Bolivia is my favorite South American country to visit, as you are struck immediately with visuals you’re not as likely to see elsewhere. It’s got a wide variety of rugged natural beauty, it’s affordable, it’s far less touristy than Peru but, mostly, it just carries its own distinct charm that’s hard to explain.  It’s a great destination for adventure seekers and photography enthusiasts and it’s also a prime destination for volunteering.

Top sights include fascinating Lake Titicaca, charming Sucre, the Potosi silver mines, high altitude La Paz and, of course, the spectacular Salt Flats of Uyuni. You could easily spend over a month taking your time getting to know the many different corners of Bolivia and its wide variety of climates and topography but it takes less than two weeks if you just want to blaze through the greatest hits. With one more week, you could also hop over to Peru to visit Arequipa, Colca Canyon, and incredible Machu Picchu.