5 comments about Footprint South American Handbook 2007: 83rd Edition (Footprint South American Handbook).

1. Simply excellent! Not only for backpackers but for everyone who need detailed information on travelling in South America. What a pity there is no German edition of that book.



2. I am a budget backpacker. I owned and used the 2003 S.A. edition three years ago and must say that the 2007 S.A. edition is not as budget friendly when it comes to accommodations. I am in South America for 5 months and left the 2003 edition at home thinking that the 2007 edition would have the same listings along with new listings. Not so. For example, one of my favorite budget hostels in Argentina that still exists and was once in the book is no longer in it. When I asked the hostel why they are not in the 2007 Footprint book they said that one has to pay several hundred dollars to be in it these days. And that's just to have a few sentences about the place. I have just about found each city's budget accommodations (i.e. youth hostels) on the internet during this trip because the 2007 Footprint just doesn't cut it in this department.
   
   Otherwise, the book does have good information in other areas. But I don't know if I'd be carrying this thick book all over the place for 5 months if I had known about its lack of budget accommodations listings.



3. This Footprint guide definitely compares to Lonely Planet. It is laid-out very well and easy to follow. The only thing I miss is the actual prices for accomodations. Even though they change quickly, it is a better way to make comparisons.



4. This item was never delivered so I did not have a chance to review it.



5. This is still the best, esp for all you boomer hippies who hiked the Inca Trail in the '60's and '70's...

1 comments about El Salvador Map by ITMB.

1. I have just returned from a trip to El Salvador and this map
   was extremely helpful. (El Salvador: International Travel Maps)
   It contains names of small cities as well as the larger,
   well- known places. As we traveled we could easily locate the
   major roads between departments. When it was necessary to use
   winding rural dirt roads the assistance of local drivers was required.

No comments about Cuzco & the Inca Heartland, 4th: Tread Your Own Path (Footprint - Travel Guides).

4 comments about Explore the Inca Trail (Rucksack Readers).

1. When I was young, I wanted to do all sorts of mad things - trek across the Sahara desert, climb in the Himalayas, go gliding, and so on - and if I'd heard of the Inca Trail at that time, happily hike along it. Now I am older and wiser, and realise that I shall never be able to do any of this. And I am older and wiser enough to realise that anybody else who tries to do this kind of thing is fairly foolish.

   A couple of years ago, my wife and I, taking a grand holiday from Britain, spent part of the time - ten days - in the Inca peaks of Peru. Each day this involved ridiculously strenuous activities - spending hours in the hot sun, climbing hundreds of metres almost vertically along nearly invisible goat tracks, and realising how foolish we were by seeing nobody but our guide the whole time. And then we would burst up into some splendid Inca edifice, towering above the terraces - and find that we were not alone: in every Inca ruin are two or three urchins running gaily around in the thin atmosphere, never panting at all, and taking time off only to try to sell us cold drinks and souvenirs.

   We learned our lesson. We made our pilgrimage to Machu Picchu the easy way: first on the tourist train (yes, the one with a necessary oxygen supply by each seat) and then on the bus up the hair pin hillside to the settlement itself. And there, what did we find? Two or three dozen tourists scrambling gaily around in the thin atmosphere while wearing great heavy kit bags, never panting at all, and looking far fresher than us, although they had arrived along the Inca trail. Mad, all mad - and some of them were older than us!

   Books like this are absolutely wonderful for armchair trail-blazers like me. On the first level, I am able to see what I missed. (Actually all I missed was the aching joints; we were able to enjoy pretty well all the rest - "there is nowhere on earth where you will experience such a gratifying combination of stunning scenery, physical challenge and spectacular plant life... arguably the most photogenic ruins on the planet.") On a higher level, an hour or two with this book would allow me to be able to sparkle at any dinner party by describing my adventures on the Inca trail. Higher still, with little more study, I am sure I could persuade a real Inca trail hiker that I had followed any of the three main walking routes to those splendid ruins.

