Book Description

Stroll through pristine cloud forests and peer into simmering volcanoes, catch the perfect turquoise wave and howl back at howler monkeys, gaze at the waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific from the top of Mt Chirripo - Costa Rica is an adventurer's dream.Packed with expert advice on making the most of your trip, our authoritative guide will help you discover your own paradise in the land of pura vida.

• GET WILD - our full-color wildlife guide gets you in touch with the swingers, the swimmers and the slitherers • GO NATURAL - an expert ecologist gives you the scoop on Costa Rica's stunning national parks in our environment chapter • TAKE IT OUTSIDE - our adventure travel chapter has you covered, from hiking and surfing to rafting and kayaking • GET AROUND - 77 user-friendly maps, more than any other guidebook to Costa Rica • REST EASY - from treehouse hammocks to luxury ecolodges, accommodations to please every style and budget ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Great Preparation for the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu
This book gives wonderful advice and preparation if you are going to hike on the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu. There is great advice for safety, route descriptions, and is best for preparation. Info is given on the history of the land, its people and culture, food, places to stay, as well as safety tips for health in the region.
However, as another reviewer said below, a professional tour guide would serve you well.
Overall a great guide for preparing to walk solo on an ancient and breathtaking trail.

Nothing can beat a tour guide
This book was good as a general introduction to the trail and to get an idea of what to expect. However, while actually in Machu Picchu, nothing can beat a tour guide. More than half the book is dedicated to the trail and preparing for the hike, so if you have done this already or you are going with a group, this entire section will not be very helpful. The remainder of the book gives an average description of the site while leaving some serious gaps. Tour guides are great in this respect. The maps of the trail itself were a bit confusing and lacked detail. I would have preferred to buy another book on the subject. However, after looking at the books both in the states and while I was in Peru, I discovered that this is the best book out there - unfortunately. So if you want advance information on the trail and the ruins before you get there (and can get yourself a tour guide), buy this book. Just don't expect much.

Invaluable companion on the Inca Trail and Cuzco/Lima
I got this book as a gift just as I was to embark on a most magical 10 day trip to Lima/Cuzco and to hike the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu from Km-82. It is a treasure. I carried it along everywhere that I went. The Lima section needs some updates (Archaeological Museum is CLOSED on Mondays!) and I wish there were more spanish to english phrases but these are nits, the history and the trail description are fantastic and that is the main intent of the book. You do not need any other book! Good show.

Beware for the updates section
I bought this book because of the maps and the information it gave as to how to be a good independent backpacker. If it were not for the hidden pages at the end of the book, I would give this book 10 stars. Hidden at the back of the book, you have an update section. This section mentions that independent backpacking is no longer allowed. The only thing usefull about the book now is its sections about lima and cuzco but if I wanted a normal guide book, I woul buy the Lonely Planet, not this one

Excellent Detailed Description of Machu Picchu!
Richard Danbury's book gives a detailed description not only of Machu Picchu and Cusco, but a host of other ruins in the area. The maps provided are detailed and allow a self-tour of each site. Reccomendations for side tours are terrific, plus he provides alternate trails to Machu Picchu for "the road less traveled". There is a brief chapter on Lima, as well as shopping and travel tips for the region.

Great book! ... Read more

Book Description

The most comprensive guide for surfers traveling to Costa Rica. Details over 70 breaks on both coasts and over 100 hotels nearest the breaks. Includes a helpful tips section including what to pack and how to pack surfboards. Many maps and helpful driving directions. A down-and-dirty backpack ready guide. If Indiana Jones surfed, this would be his guide to this most perfect of surf destinations. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

If you surf, don't even stop to think about it...just buy it
It's nearly impossible to put a price on the value of the information in this book if you surf. So at $21, it's an absolute steal.

The book is simply crammed with detailed, up to date information on where to surf, stay and eat in Costa Rica. And in a country that's tough to get around, Parise's information can save you tons of wasted travel time.

I can't recommend this book enough if you're planning a trip to Costa Rica to surf. Trust me...you'll be thankful to have this incredibly informational resource in your possession.

indispensable for the serious tico surf traveller!
it is written in common parlance, and therefore it is easy to understand. I can tell when reading this that the author speaks from experience. he mentions many things to avoid, and important handy tips that will make your surfing stay much more enjoyable. he also realizes the importance of getting as much "surf time" as possible by delineating routes that will minimize the time driving, and maximize time in the tube.
also it is written in a lighthearted fashion that reminds you that you are on a surf trip, and helps you forget the stresses of being in completely different country.
on the downside, there are a few comments in this book that are not the most considerate. for example, this book somehow assumes that the reader is a man and tackles the subjects of jock itch, balls (testicles), and lugging your girlfriend/wife around. a female friend who surfs found this aspect a tad inconsiderate. however, these trespasses are a mere annoyance, which does not discredit this from being an overall very good book.

Awesome book a must for costa rica
My hat goes off for Mike Parise, job well done. A super book for anyone wanting to ride waves. a lot of other great information as well about being able to survive in a different culture. Made my trip much more enjoyable and was a book that I picked up the first day in Costa Rica at a surf shop. Great work period.

Worth its weight in gold if you're surfing CR
If you're planning on going down to Costa Rica to surf, the only two books you need are this one (a must have to learn about all the breaks) and the Moon Handbooks: Costa Rica by Christopher P. Baker. Forget the others. I bought them and found them useless.

Don't surf CR without it
I took this book with me to Costa Rica a couple of years ago and it was worth every penny and them some. Everything including the tips on packing, where to stay, and where to surf was good, solid, useful information. The maps were a little crude, but there are driving instructions on how to get to the breaks. (To be fair, the author does not claim that this is a map book and recommends a company that specializes in road maps.) The book focuses on those issues and needs from the perspective of a traveling surfer, nothing in here about kayaking or bird watching. There are several charts, organized by location, showing dozens of places to stay with information about prices and amenities. Like most surfers, I don't like to commit to a place and time weeks in advance, so it really helps to have a handy reference to local lodging (especially in a foreign country). Given how hard it is to describe how a spot will break at all times on all tides, the description of the surf breaks was generally accurate (at least on the dozen or so spots I did visit). If you're traveling to Costa Rica to surf, take this book. ... Read more

Product Description

This comprehensive road atlas for the U.S., Canada and Mexico includes helpful travel information such as area codes, time zone maps, and U.S. and Canadian radio stations. Comes with more than 365 state, province, and county maps. 15 3/8H x 11W. ... Read more

Book Description

Fancy a fiesta?Savor sun-soaked beaches?Treasure tacos and tequila?Pack your bags and prepare to bask in the glow of vibrant Mexico!Equipped with this bestselling, opinion-packed guide, you'll follow in the footsteps of our Mexico experts through colorful Mexico City markets, across deserted Baja beaches, over Aztec and Mayan pyramids and into the soul of Mexico.

