 
Moon Handbooks Peru
Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 9
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 On: 2007-08-12
This is a terrific book. I carried it all over the Sacred Valley in Peru, visiting Cusco, Pisaq, Aguas Calientes and Macchu Pichu. The authors recommendations for hotels and restaurants were excellent, and I found the book to be informative and well-written overall. Additionally I emailed several questions to the authors prior to the trip, and they were responsive and helpful. I recommend this book to anyone visiting Peru.
 On: 2007-03-21
The Moon handbook for Peru seems to be a good resource overall, however if you are planning on trekking in the Andes, this book wont be a whole lot of help. Infact, most books are outdated when it comes to the available treks, so do alot of online research.
On: 2007-02-20
The Moon Handbook on Peru was a very well written, informative, funny, entertaining publication. You usually do not find all of those traits in a guide book. While traveling in Peru, we used the book as a bible. Every suggestion the writers made turned out to be a winner. Great book, great trip!
On: 2006-07-19
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, isnt it!) I felt that Ross and Renees personal perspective on many things gave the book a most enjoyable flavor that I just didnt 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 wasnt 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.
On: 2006-07-17
I live in Peru and run a bed and breakfast here. My past experience with guidebooks is that they were great as long as you were out of the country, but as soon as you arrive you were better off asking the locals. Here I am a local and am constantly asked questions about lodging and accommodation in other parts of Peru, I find myself turning to the Moon guidebook in order to make recommendations. I have found the historical information accurate and well written while the recommendations on how to be a respectful and responsible traveler remind one that tourism can be a positive activity. The recommended establishments are described precisely as they are.
On: 2006-07-11
My husband and I are trying to decide where to go on our next vacation and we used the Moon Handbook guide to Peru for a reference. We found this handbook extremely helpful. We especially liked the Know Peru section for the information it gave on culture and history. I recommend this book for travellers considering Peru for their next trip.
On: 2006-07-10
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. "Thats 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, Ill 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?
by: fdoamerica On: 2005-10-15
I live in Peru. Over the years, I have reviewed at least a dozen Peru guide books, and to say that I was disappointed with this guide would be an understatement. Normally, Moon Handbooks are very good, but this guide is saddly marginal.
On the positive side, I found the authors candid critique of the abysmal political and economic situation in Peru, true and refreshing. Ross & Renee, much like Jenkins (author Rough Guide Peru), carry the banner for environmental concerns. They are critical of the destruction of the Amazon rain forest (2/3 of Peru is Amazon) and criticize specifically the destruction and displacement of the indigenous people caused by the `Camisea Gas field (main investors: Hunt Oil & Halliburton - Texas based, both with connections to George W.).
There are five critical sections in any guide: 1. Excellent City Maps; 2. Reliable and Informative Recommendations for Restaurants and Accommodations; 3. A through and informative section that prepares you to go (Health, Documents, Climate, Money Etc.); 4. A Profile of the Country (History, People, Environment, Etc.); 5. Very good to Excellent writing about the country and what you are seeing. This guide is marginal in most of these areas.
Instead of maps, this guide has B&W photos on almost every other page. What few city maps this guide has, are user-unfriendly. All of the major guides today have good quality city maps for most every major city, and, map-sidebars that reference, where the accommodations, restaurants or sights are. Not this guide.
More times than not, I was disappointed in the restaurants that Ross & Renee recommended. Often quality of the cuisine was poor. Many of the listings are popular and crowded tourist places. Better guides point you to eateries that are off the beaten path, frequented by locals and serve great food at good prices. I did not find that in this guide.
There are many good/excellent Peruvian guides available. If you are on a bare-bone budget consider "Lets Go Peru." If you an average traveler, my first chose is, `Lonely Planet, followed closely by, `Rough Guide. For the `upscale traveler, the best out is `Frommers Peru.
Side note: If you are going to trek and/or visit Machu Pichu, then "White Rock" by Hugh Thomson is a must read. Amazon travelers should consider: "Aguirre" by Stephen Minta.
Happy Trails.
On: 2004-12-17
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 insiders perspective on Peru. The Wrong Way to Take Ayahuasca; Camisea Gas Fields: The Last Place on Earth; Advice from a Reformed Terrorist; and Perus White Gold are just some of the well written and informative pieces. The Truth Behind Hemingways Caboblanco; and The Whos 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 didnt get its 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 its 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 countrys leading museums, churches and restaurants are here along with nearly eight million people... It is the maximum expression of Perus 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.
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