   All that's because this is no mere guide book: sure, it provides plenty of well written text and many superb illustrations (frightening mountain scenes, many Inca structures, and loads of wildlife - from condors and guanacos to marvellous tiny plants) to describe so much of that wonderful Andean wilderness. But it does a great deal more: here you find full details of every kilometre of each of those three routes, a wealth of health and safety information, even Spanish and local vocabulary. Arguably this is an encouraging book: "This stiff climb will provide the most serious test of your fitness and acclimatisation so far." "Just plod on steadily and you will make good progress." "The campsite here tends to be busy, and once it had a bad reputation for theft."
   Without doubt, you have to be mad to set out on such walks as these - but it would be truly insane to do them without this excellent book in your bag.




2. Again the Ruc Sack reader team comes up with another quality guide to a magnificent area of the world. For anyone planning to visit the Inca Trails then this guide should be your first purchase. It contains all you need to know about preparing for the trail, getting there, any equipment needed, recommended tour operators, detailed maps, useful websites plus day-by-day information on the 3 main routes (short, medium and long). In short, an essential guide to read when looking for information on the Inca Trails.



3. EXPLORE THE INCA TRAIL is an experience in itself. This is a spiral bound book with foldout maps and charts, stunning photography, medical advice, altitude profiles, and even a bit of Inca history. I'm not sure if I will ever make it to Machu Picchu, but Rucksack Readers' EXPLORE THE INCA TRAIL is certainly the next best thing. (Did you know that no one really knows the true name of these ruins? "Machu Picchu" is Quechua for "old peak." Did you know that Quechua is spoken by over 10 million Peruvians, making it the largest living indigenous language in the Americas? I didn't know this until I read it in EXPLORE THE INCA TRAIL.) I enjoyed this book so much that I took it to work with me one day and showed it to a co-worker who is from Peru. He said this book made him homesick. Eventually, EXPLORE THE INCA TRAIL even made it into my boss's hands, who borrowed it overnight. This was one well-loved, popular book that made for a great conversation piece!

   As I hint at in the beginning of this review, what I found most interesting about EXPLORE THE INCA TRAIL is the respect it pays to the indigenous group who still speaks the official Incan language of Quechua. I have always been fascinated by the topic of South America's relationship with its indigenous cultures and how these cultures fused with the Hispanic culture imposed from Spain. My main focus of study in this theme has been the life of Eva Peron ("Evita"), the former first lady of Argentina. Some scholars say that one reason Evita was so popular with Argentina's poor masses was because she had a degree of indigenous Argentine blood. Robert D. Crassweller writes in PERON AND THE ENIGMAS OF ARGENTINA that Evita's brief career was so successful because "she was so profoundly of the ethos.... Like Peron, she was wholly indigenous in origin and formation [page 248]." EXPLORE THE INCA TRAIL describes the fall of the Inca Empire, and describes how the Inca king Atahualpa was betrayed and deceived by the Spaniards. I learned in this book that Atahualpa was murdered on July 26, 1533; eerily, Eva Peron would die of cancer exactly 419 years later, on July 26, 1952. After sharing this bit of information with my co-worker from Peru, I learned something more unusual: he celebrates his birthday on July 26th.

   Needless to say, I highly recommend EXPLORE THE INCA TRAIL.




4. Explore the Inca Trail is a guide detailing two interconnected long distance walking trails (the Mollepata Trail and the Classic Trail) leading to Machu Picchu. This guide is set out so that walkers may join these trails at various stops along the usual train route. This aspect of the book enables participants to walk the trail and still adhere to their time and ability requirements.
   
   The Inca Civilization was an advanced civilization that thrived in what is now modern Peru until it was conquered by the Spaniards in the late 1500s. This amazing civilization was responsible for some of the most amazing sculptures, textiles, metalwork, and architecture that the world has ever seen.
   
   Machu Picchu is the remnants of a breathtaking Inca site hidden in the Andean Mountains. This former royal estate contains over 200 residences, shops, and temples and probably housed between 750 and 1250 people. These buildings feature unique trapezoidal windows and earthquake proof stone building foundations.
   
   The Mollepata Trail leads from Mollepata to Wayllabamba following the existing Inca trail. This trail features three access points along the main road to Wayllabamba. If this trail is completed as a whole, the journey takes the walker three days. Highlights along this trail include gorgeous mountain views and ample wildlife.
   
