South America is epic. Home to the world's highest waterfall, the longest mountain range and the largest rainforest - this continent will baffle you with its enormity. While cities like Rio de Janeiro swing to the sounds of samba, locals jostle around market stalls in Cuzco and indigenous farmers offer prayers to Pachamama - Mother Earth. Footprint's 91st edition of the South American Handbook is the ideal guidebook for adventure-hungry travelers. From Inca ruins and tropical jungles to the vast open plains of Patagonia - Footprint's revised and updated guide to South America provides comprehensive coverage, enabling you to escape the crowd and discover the continent for yourself. * Highlights section so you know what not to miss * Practical information on how to get to each country and around, plus suggested itineraries to help you plan your trip, whether you are traveling for a week or a month * Well-researched cultural and historical background sections available as an online resource * Tips for traveling with your kids * The core of the guide provides comprehensive coverage of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, the Guianas, and the Falkland Islands. * Each country and region has an overview map which includes 'Don't miss' destinations, local information on how to get around and detailed street maps where relevant * Detailed listings on where to sleep, eat and play are provided for every destination within each country, enabling you to have an even better travel experience. Now in its 91st edition, Footprint's legendary South American Handbook covers the continent in amazing detail, enabling you to explore for yourself. From spectacular carnivals to shuddering glaciers, this guide will open your way to the irresistible spirit of the world's greatest continent.

Table of Contents

1) Introduction 2) Essentials 3) Argentina (Planning your trip, Buenos Aires and the Pampas, West of Buenos Aires, Northwest Argentina, The Northeast, Lake District, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego) 4) Bolivia (Planning your trip, La Paz and around, Lake Titicaca, The Yungas, Southwest Bolivia, Central and Southern Highlands, Northern Lowlands, Santa Cruz and Eastern Lowlands) 5) Brazil (Planning your trip, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo, Southern Brazil, Foz do Iguacu, Salvador de Bahia, Recife and Northeast coast, Fortaleza and the north coast, The Amazon, Amazon frontiers, Brasilia, Goias and Tocantins, The Pantanal) 6) Chile (Planning your trip, Santiago and around, Valparaiso and around, North of Santiago, Far north, Central Valley, Lake District, Puerto Montt and Chiloe, Carretera Austral, Far south, Chilean Pacific Islands) 7) Colombia (Planning your trip, Bogota, Bogota to the Venezuelan border, Cartagena & the north coast, Medellin and Choco, La Zona Cafetera, Cali and the Cauca Valley, Popayan, Tierradentro and San Agustin, Southern Colombia) 8) Ecuador (Planning your trip, Quito, Northern Ecuador, Cotopaxi, Latacunga and Quilotoa, Banos and Riobamba, Cuenca and around, Guayaquil and south to Peru, Pacific lowlands, The Oriente, Galapagos Islands) 9) Paraguay (Planning your trip, Asuncion, Region Oriental: South of Asuncion, North of Asuncion, The Chaco) 10) Peru (Planning your trip, Lima, Huaraz and the Cordilleras, North coast, Northern Highlands, South coast, Arequipa and the far south, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Central Highlands, Amazon Basin) 11) Uruguay (Planning your trip, Montevideo, Western Uruguay, Eastern Uruguay) 12) Venezuela (Planning your trip, Caracas, West from Caracas, Merida and around, Los Llanos and the Amazonas, East coast, Canaima and the Orinoco Delta) 13) Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, Guyane) 14) Falkland Islands (Planning your trip, Stanley and around, Beyond the Falklands) 15) Footnotes

Author Biography

Ben Box has been working on the South American Handbook for over 30 years and is a Latin America expert. Ben has contributed to newspapers, magazines and learned tomes, usually on the subject of travel, and has also been involved in Footprint's Central America & Mexico, Caribbean Islands, Brazil and Peru since their inception. Having a doctorate in Spanish and Portuguese studies from London University, Ben maintains a strong interest in Latin American literature and culture.