South American Handbook 2009

Series details

£22.50

The South American Handbook 2009 from Footprint is the 85th annual edition of these highly respected guides, and this edition marks a return to Footprint’s much-loved classic hardback format. As the publisher who made their name with South American guides, Footprint have become synonymous with excellence and quality in South American travel advice

Each country section offers detailed trip-planning, travel & transport advice, and listings for principal towns & destinations covering accommodation, food & drink, sights, shops and activities. An extensive Background section gives overviews of each country’s history and contemporary culture, and a glossy colour section at the start of the guide offers suggested itineraries, top sights, climate advice, top books & films about South America and the pick of the continent’s nature reserves, sports and activities. A colour mini-atlas at the back of the guide gives an overview of major national & international road networks.

Back in the classic Footprint hardback format, the guide is more durable & long lasting than a paperback while remaining light and compact. Covers Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador & the Galápagos, Guianas, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.

About this series:
Much respected and long-standing series of comprehensive guides, renowned for their accuracy and reliability. Some titles in this series are updated annually. These guides cover everything the independent traveller needs to know when planning a trip. Eminently practical with good, concise background information. Lots of simple black & white town plans, colour country mapping and very clear layout.

“Sets the pace for the rest to follow” - Michael Palin

Below is a brief history of the Footprint South America Handbook’s long and distinguished long life:

It was 1921, Ireland had just been partitioned, the miners were striking for more pay and the federation of British Industry had an idea. As exports were booming in South America; how about creating a handbook for businessmen trading in that far away continent? The Anglo-South American Handbook was born that year. Two editions later the book was 'privatised' and in 1924, in the hands of the Royal Mail, the steamship company for South America, it became the South American Handbook, subtitled South America in a Nutshell.

In the early days, travel was by sea and the Handbook gave all the details needed for the long voyage from Europe, including a full account of the journey from Liverpool up the Amazon to Manaus, some 5,898 miles without changing cabin. It also imparted such invaluable advice as to 'pack a good saddle and a set of starched collars'.

As the jet aircraft transformed travel and backpacking trails began to develop in South America, the Handbook continued to be published annually, winning new fans, including the novelist Graham Greene, who simply addressed his updates to 'The publishers of the best travel guide in the world, Bath, England'. Having survived wars, earthquakes and more military coups than seems credible, the Handbook remains the undisputed authority on the continent. So much so that when it once misnamed an island on the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, everyone automatically assumed it was right and a new island was born.