   The Classic Trails leads from Chilca through Wayllabamba to Machu Picchu. Those participants that walk the Mollepata Trail will connect with the Classic Trail at Wayllabamba. The Classic Trial contains three access points along the train route. This journey takes the walker three or four days depending upon his or her access point. The Classic Trial features many archaeological sites including the Sayaqmarka ruins, the Runkuraqay ruins, the Winaywayna ruins, and the remnants of Machi Picchu.
   
   For those wanting a short walk, there is a Short Trail leading from Chachabamba to Machu Picchu. This journey takes about 4-6 hours to traverse.
   
   Explore the Inca Trail outlines not only the background of Inca and the various stops along the various parts of the walking trails (including full color maps) but also details various long walking and high altitude hiking fundamentals. These details include what types of equipment the participant should bring to complete the walk and how long the various sections of the journey will take. There are also helpful tips especially for novices about daily mileage, feet, weight, and the right gear.

1 comments about Costa Rica Travel Atlas (Globetrotter Travel Atlas).

1. I liked this book as it breaks down maps for different regions in Costa Rica.
   It also contains lots of pictures which helped us decide exactly what we wanted to do while visiting.

1 comments about Moon Chile: Including Easter Island (Moon Handbooks).

1. I just got home a few days ago from my Chile, Patagonia and Peru jaunt this year. This book was all I expected it to be. Even with our fast sinking Dollar the rates listed were very close to actual and Mr Bernhardson's insights and recommendations were reliable as usual.

5 comments about Insight Guide Amazon Wildlife (Insight Guides Amazon Wildlife).

1. After living on the Rio Negro for a month near Manaus, constructing a jungle garden with the local Caboclos, I figured I wanted a book with more information on the Amazon than the "Insight Guide to Brazil". Finally the book arrived and I was displeased greatly. For one thing, the first 160 pages are about Birds, reptiles and mamals, which is only covered with 5 pages each. It lists the animals scientific and vague little descriptions, totally useless info. only you're an Entomologist or Herpologist,etc. However if you really are a scientist, you wouldn't be looking at this book, but something more in depth than what this book covers. AND, I don't even understand why they bothered to include the animals they did, you're NEVER going to see them!! And if you do see those animals, you pudgy old tourists will most likely be with a Guide who will explain it better than this book. The only cool little reviews worth reading are Endangered Animals, Life in a Jungle Village, and Amazonian Indians.

   And as far as places, that was the big disapointment. I thought it would list more museums or sites in Manaus which I could see, HOWEVER, The Insight Guide to Brasil lists MORE than this Amazon book, why they did that is beyond me. So in sum, if you want in-depth info on birds and mamals, there are far better books, or even old National Geographics(which you can buy here at Amazon.com). And if you want a bigger list of museums, aquariums, sanctuaries in whatever country you're at(Colombia, Peru, Brasil), buy the Insight Guide FOR that country.

   I ONLY would recomend flipping through this at the book store to read the sections I listed above or seeing some photos, definitly not worth paying $... Hope you found this useful, although cynical, it's the truth.




2. I have relied on Insight Guides many times in the past on foreign travel, including recently to Peru and the Amazon. I found these guides to be complete, reliable and generally very informative. I was disappointed in the Amazon Wildlife Insight Guide in that it is not organized in any useful way and definitely not complete, especially as far as the Amazon flora is concerned.



3. I was disappointed in this book. It has absolutely beautiful pictures, and is worth thumbing through just for that. The writing is very uneven, even amateurish in places, and much in need of editing. Insight Guide Amazon Wildlife seems to have been written by a committee that never agreed on who the target audience would be. It oversimplifies in places, and provides useless detail in others (e.g. paragraph-long lists of scientific names of species). To be sure, there is much useful information in the book, but no real story line. I learned things, but got no perspective.



4. This book is very interesting in the choice of animals it makes and has interesting facts about the Amazon and its species. However, its proposition to be a full guide is too ambitious and cannot be achieved in so short a space.
   
   Some of the most significant deficiencies relate to the flora, which is only sparsely described. It is not too helpful in identifying species, especially given the abundance of the region.
   
