Peru (Country Guide)
Selected Book Details
- Paperback
- Edition: 6th
- Author: Sara Benson, Paul Hellander, Rafael Wlodarski
- Publisher: Lonely Planet
- Release Date: April 2007
- ISBN-10: 1740597494
- ISBN-13: 9781740597494
- List Price: $22.99
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryBike, hike and ride a scary cable car to Machu Picchu on one of five alternatives to the busy Inca Trail, p. 277. Glide past manatees, dolphins, monkeys and macaws in the Reserva Nacional Pacaya-Samiria, p.482. Swill a scoopful of chicha - saliva-fermented corn beer - to earn the respect of the locals, p.78. Descend into the narrow, hallucinatory underground chambers of the millennia-old ruins at Chavin de Huantar, p.415. Three authors, 144 days of on-the-road research via planes, riverboats and dozens of death-defying bus rides. Dedicated Peru Outdoors chapter, plus expanded activities coverage throughout. Get the inside story on the Inca world from notes explorer and author Hugh Thomson. Content updated daily - visit lonelyplanet.com fro up-to-the-minute reviews and traveler suggestions. |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Great place to start, but I wanted more
Rating:
My family used this guide on our recent trip to Peru and it certainly gave us the basic information. It was a good place to start while planning our trip. We used it extensively.
In general, the organization of the book could be better. I believe it is targeted at the younger crowd as there is extensive information on clubs and night life as well as adventure travel, but not all that much for families with younger children (i.e. some child friendly itinerary suggestions would be nice) although they do address most concerns that families have. We didn't see that many families with children traveling in Peru, so maybe it's not a popular destination for families, but my 8 year old loved it!
I was disappointed in the index. It was difficult to find some information that I knew was in there--had already read it--but then couldn't find it again. I was also disappointed in the lack of any small phrasebook section except a brief one in the food section of the book. I did not want to pack a separate phrasebook (traveling light in Peru is very helpful) and my Spanish is mediocre at best.
Try the Moon Guide
Rating:
I usually swear by the LP series (LP Mexico is great), but this is not LP's best effort. My girlfriend bought the Moon Guide while I bought LP, and we ended up using Moon Guide much more throughout our trip.
Good general guide
Rating:
Peru is one of the most amazing countries in the world. The mountains are as spectacular as the Himalayas, and the deep canyons, remote jungles, and fabulous surfing beaches give an adventure traveler lots of options. The Lonely Planet guidebook is very helpful for exploring these vast resources. There are many good maps, and I have found there recommendations for hotels, and places of interest extremely helpful on occasion. They also include lots of tidbits about culture, history, and safety. The biggest problem with Lonely Planet is that it is very widely used, and the recommended hotels are suddenly crowded and prices can rapidly change. I have also met a few authors while traveling, and their budgets and time frames do not allow them to thoroughly check out all the places. I recommend buying this book, but keep your eyes and ears open. Many of the best places that I have found have been by word of mouth from other travelers, or just roaming the streets. Bus schedules and restaurants change rapidly, so it is best to inquire at the local stations. Dancing on the Edge of an Endangered Planet
Sets the Standard for Peruvian Travel Guides. This is the best.
Rating:
If you are going to explore Peru and if you may go off the tourist track, then by all means get this guide. I first came to Peru in 1996 and I lived near Cusco from 2002-2006. I have explored most of Peru and I reach for this guide first to help me with almost any places of significance in Peru. Each time the information has been accurate and trustworthy.
This is 6th Ed. 2007 and Benson, Hellander and Wlodarski have done a very job on collecting, organizing and explaining both the essential information and the unique aspects about this alluring culture. That said, these authors don't have Rachowiecki's and Beech's (this guides previous authors) critical critique of those that are privileged, wealthy and political positioned and how they exploit the wealth of this country and the poor (54% live in poverty). No, this is a nicer guide. However, as I write, protesters are blocking roads and rail to Machu Picchu because the government of Allen Garcia wants to "privatize their water". There are two worlds, those that the tourist see and the one the Peruvians live in. The previous edition told you more about the later.
Back to the review; the traveler's information section is buried at the back of the book. It should be at the front of the guide as this is important, if not essential, information that you should read before going.
The guide give you very good recommendations on what to see, what to do and where to stay and eat. Most of the accommodations now have a webpage address. The cost for each accommodation and restaurant is listed in dollars, instead of the insipid icons that other guides use. Kudos!!! Wonderful are the population stats for each town/city and especially, the altitude. The maps are very good and the restaurants and lodging recommendations are reliable, though many are the same that was in the last edition.
Do consider reading "White Rock" by Hugh Thomson, especially if you are trekking the ruins. For those with a tour group, consider getting Frommer's Peru. It is also a very good guide and its description of sights to see is more informative and descriptive than Lonely Planet and its restaurant recommendations are the best.
That said, Lonely Planet guides are known for their no-nonsense, off the beaten path advice, this guide is no exception. Highly recommended.
Very useful traveling handbook
Rating:
Lonely planet never dispointed me in the past years. Hope some of the information will be updated in the newer edition to be released in April this year.
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