• GET AROUND - 180 detailed maps, more than any other guidebook to Mexico, plus comprehensive bus schedules • BE INSPIRED - customized itineraries and full-color highlights up front to help you plan • BECOME THE EXPERT - learn about Mexican history and cuisine from our expert contributors • REST EASY - Spanish colonial inns, luxurious Caribbean resorts and other fine spots to lay your sombrero • HABLA ESPAÑOL - handy language chapter and reviews of language schools throughout the country ... Read more

Reviews (24)

You can't go wrong with a Lonely Planet guide
I have just returned to Norway after backpacking around in Latin America for a year (of course accompanied by the Lonely Planet book). I do not claim to be an expert, but I do know what I am looking for in a travel guide.

The Mexico guide is a good, complete guide. Filled with information, history and beautiful pictures about almost every corner of this gorgeous country. Reading the whole book gives you a good update on your history and geography knowledge! (Something to do if you are trekking around by bus like I did!)

I have always been satisfied with the LP guides. The information given is good, just what you need to get around. The only negative with this book (and the reason I give it 4 and not 5 stars) is that it was completely outdated on prices etc. Another thing (that goes for most of the travel guides) is that many of the hotels that are listed in the book has gotten so much (too much?) business so that the service is down to a minimum. This we found especially in Isla Mujeres where the price was the double of what the book said, and really lousy customer service, if any.

a good guide headed south
I just got back from a month in Mexico. The book was probably quite impressive back in the early 90's. However, many of the hotels and restaurants listed in the book have gotten so much business that they have lost what good attributes they originally had. Also, many of the prices quoted in the book were way off. The book prices were frequently one-half what the concierge or waiter quoted. The peso has not changed enough for a 5 dollar hotel room to become 12 or 15. Perhaps that is the risk one finds with any guidebook.

Museum hours were consistently incorrect, especially for Mondays, weekends and evenings.

This book might keep you out of trouble, but it is not the guide for a budget traveler.

Lonely Planet is too lazy or [penny-pinching]...
Lonely Planet seems to be too lazy or [penny-pinching] to keep their guides truly updated. Oh, they may have a 2002 edition, fine, but is it truly updated? Has someone actually GONE to the hotels and checked prices? Has someone actually had a meal in the recommended restaurant in this decade and reported back? Unfortunately the answer is no.

The prices in the book are WAY off! I realize there can be some fluctuations, but I mean, we're talking 40-50% more than the books say, which leads me to believe no one from Lonely Planet has actually GONE there to ask prices in the past 2-3 years!

Also, some of their recommendations, for example in Guadalajara, for hotels are terrible. Lousy overpriced hotels. Meanwhile, I found one on my own (the Don Quixote) that was very nice, and reasonable.

I think this book is okay if you want a general idea of the places and culture and etc. of Mexico, but for specific recommendations of restaurants and hotels, it is mostly useless!

Great book... but extremely outdated.
This is a great book, don't get me wrong.
I've been living in Mexico for over 15 years and I've been using this book in all my travels ever since I got it. The problem is that this edition is from 2000, and things in Mexico change a lot. The prices are all wrong (much, much cheaper than they actually are), the directions on getting to places are outdated (there are over 1000km. of new highways and the conditions change drastically from season to season), the hours are not always right (museums, archeological sites, churches, etc.).

This book used to be a great source for the budget traveler as well as the a-little-more-money one, unfortunaltely it has not been updated in a long time. Now I use it only as a reference on interesting places and things to do wherever I may be going. If you're interested in getting "off the beaten track" this book has little to offer, it's main focus is on the "touristy" Mexico.

Lonely Planet makes great books, they just should keep them updated more frequently. Hope this helps.

Feels like an encyclopedia of practical information.
OK, you'll get tons of practical information with this one, with pages of hotels sandwitched between listings of restaurants and yellow pages of bus lines. But beyond that, this book definitely lacks depth. If you want to learn about Mexican sights and understand their historical or cultural significance, you may want to look at Bruce Whipperman's guides or Alexandra's Travelogues serie. ... Read more

Book Description

Follow an ancient footpath to the lost city of Machu Picchu.Explore a colorful crafts market.Answer the call of the wild in the lush Amazon rainforest.Peru offers inspiration from every angle.Our unbeatable guide will enable you to climb mountains, delve into canyons and get to know the essence of the Andes.

* GET READY, SET GO! - highlights, itineraries and planning sections get your adventure started
* UNDERSTAND IT ALL - expert authors provide insight into Peruvian history, culture and current events
* FIND YOUR WAY with loads of detailed maps - more than any other Peru guidebook
* TALK THE TALK get from buenos dias to hasta luego with our easy-to-use guide to Spanish, Quechua and Aymara
* REST EASY - frank, in-depth hotel and restaurant reviews eliminate the guesswork at any budget ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Another great hit by Lonely Planet
This very recent guide published by Lonely Planet in year 2000 is an indisensable and wonderful tool to take to Peru with you. As always, LP has explored the country, giving you advice on places to stay - from top 5-star hotels to low-budget accommodation - as well as restaurants, transport, etc. There is little or nothing which you won't find in this book, because this guide has it all... Including indispensable advice on local customs, how to deal with people, what to buy, etc, as well as historical, social and political overviews, all up-to-date ! A small piece of luggage, but well worth the weight and the price.

If you are going to buy one travel guide, but this Guide
If you are going to buy one travel guide for your journey to Peru, buy this book. Rachowiecki has done a superb job on collecting, organizing, and communicating both the essential and the unique about this wonderful culture.

The "Facts for the Visitors" is the best on the market, giving you all the information you need prior to leaving for Peru. The country is divided into nine regions and Lima, and the maps are much improved over the 1997 version. I used this guide for towns and places that no other guide lists and found the information to be on the money.

Rachowiecki is an avid bird watcher and inveterate traveler who has covered this country, the size of Alaska, top to bottom. His biography on Peru is excellent, and his sections on archaeology and history are succinct yet thorough. "Lonely Planet" is known for its no-nonsense advice, off-the-beaten-path guides and pertinent information on a country's culture and social, geographical, and environmental bent. This book is a solid Lonely Planet guide and can't be beat. Highly recommended.

great country, good book, watch the altitude
Peru is a remarkably interesting country. This is a pretty good guidebook. One area where the guide could be improved is advising tourists on itineraries that work up to high altitude gradually. The easiest trips to arrange go straight from Lima at sea level to sleeping in a hotel in Cusco at 11,000' above sea level. At best you won't feel good and at worst you could get acute altitude sickness. A bit of planning, however, and you can either zip straight from the airport at Cusco to Aguas Calientes below Macchu Pichu (about 8000') or work your way up to Cusco from some towns that are at 7000'. Simply by reshuffling your itinerary you can have a trip where you are feeling good and strong all the time rather than a trip where you stagger around breathlessly and suck down aspirin for the pounding headache.

