The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
by Candice Millard
from Broadway
At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous rivers on earth.
The River of Doubt—it is a black, uncharted tributary of the Amazon that snakes through one of the most treacherous jungles in the world. Indians armed with poison-tipped arrows haunt its shadows; piranhas glide through its waters; boulder-strewn rapids turn the river into a roiling cauldron.
After his humiliating election defeat in 1912, Roosevelt set his sights on the most punishing physical challenge he could find, the first descent of an unmapped, rapids-choked tributary of the Amazon. Together with his son Kermit and Brazil’s most famous explorer, Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, Roosevelt accomplished a feat so great that many at the time refused to believe it. In the process, he changed the map of the western hemisphere forever.
Along the way, Roosevelt and his men faced an unbelievable series of hardships, losing their canoes and supplies to punishing whitewater rapids, and enduring starvation, Indian attack, disease, drowning, and a murder within their own ranks. Three men died, and Roosevelt was brought to the brink of suicide. The River of Doubt brings alive these extraordinary events in a powerful nonfiction narrative thriller that happens to feature one of the most famous Americans who ever lived.
From the soaring beauty of the Amazon rain forest to the darkest night of Theodore Roosevelt’s life, here is Candice Millard’s dazzling debut.
Peru (Country Guide)
by Sara Benson
from Lonely Planet
Discover Peru
Bike, hike and ride a scary cable car to Machu Picchu on one of five alternatives to the busy Inca Trail.
Glide past manatees, dolphins, monkeys and macaws in the Reserva Nacional Pacaya-Samiria.
Swill a scoopful of chicha - saliva-fermented corn beer - to earn the respect of the locals.
Descend into the narrow, hallucinatory underground chambers of the millennia-old ruins at Chavin de Huantar.
In This Guide:
Three authors, 144 days of on-the-road research via planes, riverboats, and dozens of death-defying bus rides.
Dedicated Peru Outdoors chapter, plus expanded activities coverage throughout.
Get the inside story on the Inca world from notes explorer and author Hugh Thomson.
Content updated daily - visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the minute reviews and traveler suggestions.
Moon Costa Rica (Moon Handbooks)
by Christopher P. Baker
from Avalon Travel Publishing
The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour
by Ruth M. Wright
from Johnson Books
This revised edition includes newly discovered sites. New photos and maps with full-color illustrations of real life scences from National Geographic Magazine.
Peru (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)
by DK Publishing
from DK Travel
Whether you are planning to visit a city, a region or a country, DK's foolproof 'Eyewitness' approach makes learning about a place a pleasure in itself. All the traditional guidebook subject matter is covered-descriptions of sights, opening times, hotels, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, phrase books etc- but, with the help of specially commissioned illustrations and maps, DK makes essential information easy to access and quick to absorb. No other guides explain the history of a place as clearly in words and pictures. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides-the best guides ever created.
Continuing to expand our South American coverage, this beautifully illustrated Eyewitness guide will be the premier travel book to Peru, with complete coverage of Lima, the Amazon Basin, and, of course, Machu Picchu. Whether your interests lie in floating on Lake Titicaca, watching the condors soar at Colca Canyon or experimenting with South American cuisine, DK Eyewitness Peru will help you find the essence of the Andes.
Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands (Country Guide)
by Danny Palmerlee
from Lonely Planet
Climb the snow-capped peak of Volcán Chimborazo, the most distant point from the center of the Earth. Get up close and personal with capuchin monkeys in the central plaza of MisahuallÃ. Step back in time at Ingapirca, Ecuador’s finest example of Inca architecture. Take in the surf scene on the south coast. Sophisticated cities, glaciated volcanoes, the lush Amazon Basin – our inimitable guide gives you access to all the treasures of exotic Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.
Go Wild – special chapter on Galápagos wildlife by noted nature writer David Andrew helps you identify the many species unique to the islands.
Venture Out – expanded focus on activities, advenÂture and ecotravel, plus a dedicated Itineraries chapter to help you explore this compact yet varied country.
