Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador

by Robert Kunstaetter, Daisy Kunstaetter, Ben Box

Overview

Linked by the sinuous spine of the Andes, Peru, Bolivia&Ecuador are born of a synthesis of ancient America and medieval Europe. Footprint’s Peru, Bolivia&Ecuador Handbook will guide you from the unforgettably unique Galápagos Islands, through the awe-inspiring citadel of Machu Picchu, to the shimmering turquoise waters of Lake Titicaca.

• Great coverage of the top activities and sights in the region, including the colonial treasures of Quito; spectacular costumed festivals; sacred pyramids and temples; the incredible salt flats of Salar de Uyunia

• Loaded with information and suggestions on how to get off the beaten track, from where to find the best artesanía to seeking jaguars in the rainforest

• Includes comprehensive information on everything from transport and practicalities to history, culture&landscape

• Plus all the usual accommodation, eating and drinking listings for every budget

• Full-colour planning section to inspire travellers and help them find the best experiences

From the mysterious Nazca lines to bustling indigenous markets, Footprint’s fully updated 5th edition will help you navigate this breathtaking destination.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911082521
Publisher:	Bradt Travel Guides Ltd
Publication date:	05/01/2017
Series:	Footprint Handbooks
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	664
File size:	68 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Born and raised in Ecuador (Quito and Riobamba), Daisy Isacovici's pet peeve is being mistaken for a gringa. Robert Kunstaetter hails from Montreal, where Daisy attended university. Soon after they met in 1979, he suggested travelling in South America for 'a year or so', and they have yet to turn back. Over the years and miles, Robert and Daisy became regular correspondents for Footprint, contributing to the South American Handbook and other Latin American titles. Based back in Ecuador since 1993, they are authors of Footprint's Ecuador & Galapagos Handbook. They also travel frequently to Peru and Bolivia. After all these years, Robert and Daisy still have difficulty distinguishing between work and play.
One of the first assignments Ben Box took as a freelance writer in 1980 was subediting work on the South American Handbook. The plan then was to write about contemporary Iberian and Latin American affairs, but in no time at all the lands south of the Rio Grande took over, inspiring journeys to all corners of the subcontinent. Ben has contributed to newspapers, magazines and learned tomes, usually on the subject of travel, and became editor of the South American Handbook in 1989. Having a doctorate in Spanish and Portuguese studies from London University, Ben maintains a strong interest in Latin American literature. In the British summer he plays cricket for his local village side and year round he attempts to achieve some level of self-sufficiency in fruit and veg in a rather unruly country garden in Suffolk.

Read an Excerpt

Imagine Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador and you automatically think of the Andes, the long, sinuous mountain chain that runs the full length of all three countries and forms the geographical and cultural spine of South America. Here, at over 3500 m, the first Incas rose from the freezing waters of Lake Titicaca. They named their capital Cuzco, ‘Navel of the World’, and built an empire that lasted until the Spanish came, saw, conquered and converted the natives.

But old habits die hard and today indigenous customs and beliefs are very much in evidence: in the beautiful and skilful artesanía (handicrafts); the spectacular festival costumes; the sacred temples and pyramids; or in the burying of a llama foetus under a new house to repel evil spirits. Often these ancient traditions were subsumed into the ‘new’ religion of the

colonial masters.

It is the synthesis of ancient America and medieval Europe that is the essence of these countries. Thousands of years of empire-building, natural disasters, conquest, occupation and independence have all been played out, against the backdrop of those mighty mountains, the one constant in a continent of constant change.

There is more to these three countries than the Andes, however. To the east of the mountains spreads the vast Amazon Basin and each country has a claim to the tributaries that feed into the mighty river itself. The surrounding forest is home to some of the greatest diversity of wildlife on Earth. The western margin of Peru and Ecuador stands on the Pacific Ocean. In Peru the coastal lands are largely desert. Like Peru, Ecuador’s coast offers good surf and terrific seafood, but also interesting national parks with good whale-watching. And way out in the ocean lie the Galápagos Islands, offering nature lovers the experience of a lifetime.