Arequipa Blues!
I adored the writing style of this particular guidebook. I felt I knew the author after spending so much time reading it. Alas, the Arequipa section is outdated in the following areas: restaurants, cafes and entertainment. Establishments seem to come and go in Arequipa.

Also note that Arequipa is a region -- not merely a town. I wish the guidebook had better expressed this reality. Nearly all of the "adventure" tours lie 5-6 hours bus ride away from Arequipa. Mind you, these are Peruvian buses that tend to break down. Allow enough time to travel between Arequipa and your adventures...

lonely planet peru
My wife and i were pen pals. when i wanted to make the trek to meet her.I was nervous. This book acurately descibed all of the various aspects of the country.This book helped prepare me and also get the right hotel. I LOVE PERU. One day i want to live there. the food is fabulous.the beer especially cuzquena is the best. also drink some inca kola if you get the chance. the churchs in lima are out of this world. A must see. Breath taking. ... Read more

Book Description

In Costa Rica, it's impossible not to get caught up in the feeling of Pura Vida, 'pure life'. So whether selecting from the huge range of traditional dishes, dancing the merenge at a fiesta, or cheering a toro brava, 'fighting bull', this book will help you get into the swing.

• join in the crowd at a rodeo, street festival or salsa club
• loads of cultural & traveling tips, whether you go by bus, scooter or donkey
• sections on diving, hiking and surfing
• includes Lim n Creole, the language of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast
• music, food, shopping, art & more

Reviews (15)

Travel more intelligently with this phrasebook
I was extremely pleased to see that Lonely Planet came out with a phrasebook specific to Costa Rica. Prior to this, they (and most other guidebook companies) had only general Latin American Spanish phrasebooks. This was silly as Spanish varies considerably from country to country in Latin America. The author, Mr. Kohnstamm, does an amazing job of including the nuances of the Costa Rican dialect while offering interesting cultural insight and traveling tips. This book is perhaps a little over the head of your average tour group or package tourist. However, for those who see travel as a way or life and as an art form, this is an indispensible text. Costa Rica is a travel hot spot and sees greater numbers of foreign visitors each year. This phrasebook will help the reader to respect the local culture and conduct themselves in an efficient, responsible manner while traveling in Costa Rica. I highly recommend this phrasebook to anyone plannning to live, study or take an extended trip to Costa Rica.

in defense of criticisms
I am the author of this phrasebook and would like to respond to recent criticisms on the content of the book. Please excuse my star rating of my own text, but ... will not let you post a review without a rating. I would like to make 3 basic points.

1. This is a phrasebook for travellers, it is not the official Costa Rican Colloquial Dictionary, nor a list of idiomatic expressions. It was written to help travellers to conduct themselves in Costa Rica, not to determine every aspect of the Costa Rican dialect. Many of the more esoteric expressions that were originally included in the book were cut in order to appeal to Lonely Planet's market. Once again, this was not intended to be a dictionary for Ticos.

2. There was consultation and editorial assistance by a bilingual Costa Rican throughout the entire writing process. He is credited in the acknowledgements. Although I am not a native speaker, my experience in different parts of Latin America enables be to determine regional differences in the language.

3. This is a unique book, unlike other phrasebooks on Latin American Spanish. Perhaps if Mr. Mora were not Costa Rican, he would have the perspective to see how the Spanish in the book differs from the Spanish of other parts of Latin America and other phrasebooks. He is taking many of the vocabulary and grammar nuances for granted.

This is a phrasebook to help travellers to communicate and conduct themselves specifically in Costa Rica. If that is what you want, this book will help you in ways that other phrasebooks cannot. Thank you, Thomas

Dialogue & Dialects
This little phrasebook is invaluable because Costa Rican Spanish is dialectical! Another book I found that spoke to Costa Rica's idiosyncracies was "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," sort of a hybrid of a coffee-table book, a social/ politcial discussion and a geological history of the country in a series of essays and sidebars. It truly does lives up to it's scope of topics. Aside from geology and social history, it covers the political and economic history of the country and emphasizes its liberal reformist tradition as exceptional in Central America.A series of essays by the two authors A good read, especially while one is traveling because the 2-30 page segments stand on their own.

Buy a good bilingual dictionary instead
As a professor of Spanish I was hoping to find a good phrasebook on Costa Rican Spanish for a group of students that will be studying in San Jose next summer. I have always used Lonely Planet's guides when travelling abroad. However, I was very disappointed with this phrasebook. Beginning with the explanation of pronunciation, which is basically a guide to pronouncing Spanish with a strong American accent, the book is full of elementary mistakes regarding grammar, vocabulary and phonetics. For example, the "o" in Spanish is never pronounced as the "o" in "hot". There are similar mistakes throughout the pronunciation section. Perhaps one of the most important facts about Costa Rican Spanish is the complete absence of the subject pronoun "tu" (you) and its accompanying verb conjugations, as is the case in most of Central America, Argentina and many regions throughout Latin America. All Costa Ricans either use the more formal "usted" or the less formal "vos". You will never hear "tu tienes" (you have) in Costa Rica but rather "vos tenes". But this phrasebook claims that the "vos" forms are less common than "tu", when in fact the later doesn't even exist there. There are many more mistakes in the explanation of grammar, the subjunctive, "ser" and "estar", and others. The rest of the book is a series of phrases with the English translation. You would assume that Lonely Planet would have the resources to provide better material for travelers.

Don't leave home without it
This book was immensely helpful when myself and two other girls traveled to Costa Rica for a week and a half. You don't need to speak spanish in Costa Rica, but it's much more fun when you can immerse yourself in their culture. And the Costa Rican people are so nice and more than willing to help you learn. This phrase book was great and had all phrases under the sun that you might need. We used mine so much the binding has fallen apart. This thing went everywhere, the pool, horseback riding, whitewater rafting... and survived. The two-way dictionary was great when shopping in small markets where no english was spoken. It's very organized too. I highly recommend this book when you go to Costa Rica. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

perfect pocket knowledge!
You gotta have this little book of wildlife treasures on hand, because you will see most of these creatures if your visit is at least a week!

