Moon Peru (Moon Handbooks) [Paperback]

Ross Wehner (Author), Renee del Gaudio (Author), Kazia Jankowski (Author)

Book Description

Series: Moon Handbooks | Publication Date: September 28, 2007

Former residents of Peru, husband and wife Ross Wehner and Renée del Gaudio offer an insider's view of the country, from exploring the churches and artisan neighborhoods of Cusco to avoiding the crowds at Machu Picchu and picnicking on the wilderness beach of the Reserva Nacional Paracas. Wehner and del Gaudio include unique trip ideas such as Getting off the Gringo Trail, Archaeological Treasures, and 10 Days in Peru. Packed with information on dining, transportation, and accommodations, Moon Peru has lots of options for a range of travel budgets. Every Moon guidebook includes recommendations for must-see sights and many regional, area, and city-centered maps. Complete with details on trekking the Inca Trail, exploring the Amazon, and surfing in Lima, Moon Peru gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience. With expert writers, first-rate strategic advice, and an essential dose of humor, Moon guidebooks are the cure for the common trip.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ross Wehner and Renee Del Gaudio are the Peru adventure experts. They spent 10 months roving around Peru in a jeep as they wrote the first edition of Moon Peru, criss-crossing the country three times between desert coast, snow-capped Andes, and humid Amazon. They sampled every adventure possible, including sea kayaking on Lake Titicaca, zip-lining in the jungle, and cresting out over 20,000 feet in the snow summits of the Cordillera Blanca.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 2nd edition (September 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566919835
• ISBN-13: 978-1566919838
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Peru

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars actually used in Peru before reviewing, July 30, 2008

By 

J. Childers (Dublin, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moon Peru (Moon Handbooks) (Paperback)

I ACTUALLY USED THIS GUIDEBOOK IN PERU BEFORE WRITING THIS REVIEW!

Please keep in mind that this is my opinion and my experience using the book. (I found that much information in the book was also opinion.)

I went to Peru at the end of April (25-May 2).
At the end of April, the weather was absolutely perfect and prices were still cheaper because high season had not fully started.

I do recommend the Moon Peru guidebook, although it is certainly not the best that I have used. As most guidebooks, it lacked some valuable information, but overall it is a good guidebook. On such a short trip, I did not agree with the authors' opinions most of the time, especially concerning which place to begin and how much time to spend there. Both were important to me since my time was limited. But, my own fault; live and learn.

I am a flight attendant; I travel a lot. My trip was short, but here are MY RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH THE BOOK CONTRADICTED OR DID NOT STRESS ENOUGH:

#1 Always book multiple flights through the SAME airline even if using different carriers. Airlines are only responsible for getting you TO a destination, not WHEN. If you book together then the airline will make sure that you get to your FINAL destination, not just the first stop. This will be very important if there are weather or mechanical delays.

#2 ALL prices are negotiable! Here's a good tip: You can pay with American Dollars. Do not change all of your money. Especially in Lima, many Peruvians will quote the price in American Dollars, leaving you to figure out the exchange rate yourself. (If the Peruvian figures it for you, it will not be the best rate for you.) Paying with Dollars lets you know exactly how much you are paying for something and easier for you to negotiate!

#3 One price is given to American tourists and a different one to locals. Ask the locals how much something should cost then offer to pay that amount to the taxi, vendor, etc. If you speak Spanish you can definitely get the best deal. The Airport Information Desk in Cuzco quoted us $20 for a taxi, so did the taxi drivers. We paid $5 after asking the locals.

#4 We followed the book's suggestion of starting in Pisac and ending in Cuzco. We adjusted well to the altitude, but after arriving in Cuzco, I understood why people make it a base then travel around. Cuzco has a lot of information, tours, and rental equipment available. Use your own judgment, not the book's. However, I would stay in Pisac again. It was a nice town with good ruins and fabulous stars at night.

#5 Ollantaytambo's ruins are definitely worth seeing. The book suggests staying there which we did. In my opinion, take a day trip there from Cuzco, see the ruins and then return that night to Cuzco.

