Peru Handbook, 7th: Tread Your Own Path (Footprint Peru Handbook)

I have used the all-encopmassing "South American Handbook" also by Footprint with great success, and this was my first attempt at a specific country guide. I was impressed with the useful and in-depth information regarding each city or town that I visited. The accommodation, food, and entertainment suggestions were spot-on and always just as it said.

The only thing lacking for me was the, um, somewhat skimpy coverage of some of the ancient sites. For example, the suggestion to take a taxi to the ruins of Tambo Machay and walking down to the city (Cuzco) was wonderful, but information pertaining to the specific sites on the way down (Tambo Machay, Puca Pucara, Quengo, and Sacsaywahyman) was restricted to a sentence (or less) each.

Low down: if you want spot-on guidebook for lodging, food, and entertainment listings, and are not as interested in the cultural sites, ruins, museums, and other things to do, this would be a perfect book. If you do want more of...Read more

The most experienced writers on South America produce the most complete, objective, relevant, orderly, up-to-date guide book on Peru, now also with the clearest maps.
It has more detail on areas of growing interest like El Brujo, Chachapoyas & Huamachuco, newly opened sites like Caral, & getting to them, than any competitors.
Footprint includes websites & still lists individual tour guides, while Lonely Planet includes out of date email addresses & hopes you will buy services from hotels & travel agents on their website.
Cuzco is already saturated with tourists & information, & it is time other areas of Peru be made known in this way.
It should be pointed out that Footprint has Cusco & The Inca Heartland, 3rd Edition (Footprint Cusco and the Inca Trail) by Ben Box (Paperback - May 25, 2006), to supplement the info in the Peru & South America books.

I just returned from a trip to Peru and this was about the worst guide book I have used. It provided very minimal information of the kind a traveler can use (especially for someone accustomed to the Lonely Planet series; the only reason I got this instead of LP was it was a bit newer). The maps are not very complete, the listings are even worse and there is very little info on the sights they list. Don't bother.