Another book I read before my visit was "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," one of the most imaginative travel-writing efforts I have read lately. Like an anthropolgical text with far too many tangents, it gathers the best and brightest attractions in Costa Rica to explore in essays the various themes of the country. This means that the selections are as diverse and strange as the points-of-view they represent. Standouts include "House Made of Rain" about a day in the rainforest, "Why No Empire?" explaining why the Spanish Invasion apparently skipped Costa Rica, and "Women Under Tico Paternalism." ... Read more

Book Description

This affectionate study of the Mexican temper is "one of the most charming travel books ever written." --The Atlantic Monthly

Before returning to the Old World after World War II, Sybille Bedford resolved to see something more of the New. "I had a great longing to move," she said, "to hear another language, eat new food, to be in a country with a long nasty history in the past and as little present history as possible." And so she set out for Mexico--and, incidentally, to write what Bruce Chatwin called the best travel book of the twentieth century, "a book of marvels, to be read again and again and again." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Barefoot me.
Sublime. I am profoundly uninterested in Mexico, but it charmed my socks off. Wonderfully written. Up there in the clouds with Paula Fox, William Trevor, Alice Munro. ... Read more

Book Description

This illustrated cult classic is a trip to Mexico in and of itself, complete with the flavor of the country, and its sights, sounds, and people. In addition to the basic information necessary, Carl Franz and Lorena Havens have packed the book with amusing stories and friendly guidance. The For More Information chapter is arguably the largest and most complete guide available on Mexico internet resources, book and map reviews, and other info sources for travelers. Hundreds of thousands of people who have read The People's Guide to Mexico over the past 30 years say they wouldn't travel without it. And there are lots of people who read it for sheer pleasure -- with no intention of traveling at all! "The best guidebook to adventure in the whole world." -- Harper's "If you're heading South, this book could be more valuable than a dictionary or Pepto Bismol." -- Travel Weekly "The People's Guide to Mexico has achieved mythical status." -- Outside ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A different sort of travel book
This isn't a traditional guidebook. It contains no information on specific hotels, sites to see, or things to do. It has no maps and only a few rudimentary itineraries. What it does have is a lifetime's accumulation of information, insight, and wisdom regarding the culture of Mexico. The People's Guide explains Mexicans' habits, customs, and attitudes. It also provides information and advice (specific to Mexico) about driving and other modes of travel, accommodations, health and safety strategies, shopping, and other important travel topics. While much of the information presented is targeted to the "hippies-traveling-for-months-at-a-time-out-of-the-back-of-a-van" contingent, most of it is probably invaluable to the business, or resort traveler as well. Franz's happy-go-lucky personality and heavy use of stories, anecdotes, and examples lends to both the enjoyment and understanding of the material.

The best guidebook ever!
I've been to some 30-odd countries and used stacks and stacks of guidebooks. None of them comes close to this one in terms of depth, insider info, and useful advice that will keep you out of a jam. This is probably the first guidebook I've ever kept on my nightstand and read for pleasure--it's that much fun. It's akin to swinging in a hammock, holding a cold Sol, and listening to a traveler talk for hours about the good bad and ugly in Mexico. Whether you're going to Mexico for a week (Cancun doesn't count) or are thinking of buying a house and moving there, this book is the best investment you can make.

Tim Leffel
author, The World's Cheapest Destinations

Excellent resource
The People's Guide to Mexico has gone through numerous editions, and has been in print constantly for three decades. Cult classic doesn't begin to describe this book. Although it contains typical travel guide fare, like practical information on locations to visit, currency and banking, health, and the law, interspersed are long stories and anecdotes from the authors' many years of travel and residence in Mexico. If you're looking for very specific information, like bus timetables and prices or information on specific hotels and restaurants, look elsewhere. The authors usual MO was/is to drive around Mexico and car camp, so if you are planning to camp or you don't mind blowing into town jet lagged and without reservations, you may not need to supplement this book, but most travelers would probably appreciate a little more guidance, particularly for a first time visit, or if one's Spanish is shaky (or nonexistent).

Another nice feature of this edition is that the corners of the book are rounded, not sharp, so your copy will be less likely to become dogeared after being crammed in a backpack or suitcase.

Mexico in the Midwest
There are many books on Mexico and Mexican travel. There are two books worth the weight of carrying them while traveling (or living) in Mexico. The People's Guide to Mexico is the key book on Mexican travel and culture. Harvard student written Let's Go Mexico fills in with particulars like hotel suggestions, bus schedules, and detailed travel info to sites of interest.

From as common as a day border crossing to an experience as exotic as happening into a pre-Columbian religious ritual high in the Sierra of indigenous speaking southern Mexico you can deduce enough from Franz's cultural insights to save you from being off balance. Even his cooking and recipes are on target.

With the rising Mexican population in the USA, I recommend that The People's Guide to Mexico is now useful reading for everyday life north of the border; businesspersons and politicians could benefit from reading it. The dream traveler need not dream longer. He can read Franz's book and use the insight to experience Mexican culture in almost every state in the USA.

Everyone (including Mexican Americans) traveling in Mexico for as little as a few days to those living in Mexico permanently should have a copy. I know of no other place where this much Mexican travel technique and cultural understanding is packed into one book.

Get this book and go!
The People's Guide is a pure delight, a labor of love about Mexico. It's a travel book that is actually fun to read. It's also full of useful information about just about everything; how to travel, where to stay, how to stay healthy, how to deal with the law, some basics on the language, and much more. And every bit of it feels like advice from someone who has learned it all through years of experience, some of it painful, most of it joyful.

What it is not is a book listing all the hotels, restaurants, stores, museums, and so forth. (There is a short section - The Best of Mexico - with specific suggestions, but it's just a starting point.) If your approach to travel is as footloose and unplanned as the authors, this may be the only book you need. If you like a little more structure, you will want to supplement it with traditional guidebooks for the areas you plan to visit. ... Read more

Book Description

From rugged Andean mountains and lush Amazonian jungle, to serene Pacific beaches and the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands, Ecuador offers a unique landscape for every traveler's taste.Our essential guide offers everything you'll need to play the wayfaring hero at latitude zero.

• GO WILD - insider tips on the best trekking, diving, and wildlife-watching
• BE RESPONSIBLE - detailed coverage of parks and reserves, conservation issues and ecotourism opportunities
• TRAVEL HAPPY - find the best options for accommodations, places to eat and transportation for every budget
• SPEAK UP - using our practical Spanish-language guide
• FIND YOUR WAY - with 57 detailed maps ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Pick of the litter
This book was recommended by a friend who had been to Ecuador, and for good reason. The descriptions are give just enough information without missing the key points. I tried some of the more obscure places that were recommended by the Guide and found all of them to be worth the trip. The comments were pretty good and accurate, so if the authors tell you not to miss something, don't miss it and vice versa.

The historical notes are accurate. Combine the book with a trip to the US State Department websites to get a good, rounded background.

I also visited the Galapagos, and the book was too skimpy and rudimentary. The animal pictures are fine but quite incomplete. Don't rely on this guide if you are going to the Islands.

Overall, a handy book. I read or skimmed a few other books in preparation for my trip and this one was equaly to or better than the rest.

Good Choice
A good choice for a practical guide. Information is current and accurate. Maps are great. Never got lost!

Indispensable
A true guidebook from our favorite travel publisher, we ended up using this book more for its information about Ecuador and its capital city, Quito, than we did for the information on the islands. While I doubt that anyone actually reads a travel guidebook from front to back, what we do like to do with the Lonely Planet guides is to concentrate on the two text sections called "Facts about the Country" and "Facts for the Visitor." These sections help travelers gain some insight into the place they are about to visit, including cultural clues (for example, it is generally not acceptable to wear shorts in Latin American cities, even if you are on vacation) and suggestions for places to go and things to see.

