Peru Handbook

I now live in Peru four to six months a year and I have reviewed Peruvian travel guides for the past six years. I must say that the 'Footprint Peru' 4th edition is a quantum improvement over the last edition, and is one of best single guides on Peru on the market now (considering also Rough Guide and Lonely Planet). Another review may appear under my name below but it is for the 3rd edition. Buy the 4th edition. When it comes to profiling tour operators this guide is superb. If you are hiking the Inca Trail or want to visit the Manu Reserve (Manu only has 7 licenced operators) this guide is a must. The guide has also highlighted some of the NGOs working with abandoned children and environmental issues - applaudable, indeed.The maps in this edition are much better than the last edition and more user friendly. Many hotels (some hostels) have email addresses and the descriptions and the recommendations are accurate. The sidebars and highlighted information sections are excellent. The restaurant (eating) sections are reliable, however, I found various comments on the decor or music, but `nada' on the food or service. Ben Box also has a Footprint Guide on Cusco, but I strongly recommend that even if you are going to just Cusco, you skip that guide and purchase this one. This guide is more up to date and reliable. Cusco is in a constant state of change. Many new hotels, hostels and restaurants open yearly and the best place in Cusco, for up to date information, is the 'South American Explorers Club' in Cusco (Lima, also has a club). This guide lists the club and its new address on page 156. Impressive is the write up on Choquequiaro, 'lost city of the Incas'. Larger than Machu Picchu, and only 30% excavated, it is truly a world class destination and the other guides only give it a slight mention. The index is basic and could be much better. The guide also lacks an accommodations or restaurant index. Thus, if you have a recommended restaurant you want to look up in a large city (Lima, Arequipa, Cusco etc.) you have to go through all the restaurant pages 'til you stumble across the restaurant you seek or miss seeing it completely. Offensive is the use of paid advertisements for hotels, tour companies and travel services (there are over 70 ads in this guide - many are full page). Not only are the paid advertisements intrusive, but the advertisements causes one to question the integrity of the guide, especially when a travel company or hotel, with a full page ad, is also strongly recommended by the authors. The history, politics and culture sections are basic, but do not give you any more information than you could get out of a good encyclopedia. In Peru there is severe environmental damage going on that gets no mention. Also, several ecological alarms are being sounded by various NGOs over the depletion or destruction of various habitats, and, finally, the ineptitude of the government, under the new President, Toledo, is retar

This review is digested. The full review of Footprint Peru 4th edition is above this review. It is a top rated guide. You will do well with the purchase of this guide. Strongly recommended

It is good to see an author who spends a week in Trujillo alone, updating the Peru & South American Handbook each 6 months, & getting up to date information published within 6 months. He also visits most of the competition to obtain a balanced view. We wish there were equally serious authors in Spanish language guides. Has anybody ever met anyone from Routard (French guide) in Peru?

The Footprint guide uses a slightly diffrent approach to travel from other familiar guidebooks. The guide is focused primarily upon treks and hikes in the Andes, along the Inca trail and discovering the archaeological heritage of Peru. For those seeking urban refuge, another book may suffice but if you are in need a holiday away from the hustle bustle this book can take you there (oh and an airline ticket). The detailed maps and cultural descriptions are excellent, I hope to return to Peru with the Footprint guide again!