In Bolivia’s San Pedro Prison, you rent your cell.

They can be quite nice, if you have the money. Well-off prisoners can enjoy televisions, private bathrooms, and kitchenettes. One drug baron, Barbachoca (’Redbeard’) added a second story so that he could see the mountains - although poorer inmates often live six to a room. In your off-hours, perhaps you can play on the local football team, which is sponsored by Coca-Cola.

You can also run businesses, offering anything from photographic studios to groceries to tourism. San Pedro Prison actually become a hopping tourist destination, thanks to both its unique system, and its reputation for top-notch cocaine. In many respects, this tiny prison is no different than Bolivia at large: fueled by drugs, corruption, and a strong sense of family.

If you happen to have a family, they can live with you - they can hardly afford to live outside. Children come and go to school during the day, and are really quite safe. Like most prisons, any new inmates who have hurt or abused children are quickly killed by an angry mob. Here in San Pedro, they are often drowned in ‘the pool,’ a pit of stagnant water in the local courtyard.