Make sure you get the most recent edition of the guidebook if you plan to use the restaurant recommendations.

Helped plan travel at El Cafecito in Quito
While I was living in Ecuador, I helped plan other people's travel experiences in Ecuador. For maps and information, this is the best book out of all that I have seen with people. The ones with the whole continent do NOT do Ecuador justice. Ecuador can take up to 1 MONTH for the BEST traveling. If you have 4 months...spend 1 in Ecuador and use this book.

Great All Around Source Book for Travel in Ecuador
If you have used some of the more popular travel guides like Frommers or Fodors, you will be pleasantly surprised by the depth and coverage of Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet guides are marketed for backpackers, but my wife and I spent two weeks traveling throughout Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, and this book served us well. We stayed in Quito in both a hotel and hostel, ate in some of the classiest restaurants and some of the best value restaurants, and traveled to several towns and cities. We had a fantastic time, due in large part to the planning we were able to conduct from this book.

For example, while on a four-day cruise of the Galapagos, we were able to use the book's Galapagos wildlife section to identify many of the birds and other animals we spotted. With full color photos and short descriptions of each species, we could catalog all of our sightings on the handy checklist provided. Given that my wife is an avid bird watcher, the book did not have the same level of detail as a standard birding guide. However, considering that this is a travel guide, we were glad that we didn't need to carry several books to identify animals, as well as find our way around some of the more obscure places in Ecuador.

Because of the tips included in the book, we enjoyed many of the nuances of the country. For instance, the author recommended that it was cheaper to rent a taxi for a day to travel to surrounding markets, then to rent a car and drive. Driving risks accidents, getting lost, and incurring costs for fuel and insurance. As a result of the author's suggestion, we split the taxi fee for the day with a couple from Venezuela and traveled to the market in Otavalo, San Antonio de Ibarra (famous for wood carvings), and another small village that sold leather. My wife and I were able to get great quality leather jackets, a woodcarving, and some tapestries as part of a wonderful day of touring the country north of Quito. We would not have had as good of an understanding for what to do and see without this book.

If traveling to Ecuador or the famous Galapagos Islands, I highly recommend Lonely Planet. The book is specifically geared toward hikers and mountain climbers, but we found it extremely useful due to its depth and richness of ideas. Well worth the money. ... Read more

Book Description

Live Better South of the Border in Mexico is as necessary for theprospective transplant to Mexico as an airline ticket, a passport, or a roadmap. And theauthor's entertaining and frank assessments will give readers the confidence to choose tomove or not to move. In addition to expert evaluations of gringo havens such as SanMiguel de Allende, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, Cuernavaca, and Baja, you'llfind information on how to work in Mexico, how to find a place to live, realistic costs forliving in paradise, banking and owning property in Mexico, medical care, telephoneand Internet access, and more! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Best of the Bunch!
I recommend "Mexico" Mike Nelson's latest edition as the best of the books now out on relocating to Mexico. His advice is clear, concise, and wide-ranging, and his writing style is engaging. In addition, for an extremely reasonable rate, Mike can be contacted via phone or email at the numbers provided in the book, and I can vouch that he gives useful, creative, and up-to-the-minute advice for those miscellaneous but nonetheless important questions that come to mind as one prepares for the move.

If you are thinking about or planning on moving to Mexico, get a copy right away!

New and updated information
I've followed Mexico Mike's travel advice for years. I know Mexico well enough myself to discern when he's right about a place I've been, so when I started thinking about retiring there, I bought the updated version. I'm fifty, I'm gay, and I'm in a 12 step program. Mike's book doesn't assume every retiree is an old white couple in bermuda shorts. Mike talks to single women, the younger person who wants to quit the rat race, and to people who want to lead an active, healthier lifestyle. AND he's added the new information about getting your car into Mexico.

Good book, not right time
Please, if you are moving to Mexico just to take advantage of cheaper costs...Reality might hit you in the face. Also, there is still a lot of prejudices against Americans. The book does a good job in describing the conditions of living and the infrastructure, but don't get too excited about actually living there and building a sustainable investment. The way the laws are set up do not favor foreigners. The best advice: stay in America

Disappointing
Unfortunately, I agree with the previous reviewers. This book is more about "Mexico Mike" than Mexico. All writer's have biases, but his obscure the facts. It sounds like he has money invested in the resort at El Paraiso. It also sounds like he is a recovering alcoholic. There is some good information in this book, but nothing that can't be found in other, better books. (People's Guide to Mexico, for instance)

50 pages of good...forget the rest
The first 50 pages were informational and well written. After that it became only a list of towns with scant information. HEAVY emphasis on AA and ALANON throughout the book. Rather assumes every visitor to Mexico is in need of an AA meeting in every town. ... Read more

Book Description

"Rio for Partiers" is tour guide to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) designed for young tourists. It outlines, in a step-by-step manner, all the must-see tours of Rio: relaxing tours (exactly where to go to unwind), adventure sports (who to contact for instructions), cultural (the essential tours) and rainy day ideas (what to do in Rio when it's raining).

We also go into detail on what every tourist must try: from snacks to tropical fruit juices, to Brazilian cuisine to local drinks.

Thirdly, we layout their night-life map, giving each day of the week the best option for: clubbing, live music, street parties or bars. Lastly, we offer dozens of tips on topics like safety, prices and how to deal with Brazilian boys and girls.

But what makes Rio for Partiers even more desirable is that it can save the tourist lots of money: we have partnered up with hotels, hostels, sports instructors, bar and restaurants to get them to offer a discount or bonus to bearers of our book: just show the book and you are automatically entitled to free drinks, discounts to daily rates and VIP entrance (no waiting in line) at the best bars and clubs.

In short, Rio for Partiers tells you everything you need to know to have a blast in Rio. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Required reading for having fun in Rio
When you read this book you feel like your own personal Brazilian friend is giving you the honest scoop on where to go and not just telling you about all the "cool" places that are filled with nothing but tourists like you. This book provides valuable information for both guys and girls, as each sex operates under different rules when in Brazil. I've traveled throughout Brazil many times, and the nuances of the social behaviors described in this guide are humorously very accurate, including its depiction of the local stereotypes.

This book understands what you're looking for as a partier, and it informs you on everything you need to know to satisfy your goals even before you look at the map to see where Brazil is. This book not only caters to the partying purist, but is also sensitive towards those seeking a cultural experience. Check out this guide, for it truly reminded me of the warmth of the Brazilian people.