   I recommend this guide to an amateur who is interesting in identifying a few species, especially of fauna, who is not too particular about identifying specific ones. It is full of interesting facts that a first time visitor would certainly enjoy.



5. I got this book and enjoyed very much. We can see many unusual kind of animals and amazon bird. There are good color and beatiful pictures!!

3 comments about The Hotel Book: Great Escapes South America.

1. Los mejores hoteles no-urbanos de sudamerica. Interesante para decoradores, diseñadores y arquitectos, como tambien para viajeros en busca de reconditos destinos. Buenisimas fotografias y excelente edicion.



2. This is a good book to have if you are planing to take a vacation to South America. We bought it because of the great photos of Explora hotels in Chile where we enjoyed a great vacation and were not able to take as good photos of the hotels.
   Most other Taschen books are also worth having.



3. Great pictures and an abundance of natural materials - lovely - pity it dosen't cover more countries though and Bolivia is a bit disapointing with only one salt hotel

4 comments about Best Backroads of Florida: The Heartland, Vol. 1.

1. We recently used this terrific book in exploring some wonderful and little used roads in Pasco County. It's great to have direction to unique Florida locales that aren't centered around Disney World or the beach.



2. Our family just spent a weekend following the trails of this book. It was so interesting and fun to read along the way. It's great to learn more about Florida -- especially how life was before a/c and the Disney era. Bravo!



3. We would like to take mini vacations on Florida's backroads. In reading this book, I can see that it will make planning our trips much easier.



4. What a great guidebook this is to the back roads and the stories that await. Douglas Waitley has presented the Center of Florida in such a way that even those who have lived in these parts for years will find new places worth exploring.
   
   Waitley is an advocate of getting off the interstates as much as possible, which is harder to do in Florida than most places since there simply aren't as many back roads as in other states that have had a couple of centuries more of transportation and travel. Then again, there is plenty to explore if you are willing to slow down and see what is around the next bend.
   
   And around the next bend are places with exotic names like Chassahowitzka Swamp and Lacoochee, Micanopy, Mascotte, Okahumpka, Yalaha, Lake Beauclair and Hontoon Island. In these pages, Calvin Coolidge rubs shoulders with Elvis Presley and you will find everything from horse country and swimming holes to missionaries and the Honky Tonk Freeway.
   
   The guidebook takes you on consecutive journeys of under 50 to about 125 miles each, and there is a lot of history and scenery and lore packed in to each of the tours. With Waitley we travel to places where Desoto wandered, to the dens of alligators and thieves, to early settlements that were so close knit ethnically that when the young moved away they became virtual ghost towns, and more.
   
   We find out about J C Penney's lost utopia and Ma Barker's last stand. We hear about buried and yet to be found treasure and the best places to shop for antiques. Want to see the manatee or a 3000-year old tree? Waitley can get you there. The maps and directions are easy as can be. Suggestions for enjoying nature and for stopping for a meal are included in each of the tours.
   
   The book includes lots of good black and white photos taken by the author on his rambles and travels. The people he met populate the text and make the region come alive for the reader.
   
   David Waitley loves Florida and it shows. By the time you read this book, you will have fallen in love with it, too; with all of its surprise and mystery, its local color and eccentricity. A perfect guidebook for being on the back roads, it is also a great armchair traveler's companion.

4 comments about Belize Map by ITMB (International Travel Maps).

1. I just returned from driving thru Belize for 7 days and this map was indispensable. We put over 400 miles on our car and never got lost. It was pretty current with the highway system (such that it is) in Belize and it held up pretty good. I would only question the use of the term "main road" vs "secondary road" and "seasonal road" as most other roads other than highway are dirt roads. And all the dirt roads looked seasonal.



2. I lived in Belize for six years, and carried this map most of the time. I was always sorry I didn't have it at my fingertips, particularly when flying over the cayes, or driving someplace new. There are plenty of road signs in Belize, but you need THIS MAP in order to really understand the layout.
   
   sr. ric



3. This is a great map. It is very detailed, and doesn't fold out too big. It lists all the roads both major and minor, very good if you intend to rent a car.



4. Good map....plenty of detail, good if you just enjoy maps....necessary if you plan to visit.
   
   Expect the traditional folding and paper quality........still a good buy.