BOLIVIA

This small land-locked South American nation has a surprise at every turn.

Although it has its fair share of stereotypes on the traveller circuit - ‘cheapness’, cholitas and chaotic transport systems - it is actually very difficult to capture Bolivia's essence. It is confounding that the mesmeric Salt Flats of Uyuni, the lush green national parks of Santa Cruz, the jungle heat of the Amazon, the soothing blues of Lake Titicaca and the snowcapped peaks encasing La Paz all belong under the same flag.

Although still one of the poorest nations in the continent, there have been notable development in the last decade: the indigenous majority have been given a voice and a place in society, education has improved, poverty decreased and former President Morales put the country on the political map for reasons both positive and negative.

However, the deep scars of colonial rule are still all too evident in many facets of daily life.

For every traveller, Bolivia will open your eyes to so much beauty and diversity - in landscapes, in people, in culture. It will however also make you question much of what you previously knew of this part of the world.

And that is, after all, what travel should be about.