Get Smart – comprehensive History and Culture chapters provide insight into Ecuador’s volatile political landscape and vital indigenous communities.
Walk The Walk – discover the colonial charms of Quito and Cuenca with our detailed maps and walking tour.
Frommer's Argentina (Frommer's Complete)
by Michael Luongo
from Frommers
- In 2005, tourism in Argentina increased 200ver the previous year, according to the Argentine Secretaria Turismo, with 1.77 million foreign arrivals
- According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, Argentina is the third most popular Latin American country for international visitors, behind Mexico and Brazil
- Argentina offers a wide range of attractions, including a fantastic wine region, 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a variety of outdoor travel adventures
- Argentina remains an excellent value for U.S. travelers, with its 3-to-1 exchange rate favoring the dollar
South America (Shoestring)
by Danny Palmerlee
from Lonely Planet
From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.
Here is the ultimate budget traveler's guide to a continent that will never cease to stimulate the senses. From the Darién Gap to Terra del Fuego and all points in between, this is an essential travel tool. Lonely Planet's South America features 238 country, region, city, and town maps; safety and health tips; reviews of places to stay and eat; lively background on history, geography, and culture; practical outdoor activities including national parks and reserves; and coaching in Spanish, Portuguese, Quechua, and Aymara languages. The book also covers Easter Island, the Galápagos Islands, and the Falklands (Islas Malvinas). --Kathryn True
Challenging? Check. Rewarding? Beyond your wildest dreams. South America is made for travel-the gripping, spine-tingling, adrenaline-charged type of travel you live for. Tred the Cordillera Blanca, glide along the Amazon, explore lost cities and samba up a storm. For backpackers, by backpackers, this best-selling, unbeatable guide gives you the tools you need to create your own adventure.
Get Off The Trail-emerging hot-spots, overlooked attractions, alternatives to the Inca Trail-our authors go beyond the obvious, and show you how to do the same.
Live On The Edge-the best spots for hiking, skiing, diving, surfing, rafting, paragliding, and other thrills.
Straight Talk-opinionated reviews ensure you won't waste a precious peso.
Tread Lightly-make a positive impact with sustainable-travel tips and volunteering opportunities.
Birds of Peru (Princeton Field Guides)
by Thomas S. Schulenberg
from Princeton University Press
Nearly eighteen hundred different bird species--one fifth of the world's birds--have been recorded in Peru. Birds of Peru is the most complete and well-researched field guide to this rich and fascinating diversity. It illustrates every one of the 1,792 species and shows the distinct plumages of each. It includes 304 superb, high-quality color plates directly opposite concise descriptions and color distribution maps, making it much easier to use in the field than standard neotropical field guides. The detailed text discusses key identification features, status, distribution, and vocalizations for all species, and many subspecies.
This field guide enables users to identify all species found in Peru, and is also useful throughout much of western South America, particularly southeastern Colombia, southern Ecuador, western Brazil, Bolivia, and northern Chile.
Birds of Peru is an indispensable resource for birdwatchers, biologists, naturalists, and conservationists working or traveling in Peru and South America.
- The most complete and well-researched field guide to the 1,792 species of birds found in Peru
- 304 superb, high-quality color plates directly opposite concise descriptions and full-color distribution maps for quick reference and easy identification
- Distinct plumages, subspecies, sexes, age classes, and morphs fully illustrated
- Detailed text discusses key identification features, status, distribution, and vocalizations
- Designed especially for field use-compact, portable, and user-friendly
South American Handbook 2008 (Footprint - Travel Guides)
by Ben Box
from Footprint Handbooks
Visit the most exciting continent on Earth. Celebrate at the best of the festivals. Swim with sea lions and walk with dinosaurs. Get off the beaten track. Experience cities of gold and mountains of silver. Get inside info on where to eat, drink and sleep. Learn about evolution, revolution and visitors from outer space. Grab the pick of heart-stopping adventure activities. See man-eating fish, blood sucking bats and smooth-talking dolphins. Full-colour maps help you on your way.
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