Collection Development "Travel to South America": Down South America Way

South America is a continent defined most, perhaps, by extremes: extreme jungles, extreme mountains, extreme animals, extreme governments. The Amazon River, which spreads across much of the continent and houses some of the world's most unique flora and fauna, is the lungs of the world. In addition to natural beauty and wildlife that packs a punch, the continent is rich in history and culture, forged from the intermingling of indigenous peoples and Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English colonizers. But the 12 independent nations created out of this mix have often suffered violent dictatorships and dirty wars in which drug traffickers and rebels were—and are—sometimes the de facto rulers (indeed, for this reason you should avoid backpacking in parts of Peru or Colombia).

According to a January 1, 2006, article in the Chicago Tribune (“Central, South America Growing in Popularity”), travel to South America has increased significantly in recent years. This may be owing in part to the weakening of the U.S. dollar, which has driven many Americans away from Europe's expensive shores toward South America's more inviting (read: cheaper) doorstep. Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, which is still recovering from a severe recession, are the most popular destinations for U.S. travelers, although Peru, thanks to Machu Picchu and other Incan sites, is not far behind. Ecuador's Galápagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin, continue to be a desired destination (although the cost of getting there may be somewhat prohibitive).

Travel tips from friends & guides

Like listening to a well-traveled friend, personal narratives and memoirs can inspire would-be travelers. For patrons in the initial planning stages, these books are excellent starting points. Anything by John Gimlette, Isabel Allende, Paul Theroux, and Tom Miller is sure to evoke a strong sense of place and engage readers. It is also worth keeping some out-of-print and classic older titles that retain their value. For example, Nowhere Is a Place, by Bruce Chatwin and Theroux, is worth tracking down for its exceptional prose and majestic photographs. For a taste of historical South America—with a kick—try the spirited Evelyn Waugh.

For practical planning, of course, patrons will want to look to travel guides. There are series for every type of traveler (the budget conscious, the adventurer, the history buff). This reviewer is partial to picture-plenty Insight Guides but, like most folk, picks and chooses from other series when planning a trip. Unfortunately, information in traditional guidebooks can go out-of-date virtually as soon as the title is off the press. Both personally and professionally, I use the three-year rule to ensure that the information is accurate. For an excellent overview of the major series' pros and cons, see Mirela Roncevic's “Staying Current with Travel” (LJ 8/03, p. 114–116).

Smaller libraries and those with limited budgets may just wish to buy the basic general guides from Frommer's or Fodor's that cover all of South America, but they should also purchase national guides to the top three tourist destinations (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile) and handbooks for more adventurous travelers, like the Lonely Planet titles. Larger collections may want to add guides to major cities like Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires as well as national guides to countries beyond the Big Three (e.g., Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela).

With the current surge in interest in ecotourism, natural history guides like Interlink's “Travellers' Wildlife Guides” series (entries include Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador) nicely complement standard guidebooks and are likely to have a longer shelf life. For foodie patrons with serious wanderlust, consider Ginkgo Press's “Eat Smart” travel series, distributed by the University of Wisconsin, with entries for Brazil and Peru (coming April 2006) or Derrick Foster and Dick Tripp's Food and Drink in Argentina (Aromas & Sabores, dist. by Beagle Bay Bks.), available this month.

Other media

The web sites of official national and regional travel offices are especially useful for those contemplating trips to places not well covered in traditional guidebooks (e.g., Guyana, Suriname). Other helpful resources for getting ideas of where to go and what to see are videos and DVDs.

Although Mexico and Central America are often grouped together with South America under the heading “Latin America,” they are distinct entities and are not included in the following bibliography. For further details on travel to Mexico, see Pamela Bellows's “Your Passport to Mexico/Caribbean Guidebooks,” LJ 3/1/95, p. 39–43. Owing to limited space, specific city travel guides have been excluded. Travel narratives, guidebooks, and online sites to less-popular destinations like Guyana and French Guiana have been posted as an addendum to this article. Starred [] titles are essential for all collections.

TRAVELOGS & MEMOIRS

Allende, Isabel. My Invented Country: A Memoir. Perennial: HarperCollins. 2004. 224p. maps. ISBN 0-06-054567-4. pap. $13.95.
Allende's stirring memoir revolves around the assassination of her uncle, Chilean president Salvador Allende, on September 11, 1973, and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on her adopted U.S. homeland. (LJ 6/1/03)

Chatwin, Bruce. In Patagonia. Penguin. (Classics). 2003. 204p. photogs. maps. bibliog. ISBN 0-14-243719-0. pap. $14.
In spare but affecting prose, this 1977 classic recalls Chatwin's journey to Patagonia at the tip of South America.

Childress, David Hatcher. Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of South America. Adventures Unlimited. (Lost Cities). 1986. 376p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-932813-02-X. pap. $16.95.
Childress treks across Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Ecuador looking for lost treasure and the unusual.

García Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. HarperCollins. 2003. 417p. tr. by Gregory Rabassa. ISBN 0-06-053104-5. $24.95.
Fiction, to be sure, but essential reading. García Márquez's village of Macondo comes to represent Colombia and even South America itself.

Gimlette, John. At the Tomb of the Inflatable Pig: Travels Through Paraguay. Knopf. 2004. 400p. illus. maps. bibliog. ISBN 1-4000-4176-7. $25; pap. Vintage Departures. 2005. ISBN 1-4000-7852-0. $14.95.
This delightful combination of history, current events, and travelog puts Paraguay on the literary travel map. (LJ 2/15/04)

Guevara, Ernesto “Che.” The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey. Ocean. 2004. 175p. photogs. maps. ISBN 1-920888-10-1. pap. $14.95.
Che's enthusiastic and honest account of his travels in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela offers a glimpse of the young med student before he became a Cuban revolutionary.

Miller, Tom. The Panama Hat Trail. Adventure: National Geographic. 2001. 270p. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-7922-6386-3. pap. $14.
Turns out Panama hats are actually Ecuadorian. Who knew? Miller, apparently, as he will tell you in this fascinating read.

Shah, Tahir. Trail of Feathers: In Search of the Birdmen of Peru. Arcade, dist. by Little, Brown. 2002. 273p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-55970-613-9. $25.95; pap. 2003. ISBN 1-55970-677-5. $13.95.
A chance encounter with a shrunken-head enthusiast in London sends Shah to Peru to see if the ancient Incas could really fly. (LJ 5/15/02)

Theroux, Paul. The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas. Mariner: Houghton. 1989. 404p. maps. ISBN 0-395-52105-X. pap. $15.
Another classic by one of the best. Theroux recounts his rail journey from Massachusetts to Argentina, with stops in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

Thomson, Hugh. The White Rock: An Exploration of the Inca Heartland. Overlook, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). 2003. 316p. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-58567-355-2. $27.95; pap. ISBN 1-58567-503-2. $16.95.
Documentary filmmaker Thomson searches for Llactapata, the lost Incan city, and offers a thorough history of the area. (LJ 2/15/02)

Travelers' Tales Brazil. Travelers' Tales. 2004. 409p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-932361-05-7. pap. $18.95.
This anthology of true travel stories includes Alma Guillermoprieto's compelling piece on evangelism and Bill McKibben's thoughtful treatment of the city of Curitiba.

TRAVEL SERIES

Fodor's South America. 6th ed. Fodor's. 2004. 868p. maps. index. ISBN 1-4000-1287-2. pap. $27.95.
Comprehensive series, although patrons who like color photos and glossy paper will find its monochrome layout disappointing. This volume covers ten countries (sorry Guianas). Other titles: Argentina (3d ed. ISBN 1-4000-1281-3); Brazil (3d ed. ISBN 1-4000-1282-1); Chile (2d ed. ISBN 1-4000-1258-9); and Peru (ISBN 1-4000-1283-X).

Footprint South American Handbook 2006. Footprint. 2005. 1680p. illus. maps. ISBN 1-904777-46-5. pap. $39.95.
For independent, fit travelers and backpackers. Now in its 82nd edition, the annual South American guide covers all 13 countries, with colorful maps and well-written text. Other titles: Argentina (3d ed. ISBN 1-903471-75-3); Bolivia (4th ed. ISBN 1-904777-24-4); Brazil (4th ed. ISBN 1-904777-15-5); Colombia (2d ed. ISBN 1-900949-71-7); Ecuador and Galápagos (5th ed. ISBN 1-904777-38-4); Peru (5th ed. ISBN 1-904777-19-8); and Venezuela (3d ed. ISBN 1-903471-41-9).

Frommer's South America. 2d ed. Frommer's. 2004. 786p. maps. index. ISBN 0-7645-5625-8. pap. $23.99.
Despite some oddities (this guide does not include Paraguay or the Guianas and lists Colombia under “difficult” places to visit—along with Antarctica), Frommer's is still the standard for economical travelers, with new handy “Best of” features. Other titles: Argentina and Chile (3d ed. ISBN 0-7645-8439-1); Brazil (2d ed. ISBN 0-7645-5686-X); and Peru (2d ed. ISBN 0-7645-5627-4).

Insight Guides South America. 4th ed. Insight Guides. 2004. 423p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-58573-297-4. pap. $24.95.
The Insight series is best known for stunning photographs and detailed background information. This volume covers all 13 countries, each with its own section outlining history, features, places, and travel tips. Other titles: Argentina (4th ed. ISBN 0-88729-031-0); Brazil (5th ed. ISBN 0-88729-130-9); Chile and Easter Island (3d ed. ISBN 981-234-890-5); Ecuador and Galápagos Islands (3d ed. ISBN 0-88729-596-7); Peru (4th ed. ISBN 981-234-808-5); and Venezuela (4th ed. ISBN 981-234-953-7).

