Moon Peru

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.

Mr. Wehner's book made our first trip to Peru absolutely effortless! This book is a seamless hybrid of purely pragmatic, yet paints a picture of the culture and flavor of the country well...easy to read, yet with complete and detailed information. This book served as our bible for the entire journey, and returned more dog-eared than most other travel books we've used. I'm a Lonely Planet fan, but this Moon handbook is in a class by itself. Salud!

We carried both the Moon Guide and the Rough Guide on our trip, and we consistently found ourselves going to the Moon Guide for references while in country. For us, the recommendations for both restaurants and places to stay were to our complete satisfaction (prices had changed noticably in some instances, however this is the nature of tourism, isn't it!) I felt that Ross and Renee's personal perspective on many things gave the book a most enjoyable flavor that I just didn't get from the Rough Guide. For example, one of the highlights of our trip turned out to be a stay in the village of Llachon on Lake Titicaca, a place that Ross and Renee had experienced and described in rather personal terms, but also a place which wasn't mentioned in the Rough Guide. This was one of those places that was off the beaten path, and which travelors like us were looking for insights to in our guide book. I should also note that I had several questions that I emailed to Ross and Renee prior to our trip (using the email addresses provided in the book) and I always got replies back quickly - a very nice personal touch! Finally, there are many articles scattered through the book in which special topics of interest are discussed in thought provoking terms ("Gold and Mahogany:Profit and Loss" for example), and besides making good reading, I think added tremendously to the overall experience and understanding we had in seeing the country.

A friend and I took a short, three-week jaunt through southern Peru last fall. She had the Lonely Planet, and I carried Moon. While both guides were useful, more often than not, we found the Moon Handbook to be more valuable. It definitely had more detail on lodging and restaurants than the LP. At the end of the trip, we both agreed that the Moon Handbook was of a much higher caliber than its widely used LP counterpart. Another plus, the authors' e-mail addresses are in the book, and they encourage readers to write if they have any questions. "That's all well and good," you might say, "but do they ever check the e-mail addresses that they listed?" YES, they do! When I had some questions on in-country flights, I thought, what the heck, I'll write to Ross and Renée (the authors). And what do you know--Ross responded within THREE HOURS. AND, he gave excellent advice. What more could you ask for?

I have been living in Peru for the last two years and I am still eager to check out any new guidebooks on Peru. This one is the latest new edition to hit the shelves. The authors make a good team: Ross is a journalist and mountain guide while Renee is an architect. 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. The Wrong Way to Take Ayahuasca; 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 coming to Peru as an independent traveler or you or on an all-inclusive deal you will be get more out of your trip if you glance over this guidebook before you set off.