#6 Aguas Calientes is the base town of Machu Picchu. Spend TWO days here. (We only spent one as recommended by the guidebook, and it was not enough time for me.) Plus, YOUR TICKET TO MACHU PICCHU IS GOOD FOR TWO DAYS, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!! Splurge for a guide one of the days. Also, take your student Id card if you have one. Almost all of the tickets are half price with it. They don't check your age and it's a big savings with the card. We took the bus up to Machu Picchu. We climbed Hyuana Picchu that morning. It was worth all the hard effort, and it is hard. You will be scared if you are afraid of heights. Then we climbed down to The Temple of the Moon. It was even harder than Hyuana Picchu, but that could have been because we did it together. I don't really recommend seeing the Temple, but if you want to do it, do the climbs on separate days. Then we returned to tour Machu Picchu. We were so worn out, but we still had a 4 hour train ride to Cuzco that night. We stayed at Gringo Bills which was fabulous, but pricey for Peru. Two days there is worth it. I do not recommend a day trip from Cuzco. I really liked the town, and if you stay, you can enjoy the sun rise, the hot springs, climb Hyuana Picchu, and get the most from your two day ticket.

I found that my opinion differed from the book's, but I didn't know until after I was in the middle of my trip. I would use the book again for most general information though.

Go, and do not be scared. The trip was wonderful, we interacted with locals, and they were nice.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Otra vez, a fantastic guide from the Moon Guidebook Series..., September 26, 2007

By 

Amber Davis "Macha Catracha" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moon Peru (Moon Handbooks) (Paperback)

For those of you planning to travel through Peru (as opposed to purchasing a package deal), the second edition of Moon Peru will be very useful. This publication was authored by Ross Wehner and Renée del Gaudio and is filled with an abundance of information about this ruggedly beautiful country.

I purchased the 1st edition, along with a copy of the Lonely Planet, for my first trip to Peru two years ago. Well written and informative with an easy-to-use index, the Moon Handbook was hands down the superior guide. The second edition is no exception. It gives insider details on lodging, restaurants, transportation, etc. with a distinctly personal touch. To make a great guide even better, Ross lists his e-mail address in the book and asks readers to contact him with questions or concerns about their trips. He's not joking around--every time that I've written, he's responded within 24 hours. Talk about customer service! Somebody give this man an award! ;)

Another 5 star guide from the Moon series. ¡Muchísimas gracias!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, upbeat and well written!, May 12, 2008

By 

Leda Duif - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moon Peru (Moon Handbooks) (Paperback)

I have lived in Peru as a child and as an adult and I go back there every year, often traveling to new locations so I always check out any new guidebooks on Peru. I used the first and I have just received a copy of the second edition which is equally rich in content.

The authors make a great team: Ross is a journalist and mountain guide, Renee is an architect while Kazia Jankowski is a food writer. They traveled throughout the country to research this book which is filled with an abundance of facts, advice, maps and photos.

The first feature that stood out for me are all the interspersed articles, these really give you an insider's perspective on Peru. Using Ayahuasca to kick Addictions; Camisea Gas Fields: The Last Place on Earth; Advice from a Reformed Terrorist; and Peru's White Gold are just some of the well written and informative pieces. The Truth Behind Hemingway's Caboblanco; and The Who's who of Paracas Birds are among the lighter topics to be found.

For easy reference the guide is broken down into nine regionally defined sections. The only bone I have to pick with the authors is that Arequipa didn't get it's own chapter. But, as I read the write up on my favorite Peruvian city, under the Lake Titicaca and Canyon Country section, I immediately forgave them as they were able to really cover the ins and outs of Arequipa. Two additional sections are entitled "Discover Peru" and "Know Peru". These are very useful to the reader; as well as including the usual pieces on the country history, health and safety and a Spanish phrasebook there is also a Quechua basics and a great list of recommended reading and Internet Resources, as well as a section on Volunteering in Peru.

Another unique feature is the index; apart from having a comprehensive alphabetical index there are six highlighted boxes with a very helpful thematic index, these are titled: Ancient Cultures; Beaches; Hiking / Backpacking; Inca Sites; Reserves and Protected Areas. And believe me when you are rushing around the country and having to make quick decisions it's all about a good index!

This useful guide is a practical book for the traveler and explorer and is packed with invaluable advice such as: "Lima is an extraordinary city, but it takes a little getting used to. The country's leading museums, churches and restaurants are here along with nearly eight million people... It is the maximum expression of Peru's cultural diversity (and chaos)...But do yourself a favor and see Lima at the end of your trip, not at the beginning. That way you have a better chance of understanding what you see and not becoming overwhelmed in the process."

Whether you are going to Peru as an independent traveler or you are on an all-inclusive deal you will get more out of your trip if you glance over this guidebook before you set off.