Linden, Guyana

Capital City

With a population of just 28,674, Linden is a small, bauxite-mining town in Guyana that feels like a world away from the bright lights of the capital Georgetown. The nationalization of the industry in the 1970s has led to a persistent bureaucracy that residents describe as a "headache." And while the surrounding nature is touted as an eco-tourist draw, the occasional sinking of transport boats on the Demerara River is a sobering reminder of the risks. Linden is a no-frills outpost best suited for those drawn to a rugged, industrial lifestyle over cosmopolitan amenities.