SOUTH AMERICA - TRAVEL GUIDES

“A slow feeling of gathering sadness as each familiar place flashes by the window and disappears and becomes part of the past. Time is made visible, and it moves as the landscape moves.”
- Paul Theroux, The Old Patagonian Express

TRAVELING TO SOUTH AMERICA

Our prediction is that travel to South America will increase materially over the next 10-20 years, given the breadth of fascinating things to see.  Much of the continent is still yet to be discovered by most travelers, from wild mountain ranges in the Andes, to dramatic landscapes in Patagonia, to electrifying cities like Rio de Janeiro, to untouched jungles in the Amazon.  Here are our favorite travel books on South America. 

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS

Turn Right at Machu Picchu, by Mark Adams

Turn Right at Machu Picchu is an excellent travelogue by Mark Adams sharing his trip to visit the lost city of Machu Picchu, in Peru.  Adams isn’t an experienced hiker, but he decided that the most authentic way to experience Machu Picchu and to recapture the spirit of the original discovery was to make the same trek as Hiram Bingham III did, in 1911.  The book provides a nice view into the history and beauty of this magical place, with a few laughs along the way.  Click here for our review of Turn Right at Machu Picchu.

Lonely Planet: South America on a Shoestring

Our primary recommendation for guidebooks for those planning a long trip around South America is Lonely Planet.  They publish a variety of very comprehensive and informative travel guides for most countries and popular regions in South America, including this popular "on-a-shoestring" guides for students, backpackers, and budget travelers.  We highly recommend Lonely Planet.

Fodors Travel: South America

Our recommendation for those who want a more standard travel guide on South America is Fodor’s.  They simply provide a well-organized set of practical travel information for all budgets, honest recommendations and reviews on where to go and what to do, beautiful photos, and background on the culture and history of each region.  The local authors provide inside information and custom maps oriented for the traveler’s point of view. 

In Patagonia, by Bruce Chatwin

One of the absolute classics of travel writing is In Patagonia, a series of short stories by Bruce Chatwin from his six month trip to South America.  His focus is people, place and history.  Chatwin’s writing style was original, with no coherent structure or consistent narrative, perhaps contributing to the magical nature of his travel experience.  Witty and insightful, and a top A5 recommendation.  Click here for our review of In Patagonia.