Villamontes, Bolivia

Life in Villamontes is no picnic. With a population of just 39,800, this remote Bolivian outpost in the Chaco region is far from the idyllic small-town existence many seek. The main economic activities are livestock, beekeeping, and fishing - hardly glamorous. And the climate is punishing, with the city holding the record for Bolivia's hottest temperature at a scorching 46.7°C.

On the plus side, the oil and gas industry has brought some economic opportunities in recent decades. But for most, the bureaucratic headaches and day-to-day grind of living in an isolated frontier town will be a persistent challenge. This is a place for the hardy and adventurous, not the faint of heart.