This book and 7 days are all you need to live it up in Rio
I am not what you would call a party animal; even if I could be, I've never really known how. If and when I make it down to Rio, though, look out. With Rio For Partiers safely in hand, I will be both ready and prepared to live it up. Rio For Partiers is not your parents' travel guide; if you thought all travel guides are boring (hey, I thought so too), you haven't checked out this amazing guide book, written for young people by young people. Cristiano Nogueria and his team offer you the equivalent of a personal tour by one of Rio's own, telling you everything you need to know in order to safely enjoy your time in the city and leave happy knowing that you saw the real Rio and had the experience of a lifetime.

Rio For Partiers is filled with gorgeous color pictures, maps, directions, suggestions, and personal recommendations for the visiting tourist. Not only will you find out where to go, you'll learn when to get there and how to look and act once you arrive. The book is divided into a number of very useful sections. It starts with the basics: knowing what you need to bring with you, choosing the area of the city that fits your needs the best (in terms of nearby activities as well as safety), the "9 Rio Commandments," learning how to get from place to place, etc. Some parts of Rio can reportedly be on the dangerous side, so this basic information is essential in terms of formulating the perfect plan.

Next, the book covers the types of day-to-day tours available to the discerning traveler, accompanied by a suggested itinerary for a day spent in each locale. Among the sites I would especially want to see is the gigantic statue of Jesus standing high above the city. The book then takes you through all of the sports and athletic options available in Rio, and these including an amazing range of choices; you'll learn who offers the best scuba classes, where the best beaches for windsurfing are, etc. (and in a number of cases you get details all the way down to the "ask for Joe" variety). Even though you came to party, the book throws in some cultural recommendations, as well.

You'll have to eat, of course, and this book covers a wide gamut of Brazilian foods and recommended restaurants. You'll learn which foods to avoid, which ones you absolutely must try, and how much they cost; you'll even know which restaurants stand out among the rest for specific cuisine, ambience, and overall appeal. That of course leads you right into the night life of this happening town. The author describes all the different types of Brazilian music and tells you where you can find them - in many cases, you need to be at a certain place on a certain night at a certain time, and this book puts all of that pertinent information right at your fingertips. Live music, clubbing, street parties, or just plain chilling: it's all right here. The book even gives you a breakdown of the average age of the typical crowd and rates each one on approachability (thereby ensuring that swinging singles don't accidentally wind up in a crowd of couples). My favorite section of the book discusses the proper way of dealing with local men and women - here's some advice that can save you from embarrassment.

Along with all of this truly helpful information, you can also save a little money on your stay and activities, as a number of different merchants have teamed up with the folks behind Rio for Partiers to offer rebates and discounts to those carrying the vouchers this book contains. You would definitely want to carry this book with you - the front flap alone contains a helpful overview of choices, helpful words and numbers, as well as some gestures (both good and bad) you may feel compelled to employ on your own behalf at some point.

7 days, enough money to get there and back, and this book are all you need to have a week you won't forget in one of the world's most popular cities. While all the tourists around you still look lost as they begin their journeys home, you'll be ready to live this experience to the fullest degree possible within mere hours of your arrival. When you get home and friends start to ask you, "Did you do -?, you can interrupt them and say, "You'd better believe it. I didn't miss a thing, and I can't wait to go back."

Rio revealed...finally!
To me, this book is a fun key to enjoying this great city.

Quite honestly, I wish there was a handbook like this for every place on my travel checklist. Although I have been to Rio several times, this book finally peeled back the veneers and opened the hidden gems of this amazing city. I felt like a 'carioca' (a person from Rio) instead of a tourist. Prior to my latest vacation, I bought this book because I was tired of the tours and the tethered hotel life. I wanted to see more or Rio than just Corcovado and Sugar Loaf; this booked answered my needs perfectly.

The author's fun and direct style makes it easy to know what, when, where, why and how. That is, what to do (and try), when to go (which day/night - very important in Rio), where to find the best of everything (it's a huge city), why you might like a certain event/thing/etc and how to go about doing all of this. In each case, he finds a way to simplify the numerous options so you can make the best choice. What I liked best, and where most travel books fail, is how I quickly began to feel like a 'local.' Finally, I was able to enjoy Rio de Janeiro to its fullest potential. It does not disappoint.

I cannot recommend this book enough for someone that is looking to experience the 'real' Rio. You can easily read it on the plane or in hotel, but don't forget to bring it with you for all of the great discounts. Good luck in your travels!

Five Stars from BrazilMax
Finally a guidebook with attitude. Praise Exu! Indeed, the spirit of Exu, divine trickster and door opener, permeates this book. But don't look here for analysis of his place among the cornucopia of Afro-Brazilian deities. Instead author Cristiano Nogueira offers the Nine Rio Commandments. These include "Don't Argue with Cops" (they "have the IQ of a mango and the integrity of a daffodil") and "Don't Walk Around with Jewelry" ("Ladies and gentlemen! This is not your turf..."). In a market dominated by timid guidebooks written by committee, all aiming for the lowest common denominator, "Rio for Partiers" stands out for its point of view - a POV that is explicitly young and single. Key sections include "How to Deal With Brazilian Boys" ("If you are in a bar or a club, a man may even send over his friend to tell you he thinks you are cute") and "How to Deal With Brazilian Women" (the beach is one of "the worst places to meet them... they are surrounded by people they know... [They have] frequented the exact same spot their entire lives [and won't] want to ruin their reputation by seeming 'easy' to strangers"). I like the idea that the "Guide will assume you will be waking up at around 10 or 11 a.m." You might not agree with all its conclusions - Bavaria beer is highly lame - but if partying is your passion, this is the guidebook for you. Remember, the late riser gets no worms. (Bill Hinchberger is the editor of the BrazilMax website.)

The Best Investment!
Rio for Partiers was just the perfect guide to Rio's wild and crazy nightlife! Apart from your "typical" touristic clubs it provided great insight to the local nightlife scene. Without this book, which goes into the detailed explanations of what to expect and what to look for; we would have only experienced a fraction of what we did! 5 out of 5 is an understatement and the low price pays itself off easily for what you get in return! The author definetly knows what he's talking about! A definete buy and a darn good investment! Good Job! I'm thinking of going back there for vacation next year as well! ... Read more

Book Description

Covers Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, The Guianas, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Falkland Islands. Take it off for Carnaval in Rio or bundle up tight for a trek through the Andean highlands. From ancient Machu Picchu to happening Bueno Aires, dense Amazon jungles to balmy Brazilian beaches, this guidebook covers every corner of this diverse and vibrant continent.

Features include: 235 detailed, easy-to-use maps; language chapter covering Spanish, Portuguese, French and Indian tongues; seasoned advice for a safe and healthy journey; hundred of places to stay on and off the beaten path; tips for excellent eats, from pre-Columbian favorites in Ecuador to bami goreng in Suriname; AND coverage of Easter Island, the Galpagos and the Falklands. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

You can never go wrong with a Lonely Planet guide..
I have just returned to Norway after a year backpacking around in Latin America (of course accompanied by the Lonely Planet books). I do not claim to be an expert, but I know what I look for in a travel guide!