Moon Handbooks Argentina. Avalon Travel. 2004. 696p. ISBN 1-56691-509-0. pap. $19.95.
Easy to pack and fun to read. Other titles: Chile (ISBN 1-56691-405-1); Ecuador (3d ed. ISBN 1-56691-610-0); Patagonia, Including the Falkland Islands (ISBN 1-56691-613-5); and Peru (ISBN 1-56691-674-7).

Rough Guide to South America. 2004. 1102p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 1-85828-907-6. pap. $29.95.
Not just for backpackers, Rough Guides now serves independent travelers on a variety of budgets. Other titles: Argentina (2d ed. ISBN 1-84353-337-5); Bolivia (ISBN 1-85828-847-9); Brazil (5th ed. ISBN 1-84353-077-5); Chile (2d ed. ISBN 1-84353-062-7); Ecuador (2d ed. ISBN 1-84353-109-7); and Peru (ISBN 1-84353-074-0).

South America on a Shoestring. 9th ed. Lonely Planet. 2004. 1116p. ISBN 1-74104-163-5. pap. $33.99.
Long the series for off-the-beaten-path, budget-minded travelers, Lonely Planet has recently revamped to cater to a wider variety of tastes. Other titles: Argentina (5th ed. ISBN 1-74059-515-7); Bolivia (5th ed. ISBN 1-74104-018-3); Brazil (6th ed. ISBN 1-74104-021-3); Chile and Easter Island (6th ed. ISBN 1-74059-116-X); Colombia (3d ed. ISBN 0-86442-674-7); Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands (6th ed. ISBN 1-74059-464-9); Peru (5th ed. ISBN 1-74059-209-3); and Venezuela (4th ed. ISBN 1-74104-197-X).

WEB SITES

Argentine Secretariat of Tourism
www.turismo.gov.ar
In English, Spanish, and Portuguese, this well-designed site offers sections like Services for Tourists, Travel Agencies, and National Parks.

Brazilian Tourism Portal
www.embratur.gov.br
This slick, information-heavy multilingual site includes sections on Ecotourism, Destinations and Itineraries, and Tourist Tips and Support.

Chilean Tourism Promotion Corporation
www.visit-chile.org
Sections include Getting Around, Seasons & Weather, and Gastronomy; in English, Spanish, and French.

Commission for the Promotion of Peru
www.peru.org.pe
Plentiful helpful features (Peru at a Glance, Cities & Destinations, Adventure Sports) abound here in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and French.

Ecuador Ministry of Tourism
www.vivecuador.com
With options in Spanish and English, this useful and easy-to-use web site covers the various regions of Ecuador (Amazon, Andes, Coastal) and the Galápagos Islands.

Latin American Network Information Center
www.lanic.utexas.edu
This University of Texas site, also multi lingual, offers helpful travel information, like listing museums via country.

Think Venezuela Online Tourism Directory
www.think-venezuela.net
With options in English and German, this helpful, nongovernmental site maintains sections including About Venezuela, Major Attractions, National Parks, and Books & Maps.

VIDEOS

Amazon: Land of the Flooded Forest. color. 59 min. National Geographic Video. 1996. VHS ISBN 0-7922-1920-1. $19.98.
National Geographic continues here to set the standard for its visual coverage of nature and the outdoors, this time visiting the “lungs of the world”—the Amazon.

Argentina. 60 min. 2004. DVD ISBN 1-932702-25-3. $19.95; VHS. 1997. $17.95.
Bolivia. 60 min. 2000. VHS ISBN 1-900979-76-4. $17.95.
Brazil. color. 118 min. 2002. DVD ISBN 1-900979-90-X. $19.95.
Chile and Easter Island. 60 min. 2003. DVD ISBN 1-932702-16-4. $19.95; VHS. 1996. $17.95.
Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. 60 min. 2004. DVD ISBN 1-932702-25-3. $19.95; VHS. 1995. $17.95.
Peru. 60 min. 2004. DVD ISBN 1-932702-24-5. $19.95; VHS. 1996. ISBN 1-900979-35-7. $17.95. ea. vol: color. Pilot Prods./Globe Trekker. 888-565-0361; www.globetrekkerstore.com/merchant2/merchant.mv.
Featuring compelling narratives and high production values, the popular PBS adventure travel series attends a Candomble ceremony (a cult similar to voudou) in Brazil and munches on deep-fried guinea pig in the Andes.

Galápagos. color. 39 min. IMAX. 2002. DVD ISBN 0-7907-6356-7. $14.98.
See for yourself the rich flora and fauna that Darwin described. From the really big screen to your home; IMAX is popular with the museum crowd.