the North Yungas Road every year, yet it remains a popular thrill. If you venture along the Road of Death, you’ll likely encounter many mountain bikers making the journey from La Paz to the Amazon.

Thrill-seeking hikers and volcano enthusiasts enjoy hiking the Cordillera Occidental volcano cones. Bolivia’s highest peak, Sajama, is among these volcanic cones. The climate here is extremely cold and you’ll hike these cones n the snow much of the year. Licanabur, the world’s most active volcano, straddles the border between Bolivia and Chile.

From the Uyuni salt flats to the Amazon Basin, Bolivia is paradise for nature lovers (as long as you’re not looking for an ocean or sandy beach). The Salar de Uyuni, located in southwest Bolivia, is the world’s largest salt flat, aka a dried out remnant of a salt lake. The flat is home to some wildlife like the James Flamingo and the Culpeo (a species of wild dog), but doesn’t support much life. Cacti are the primary form of vegetation. Despite its remote location, there are many hotels in the area so you could spend a few days exploring the flat.

The Amazon Basin could not me more different from the Salar de Uyuni. The basin is densely forested and supports abundant wildlife. The ecotourism industry is growing quickly in and around Parque Nacional Madidi, a popular entry point to the Amazon in Bolivia. Many companies offer ecotours and there are several ecolodges in the area with goals ranging from protection of the region to active conservation efforts.

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