Customer Reviews

Moon Guatemala (Moon Handbooks)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This guidebook is hands down THE best guidebook if you're planning a trip to Guatemala. On the practical side, it's surprisingly lightweight despite being almost 500 pages in length. It also features some excellent photography (by the author who is also a photographer) including a great color section with accompanying intro at the start of the book.

The author, Al Argueta, is Guatemalan-American and obviously knows Guatemala intimately. He has a good grasp on the history of Guatemala and shares his insights without sounding like a boring textbook. There are all sorts of facts and tidbits included throughout that make this guide interesting. It's also very humorous in places and you can tell he had a good time researching the topic - on which he is clearly an expert. There are some well-written sidebars, too. My favorites were on "Pollo Campero", a Guatemalan fried chicken franchise that has gone global: Be sure you check out their TV comercials when you get there - They're a kick!

The maps are straight-forward and easy to read. As with other Moon guides, place names are located directly on the maps so you don't have to go looking for a key on a separate page. The book's organization is also very well thought-out. He includes a whole section on the often overlooked park known as the Maya Biosphere Reserve with tons of information on remote Maya sites. There's also a section on the cloud forests of the Verapaz region, which I haven't seen done as well elsewhere. Guatemala's more traditional destinations are covered equally as well. The Guatemala City and Antigua restaurant reviews are alone worth the price of admission.

All in all, this is a great book that gives great options for any budget. Comparing it with the other recent Guat books, this is my top pick and I expect to see others toting it on my next visit. It's raised the bar for guidebooks on Guatemala and it was about time someone with this kind of knowledge & experience wrote such an excellent guidebook to one of my favorite countries.

Having traveled to Guatemala a few times, I considered myself to have a decent grasp of the sights. But my perspective changed as I purchased this most recent edition of Moon Guatemala. The author writes from a true insider perspective, giving insight into not only tourist sights, but also spots that are mostly known to locals. Anyone wishing to find the best food and nicest places to stay will need to purchase this book. Internet searches just don't cut it, as the hotel descriptions are often advertisements instead of reviews written from an actual critic.

The maps in this edition are very helpful. They are drawn clearly and accurately, greatly easing travel from sight to sight. The guide also contains interesting tidbits and historical facts, which are entertaining to read and also help add significance to the various destinations.

Concerning layout, it is formatted much better than any other Guatemala guidebook I have seen. Divided by various cities, the book is simple to navigate through, and points can easily be found. I really can't say enough about the quality of this book, finally a Guidebook to Guatemala done right. A must have for anyone interested in, or traveling to Guatemala.

This book turned out to be an amazing travel book. As you flip through the pages, it becomes obvious the vast insider knowledge the author has, not only from an insider's perspective but also considering the tourist's point of view. This book presents the information in a very orderly fashion; This book is a must, for anyone going to Guatemala. I would say that this book is for everyone interested in visiting this country, not just for the backpacker, but for the ordinary tourist or perhaps the business traveler.

It seems a good guidebook should be continually discovering ways to help you see, taste and smell the essence of the country you are researching.

If Guatemala is one of those countries, Moon Guatemala, by Al Argueta is the market's finest guidebook for travel to this diverse and mesmerizing country.

Refreshing and beautiful to look at, this publication blends Argueta's professional writing and photography skills with his extensive travel knowledge and overall expertise about Guatemala. This informative book has many new perspectives about Guatemala and it's my belief it will become your favorite traveling companion.

One new discovery is Argueta's positive insight into Guatemala City, which I found agreeable and helpful. As someone who has visited the Mayan ruins in Guatemala, rafted cave-systems, witnessed many a chicken bus and enjoyed gorgeous landscapes and village-life, I still find a visit to the capital city a great addition to the diversity this country offers.

Additionally, I didn't realize Guatemala affords such good opportunity for surfing. Gaining this kind of knowledge reassures me that my next trip to Guatemala (with Moon Guatemala at my side) will be even more exciting than my first visit. Don't look any further for a Guatemalan guidebook--this one is it!

I found some interesting info in a travel forum, quoted here:

"But the worst thing is this: Reading through the acknowledgements section, I saw some names that I recognized and guess what - at least three of the people who wrote those 5 star reviews on Amazon are listed as the author's friends!"

Great resource. I was based in Xela over the summer, learning Spanish, with a medical team and used this book to plan my weekend trips with my friends. We spent 4 weeks there, with 3 weekends for free time and we were able to hit a lot of the more "famous" places using this as a guide. I love food so the restaurant descriptions were what I utilized the most.. and I thought it hit on what I cared about most, such as how much I would be spending on a meal. Overall, great mini tour guide that you can carry around in your backpack. Everybody should visit Guatemala once in their life. It was an amazing experience!

I think that researching travel destinations is nearly as much fun as going on the trip, so I always buy at least two and sometimes three travel guides. This was clearly the best one for Guatemala

I bought this guide and another before my trip to guatemala. This one was very interesting to read, it was organized effectively, and it had lots of recommendations for hotels and such. The other travel guide I bought had only 6 recommended hotels for all of Guatemala City -the largest city in Central America! I realized that GC is not a tourist destination, but we needed somewhere to stay before we took an early flight to Tikal. This book listed hotels by city zones and even had a section for airport hotels.

There was an excellent section in the back about food, customs and etiquette, and dress. This is an excellent guide packed with useful information. Happy trails!

The guide book is useful, provided one takes into account the author's gushing admiration (love affair?) with Guatamala.

I used this book while in Guatemala for two weeks and it came in very handy! Well written and good advice.

Very few travel handbooks provide you the insight that Argueta incorporates into his 3rd Edition Moon Guatemala handbook. His personal journey and experiences through Guatemala invite you to visit and create your own memorable moments as you explore this beautiful country. It's this insight that separates this handbook from others and makes it a must-have travel companion. He provides relevant details, resources, and critical information that every traveler should know before visiting Guatemala. He also provides you sufficient guidance and direction that helps you stay and feel connected with Guatemala. It's practical, well organized and Argueta provides ample illustrations to ensure the reader gets a glimpse of what they will experience in person.

I highly recommend this handbook to anyone...from the most novice traveler to the most experienced. Make sure you pack this handbook, along with your camera, on your next trip to Guatemala!