Insight Guide Puerto Rico (Insight Guides Puerto Rico) (Turtleback)

by Barbara Balletto (Editor) "Dazzling white-sand beaches fringed by coral reef, steamy rainforests harboring unique flora and fauna, elegant architecture, and thriving markets and malls....." (more)
Key Phrases: Muńoz Marín, karst country, cave park, Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rican (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Insight Guide Puerto Rico includes a section detailing Puerto Rico's history, 8 features covering the island's life and culture, ranging from its exuberant festivals to its carved religious figures, a region by region visitor's guide to the sights, and a comprehensive Travel Tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus 15 maps and many amazing photographs.

About the Author
Since 2000. Hammond, American Map, Langenscheidt Dictionaries, Insight Travel Guides, Delorme – the famous names in the Langenscheidt family. These represent the most authoritative, up-to-date, and extensive travel and reference products available. In January 2003, the renowned Berlitz Publishing became part of the Langenscheidt Group. The Langenscheidt Publishing Group, the premier group of map and travel companies, offers over 4,000 North American and international street maps, road maps, atlases, language-learning, bilingual dictionaries, and travel-related products covering countries, cities, and languages in every continent. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Turtleback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Insight Guides; 3 edition (December 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9812586792
• ISBN-13: 978-9812586797
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #187,513 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It is a very good illustrated guide to the island, May 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Insight Guide Puerto Rico (Paperback)

As a Puerto Rican that has literally been there and done that, I believe that this book is the best illustrated guide to the Island I have seen so far. Some descriptions, nonetheless, seem to under-rate some of the attractions, while others seem to over-simplify the process of getting there or the risks involved. In some cases I thought it was being too poetic and less realistic, and even though this is a refreshing approach to a tourist guide, more facts or useful tips would have been welcome. On a positive note, the illustrations are very beautiful and it portrays the people with respect. If I had to buy a book for a colleague or friend in the States about my country, this book would be one of my first options.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Coffee Table Travel Guide, November 18, 2006

By	S. F. Horwitz "On the Road" (Danville, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Insight Guide Puerto Rico (Insight Guides) (Paperback)

We bought the Insight Guide and were pleased by the wonderful photos and the descriptive sections that cover culture, food, activities, and regions. However, if you are looking for hard details essential to making travel plans before and during a trip, this book is totally useless. Even if other books fail to capture the flavor of Puerto Rico, they can be relied upon to locate hotels, restaurants, museums and hours etc. This is a decorative book, worth reading, but not a travel guide in the usual sense of the word. All these impressions are fresh, since we arrived home just last night. As Northern Californians who look to Hawaii and Mexico for tropical vacations, we found PR, especially the time we spent on Vieques, to be at least the equal of our usual locales, and the time on Vieques to be unmatched in terms of mile-long beaches that you have to yourself.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The guide I recommend for my travel course to P.R., January 2, 2003

By	David W. Unander "Dave Unander" (Eastern University, Phila. area, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Insight Guide Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico, 3rd ed) (Paperback)

I was a professor at the Univ. of Puerto Rico during the 1980s, and return occasionally for scientific work. I also teach a Tropical Biology course every other year that includes spring break in Puerto Rico. I've read about eight guides to Puerto Rico and nearby islands, and I think this is the best in terms of accurately reviewing history, culture, and some of the biology and geology. The photographs are extraordinary, and really capture the island in all its facets. This Guide also gives the best information about each town's history and points of interest. It probably devotes the least space to casinos and cruise ship information, but I see that as a strength. I want my students to develop some understanding of the history and culture of Puerto Rico, even though it's a biology class, and I have found the first couple chapters of the Insight Guide do a better job than any of the drier academic sources out there. If you want to buy a guide to Puerto Rico for your own enrichment, this is the one to get.