Lonely Planet Bolivia: A Travel Survival Kit (3rd ed) (Paperback)

by Deanna Swaney (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years, and as a result has experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

With Lonely Planet Bolivia you'll find everything you need to know to explore Incan roads, climb Andean mountains, and eat well when it's fiesta time in the "Tibet of the Americas." Bolivia's diverse terrain ranges from the highest mountains in Latin America to lush jungles and low-lying savannas. Lonely Planet's Bolivia shares how to discover the best of the vibrant cultures that thrive in these diverse regions. The guide also contains updated trekking maps. --Kathryn True

Product Description
70 Maps

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 3rd edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0864423969
• ISBN-13: 978-0864423962
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,886,606 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #54 in

  Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Bolivia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Buyer beware, January 2, 2001

By	Daniel Fireside (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just returned from Bolivia with this book as my only guide. I nearly threw it out the bus window in frustration. Although much of the out of date information is due to the fact that the book is five years old, there is no excuse for the scores of addresses for museums and the like that are completely wrong. There is also a major lack of basic info like the location of bus terminals. I also heard from many people who got lost for days trying to follow the book's directions on treks. Best to pay a little extra and hire a reputable guide who knows the area. Also be aware that because of changes in the Bolivian phone company, virtually none of the telephone numbers in the book are correct. It's definately time for a new edition, hopefully done with a little more care.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't go to Bolivia without it., December 1, 1998

By	W. W. Longeteig "[e-mail]" (Craigmont, Idaho) - See all my reviews

Bought the book before the trip and studied it. Toured Bolivia with my daughter who had been in-country for over a year as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and I managed to show her a few things. In fact she confiscated the book when I came home so I had to buy another for future reference. The information is accurate and as timely as can be, given the publication date. Perhaps too much emphasis is placed on back-packers, but there is gold there for the rest of us.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Outdated, with an Attitude Problem, February 22, 2001

By	Anne B. Bremer (Appleton, WI, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just returned from my 4th visit to Bolivia, using my 3rd Lonely Planet guide. During one month in 4 cities, I became increasingly frustrated with the same dead ends that other reviewers have mentioned...incorrect phone info, little e-info, disappearing restaurants, etc., due to the guide's 1996 date. I have never appreciated Swaney's arrogant and condescending attitude toward one of my favorite nations and its people, and found it even more annoying each time I had to cross out another bit of her outdated information. Having whined and complained, I still must admit that this guide is by far the best for leading me to the specific kinds of hotels and eating places I'm always looking for, and giving me just the amount of historic and cultural detail I'm seeking. Lonely Planet is by far the most thorough and comprehensive guide to all of Bolivia (--others focus mainly on the Andes--), and I long for a new edition....hopefully penned by someone with more respect for the country than Swaney seems to have.