This edition of the LP South America did not disappoint me. (Please note that I used it only for Colombia, Ecuador and Perú). It is up to date on the information, and as with all the other LP books it is easy to find your way around with it. It includes maps over the big cities, good information about the hotels, restaurants, places worth visiting, and time schedules for bus, train etc.

You have to take into account that this is a guide that is meant to cover the whole South America so naturally it is not as detailed as the guides for each country separate. It is good as an overall guide if you plan to go to more than one or two countries, as you would try to cut down on the baggage you would have to carry around.

As for the prices for hotels and food, the book is not accurate.. But you cannot expect that. It is hard to keep up with all the changes, especially in the Latin American economy, where the inflation is "somewhat" higher than in the rest of the world. So, for prices, do your own research, or at least be prepared for changes! (We usually doubled the prices in the book and that gave us a good indicator of what to expect).

You will find that if you are walking around with the LP book under your arm, many of the local people will approach you and ask you if you need help. Say yes - even if you don't need help! It is a great opportunity to get in contact with the local people!

This book is a must on your travel!

A nice guide, but hampered by the region's magnitude
It is hard to concentrate so much information in a single book, covering all of South America from Colombia to Chile. Lonely Planet have tried and have done a good job, but the target was too ambitious... If you are literally running through South America with little time, and perhaps you don't want to carry the weight of too many guides, then do get this book. It is of some use, and offers interesting reading. Yet, if you plan to get to know each country more thoroughfully, you are much better off with Lonely Planet's (or other publishers') single guides on each individual country, and there are lots to choose from.

Not updated
The book wasn't updated, the bridge over Suriname river in the capital Paramaribo of Suriname wasn't mentioned instead they recommend the ferry! Good for the beginner to find a place to
stay but otherwise not so good....

Hit and Miss
Just got back from 3 months with this book in SA...

Plusses:
Great Maps...LP maps are the best guidebook maps
Lots of Choices for Hostels/Restaurants...they aren't too detailed but do typically offer a lot of places, while Let's Go will offer 4 or 5 per city.
Everyone has got it, you'll find a lot of people to hang out with when going to their recos.

Minuses:
Everyone has got it, perhaps you don't want to run into a lot of gringos.
Doesn't cover lots of small towns which are great to visit...yes of course this is a book that tries to cover a CONTINENT so it's not going to have everything, but I found Footprints SA book to be significantly more comprehensive.
A bit out of date...new one is forthcoming, I believe.

Overall I would recommend Footprint's SA Handbook instead, although the maps do leave a bit to be desired.

Unfortunate developments at LP
Unfortunately, the publisher seems to have abandoned most of their previous authors and recruited rookies with dubious qualifications and almost no experience in South America. The chapters done by the authors of their individual country guides are reasonably accurate, but the ones by new authors are appallingly bad. ... Read more

Book Description

In print since 1924, and known as the travel bible to South America, Footprint South American Handbook is the longest running travel guide in the English language. Covering the entire continent, from Colombia to the tip of Argentina, this updated guide provides the adventurous traveler with everything needed to plan a trip, including tips on how to get there, where to stay, and where to play, from little-known attractions to exciting getaways, with extensive city maps and festival guides. This guide also provides information on staying healthy and keeping in touch from Footprint's acclaimed "Responsible Travel" perspective. From the practical "traveler's tips" easily located in the margins to the highlighted "best of" selections, this handbook provides the where and how of South American culture. Special sections cover how to plan a first-time visit, avoid the crowds, and find the best festivals and adventures. Now celebrating its 81st edition, the travel guide that set the standard features a major redesign and full-color highlight maps. ... Read more

Book Description

This revised edition includes newly discovered sites. New photos and maps with full-color illustrationsof real life scences from National Geographic Magazine. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

"Don't Leave Home Without It": The Essential Guide Book
Late one July afternoon in 1982, I found myself perched on a ledge overlooking the Machu Picchu archaeological site some 500 feet below. Having probed the bushes near the site's so-called guard tower, I had found some overgrown stepping stones and had begun hiking upward. One half-buried step led to the next, and within an hour I had reached this ledge. Along the way I had discovered a remarkable semi-circular stone staircase -- and managed to avoid the bushmasters said to be slithering nearby.

As an anthropologist myself, I wish that I had had a copy of a guidebook even half as good as that authored by Ruth Wright and Alfredo Valencia Zegarra. Combining a clearly written text with intriguing photos and practical diagrams, The Machu Picchu Guidebook is the single best publication on this site that I have seen. While written primarily for the astute traveler, it will be of use to professionals as well.

My own work with indigenous water systems in places like Guyana and Indonesia led to my cursory examination in 1982 of the system at Machu Picchu. It proved fascinating, but I had little time for study. To their credit, Ruth Wright and her husband, Ken Wright (in conjunction with a number of their colleagues from the U.S. and Peru) instituted a remarkably thorough archaeological/engineering investigation of this Incan system in the 1990s. This same degree of care and attention to detail is seen in the guidebook, which had its genesis in their archaeological research.

In conclusion, it should be noted that Ruth Wright is a former chair of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of The Explorers Club. Her book brings an explorer's enthusiasm to Machu Picchu, while maintaining high standards of authorship.

Science and Architecture Book Parading as a Guide Book
Hats off to publisher Johnson Books for making this wonderful ... book available to serious travelers headed for Machu Picchu. The book is accurate and reliable besides being easy to read and understand. Wright and Valencia have provided an insight to Machu Picchu that far exceeds what the best local guides can explain and without their lore and myths aimed at foreign tourists. The 8 pages of glorious colored photographs complement the 160 black and white pictures and sketches. The fold-out colored map is a reduction of the map already hanging on the Fourth Floor of the Denver Art Museum. This book is a must for tourists, architects, engineers and archaeologists wanting to visit Machu Picchu someday. Those who have already visited the lost city of the Inca will appreciate it even more. Upon finishing the book, you will appreciate the pre-Columbian Inca people who created this masterpiece royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti.

THIS IS ONE TO BUY
I've travelled a lot, but rarely with guidebooks. It's easier to borrow them from the library, xerox the maps, and travel light. This guidebook is an exception. Its photos, maps, drawings, and diagrams are very informative as well as beautiful (rare), its explanations clear, and the understanding it gives is vital to wise use of time at a site which can be very confusing to navigate. It's NEEDED, to find your way through a very labyrinthian place. I found myself pouring over the book for hours before going to Peru, and learning more from the book and the research behind it than any of us knew was there. With it, I was able to understand a very complex site when I arrived there. Geology is a vital element in the power of this place, many of its most exciting places are hidden underneath the major temples or accessed from some remote corner, and the motivations for the very unusual siting and use of natural rock by the builders difficult to unravel. Its about the only guidebook I would recommend that people buy and travel with. Thank you, Ruth and Alfredo!

