Product Description

Providing detailed accounts of all the major sights from the streets of La Paz to the islands of Lake Titicaca, this guide provides informed coverage of Bolivian history and its indigenous cultures. The volume includes practical advice on exploring the country's remote Andean ranges and Amazonian rainforests, along with candid reviews of all the best places to stay and eat, from jungle lodges to colonial mansions.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #715496 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

About the Author
James Read's first three month trip to South America turned into three years and he has since travelled and worked widely in the region. He currently works for the BBC World Service as a researcher and writer.

Customer Reviews

Reliable information and invaluable insight
I've just come back from a six-week trip to Bolivia, and I found this by far the best of the guide books on the country. The author clearly has a deep knowledge of all things Bolivian, from wildlife and ecology to bizarre indigenous fiestas and customs.

More importantly, though, I found that the practical information and advice on where to go, what to see, how to get there, and how to deal with the sometimes tough travel conditions was really outstanding. Crucially, it's very up to date compared to its main rivals -- most of the phone numbers I tried were correct, which simply wasn't the case in other guidebooks.

If you go to Bolivia, you'll find most travellers go with the long-established Lonely Planet Guide to the country. I started out the same way, but found it meant I was always travelling in a crowd round a limited number of destinations, almost as if we had been railroaded!

This changed when another traveller gave me a copy of this book. I found it really expanded my horizons and made for far more imaginative and adventurous trip.

It manages to give excellent travel information without portraying Bolivia as a theme park that exists simply for the enjoyment of tourists. I recommend it to anyone looking to get to know the real Bolivia, and not just tramp around the same old Gringo trail.

vague and out of date
I just came back from a six week trip in bolivia travelling with a copy of this guide. It was a good read initially. However, after reading a copy of the recent lonely planet, I realised it lacked a lot of critical info. None of the maps were detailed enough to show essential points of interest and the travel info was vague to the point of redicule. I realise it has been a year since publication, but the difference is so pronounced. Don't get this book.