Footprint Peru [Paperback]

Ben Box (Author)

Book Description

Series: Footprint Peru Handbook | Publication Date: February 10, 2005

Peru is the heart of the Andes. It is also home to the driest in the world, a thin coastal strip littered with massive ruins dating back thousands of years, and two thirds of the country is jungle. This is the only guide for free-spirited travellers who want to get beyond both the Gringo and the Inca Trails. Activity packed for thrill-seekers visiting the country, Footprint Peru takes you surfing, white-water rafting and trekking through the heart of this fascinating land. With a comprehensive background section detailing all you need to know about the ancient culture and history of Peru, this guide also takes travellers off the beaten track to find wildlife sanctuaries, the source of the Amazon, pyramids, condors and the famous Inca Trail.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Recommended without reservation." Daily Telegraph; "A fabulous resource." Conde Nast Traveler

About the Author

Ben Box has been series editor for the South American Handbook since 1989 and he has also been involved in footprint Central America & Mexico, Footprint Caribbean Islands, Footprint Peru and Footprint Cuzco & the Inca Heartland.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 639 pages
• Publisher: Footprint Handbooks; 5th edition (February 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904777198
• ISBN-13: 978-1904777199
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 4.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,266,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid and practical information, June 16, 2005

By 

Casey Allen "Geographer" (All Over The World, as time permits of course...) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Footprint Peru (Paperback)

I have used the all-encopmassing "South American Handbook" also by Footprint with great success, and this was my first attempt at a specific country guide. I was impressed with the useful and in-depth information regarding each city or town that I visited. The accommodation, food, and entertainment suggestions were spot-on and always just as it said.

The only thing lacking for me was the, um, somewhat skimpy coverage of some of the ancient sites. For example, the suggestion to take a taxi to the ruins of Tambo Machay and walking down to the city (Cuzco) was wonderful, but information pertaining to the specific sites on the way down (Tambo Machay, Puca Pucara, Quengo, and Sacsaywahyman) was restricted to a sentence (or less) each.

Low down: if you want spot-on guidebook for lodging, food, and entertainment listings, and are not as interested in the cultural sites, ruins, museums, and other things to do, this would be a perfect book. If you do want more of the ruins, cultural sites, etc., I would suggest another supplemental guide, perhaps.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best on Peru., July 3, 2005

By 

Michael White & Clara Bravo "microbewhite" (Trujillo, Peru) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Footprint Peru (Paperback)

The most experienced writers on South America produce the most complete, objective, relevant, orderly, up-to-date guide book on Peru, now also with the clearest maps.
It has more detail on areas of growing interest like El Brujo, Chachapoyas & Huamachuco, newly opened sites like Caral, & getting to them, than any competitors.
Footprint includes websites & still lists individual tour guides, while Lonely Planet includes out of date email addresses & hopes you will buy services from hotels & travel agents on their website.
Cuzco is already saturated with tourists & information, & it is time other areas of Peru be made known in this way.
It should be pointed out that Footprint has Cusco & The Inca Heartland, 3rd Edition (Footprint Cusco and the Inca Trail) by Ben Box (Paperback - May 25, 2006), to supplement the info in the Peru & South America books.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I hoped for, May 25, 2006

By 

Wonton Excess (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Footprint Peru (Paperback)

I just returned from a trip to Peru and this was about the worst guide book I have used. It provided very minimal information of the kind a traveler can use (especially for someone accustomed to the Lonely Planet series; the only reason I got this instead of LP was it was a bit newer). The maps are not very complete, the listings are even worse and there is very little info on the sights they list. Don't bother.