Don't plan a trip to Machu Picchu without it!!
I went to Machu Picchu for the first time last year with nothing more than a camera, an issue of the April 2002 National Geographic and "Insight Guides- Peru". I thought I had planned my trip fairly well, but felt a little disappointed with the information I had read about Machu Picchu. After exploring Machu Picchu for 2 days, I ran into several tourists who were carrying Ruth Wright's book. They ALL seemed so confident and knowledgable during their treks because of the information and map contained in the book. I then ran into one of the Wright Water Engineers who came with Ruth to Peru to do some surveys of Machu Picchu. The gentleman was nice enough to give me one of his maps (the same one contained in the book), which was to become invaluable to me during my journey. When I got home, I read the book, cover to cover and have been reliving my journey through it. DON'T PLAN A TRIP TO MACHU PICCHU WITHOUT IT!! It's like taking Ruth with you to Machu Picchu.

Reading This Book Enhanced Our Trip
University of Denver Water Law Review,
Vol. 6, Issue 1, Fall 2002 (forthcoming January 2003)
Reprinted with Permission of the Author and the Law Review

Coloradans Ken and Ruth Wright have teamed with Peruvian archeologist Alfredo Valencia to place back in working order the sixteen fountains of Machu Picchu. You can see for yourself.

The Inca were master water handlers. They chose Machu Picchu as a ceremonial center because the mountains and the river spoke to them of life-giving power. The Urubamba River far below snakes triangular around the base of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountains. A saddle between these peaks cradles the temples, rock shrines, dwelling places and agricultural terraces that dance between the clouds in early morning and emerge to sunlight by noon.

Water at the center of it all. The paleohydrologic studies of the Wrights and Valencia reveal how the Inca predicated the design and construction of Machu Picchu upon the flow of a spring. From high on the side of Machu Picchu Mountain, a canal brings water across an agricultural terrace to the first fountain just above the Temple of the Sun. From there, 16 fountains splash, spout and sing down a staircase to the Temple of the Condor.

You can see for yourself. Inside of Ruth's and Alfredo's Guidebook is a foldout archeological map of Machu Picchu. Study it. See how the Inca trail leads into the upper and lower agricultural terraces. Notice how the Inca Canal cuts across the drainage moat to bisect the western and eastern urban sectors. Spot the Sacred Rock at the start of the Huayna Picchu trail, where Quechua families still hug the visible manifestation of Pachamama, the earth mother.

Now you are ready for your self-guided tour. Just inside the entrance gate, climb to the Guardhouse. Pause to see how the water supply canal passes right by food storehouses. Cross the Inca Trail coming in from Cusco and stand beside the Guardhouse. Below you stretches the whole of this incredible cradle of civilization-lovely green of the main plaza feeding llama and alpaca; Inca stones rising on either side to form the ceremonial and residential edifices; and the crop-growing terraces on the flanks of the cradle falling away to the Urubamba River.

Step-by-step, Ruth and Alfredo talk you by the printed page through these wonders. Plan on several days. You will have the joy of misty morning and sun-streaked afternoons. The day-traintrippers will be gone. Wind through the Rock Quarry. Pause in the quiet of the Unfinished Temple. You can take the time to side hike to the Sun Gate, Machu Picchu Mountain, the Inca Drawbridge and Huayna Picchu Mountain. Talk with other visitors. The world is here for good reason.

Ruth and Alfredo immensely aid the visitor's Machu Picchu experience. They bring new information to old understandings:

"There are many different ways to experience Machu Picchu. We hope this guidebook will give you the tools to do it in your own way. In the last several decades, much has been learned about the Inca in general and Machu Picchu in particular. Since the Inca had no written language, scientists have had to 'read' their artifacts, their stones, their temples and their mummies to establish their place in history. Recent information and new analyses of earlier findings are shedding additional light on these truly remarkable people and their culture."

The Guidebook starts with an introduction to the history and topography of Machu Picchu. Chapters follow dedicated to the Guardhouse and The Terrace of the Ceremonial Rock; the Western Urban Sector; the Eastern Urban Sector; Various Sites on the Way Out; and Side Trips. Marvelous detail attends every page. The accompanying photographs are many and well shot. They draw your attention to the features described in the text.

Pay particular attention to the numerous huacas. These are the Inca sacred places, typically consisting of naturally situated or human placed rocks cut to the shape of surrounding peaks. These people loved their mountains.

Don't be afraid to make some wrong turns as you orient yourself. The structure of the Guidebook divides Machu Picchu into hemispheres. You start by going down from the Guardhouse to the Main Gate to the Temple of the Sun; then you turn laterally to the residence of the Inca and back through the Western Urban Sector up to the Rock Quarry, the Sacred Plaza and the Intiwantana. Then you proceed clockwise past the Sacred Rock and Unfinished Temple into the Eastern Urban Sector, finishing at the Temple of the Condor.

Making the walk in this way takes you away from the staircase of the 16 fountains early on. You encounter the staircase and the fountains again when you reach the Temple of the Condor much later. Sometime during your multi-day visit to Machu Picchu, you will want to follow the staircase in one continuous movement down from the Main Gate to see, feel and hear the fountains flow sinuously.

I especially like the fountains.

SIXTEEN FOUNTAINS

Down a granite staircase sixteen
Fountains carry the spring
Falling from the Sungate, high on
Machu Picchu mountain

You can hear the mountain-singing
Hands of master craftsmen
Scoring stone with hammer rock and
Praying Pachamama

To the temple of the arcing
Sun, jetting water out
When water runs for rock and men
And all is feminine. ... Read more

Product Description

The Sport Fish of the Gulf of Mexico is a must have for any angler. 200+ color illustrations of the fish you may encounter are presented in meticulous detail to help you identify that critter on the end of your line. Expert information about each species gives you a quick reference guide, specific tips, hints, biological information and covering such essentials as range, size, fishing methods and edibility. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good Book and Reference
This book is well written and nicely cross referenced. When it's not on my boat during a fishing trip, it stays in the throne room for good reading. The only complaint I have is that the author seems to think nearly every fish in the sea is tasty. Only a few of the fish in the book are labeled as "Poor" when it comes to food quality.

Best Guide To Identify Fish...
If your trying to find out what is on the end of your line... I would suggest this book. It has good illustrations of many fish and a few other interesting facts about them. It also covers the whole gulf area rather than selecting a state or two. The only draw back is it doesn't include great detail on how to catch each particular fish.

Excellent Reference Guide
This book is an excellent reference guide for identifing gulf and bay fishes, and contains very little "how-to" information. Fish are separated into families. Each fish has a detailed color illustration, common name(s), and scientific name, plus a short description of each of the following categories: physical description, range, habitat, typical sizes, food value, game quality, typical tackle and bait, and a very short description of typical fishing methods. 185 fish are pictured in all, including sharks, stingrays, baitfish, and a number of other fish that may be encountered even though they are not normally thought of as sportfish. ... Read more