Machu Picchu Guidebook

by Alfredo Valencia Zegarra, Alfredo Valencia Zegarra

This revised edition of the Machu Picchu Guidebook includes newly discovered sites. New photos and maps with full-color illustrations of real life scences from National Geographic Magazine."The best all-around guide for all who've been or are going to Machu Picchu. . . . Absolutely indispensible." - Don Montague

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, History

188 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2001

Reviews

[Seth Konynenbelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was exactly what it said it was, a guidebook

[Yi · Rating 1 out of 5]

The so-called "foldout" 3-page-wide map at the end of the book comes in two parts (physically separated). A two-page piece is just inserted inside the book. I don't know why the publisher thinks inserting such a page that's so easy to lose or damage is a good idea...

And on page ix, i.e., the third page with some actual content, there is an inexcusable mistake. It says Cusco's elevation is 11,000 ft or 3,600 m... Well, the 11,000 ft is right. Google would tell you 11,152 ft. But that converts to 3,400 m.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is not current, but it still gave a lot of good advice about where to go when we visit in a few weeks. It also gave a lot of information of what to look at while we are there. Lots of great pictures too.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit technical. Boring to read, but probably good for navigating through Machu Picchu. We had an actual guide, so I didn’t need precise step-by-step directions.

[Jishnu Mullick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book if you want to get to know each and every structure in Machu Picchu. I read it after my visit to Machu Picchu. I wish I had read it before as well as after.

[Robert]

Still accurate after 15 years. Some trails and caves are now closed off

[Douglas Domer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu, this is a most excellent purchase before and as you are planning your trip!

[Giacomo Matteucci]

Should be at the top of your list

[Natalie Kayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks sis @quincy. Learning more before my trek!!

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book before I went to Peru and packed it with me on the Inca Trail. If you are looking for a detailed history that relates the discovery and general theories regarding Machu Picchu, there are probably better books out there. But, if you are looking for detailed information regarding specific archeological features of the ruins, this book is tough to beat.

Aside from being quite informative, it is an enjoyable read. It is not meant to be a picture book (there are plenty of those too), instead it takes a more academic approach. It has detailed diagrams and maps that help to bring together the descriptions provided in the text.

After hiking the Inca trail and arriving at Machu Picchu, I left my group and took a few hours by myself to do some exploring. I had this book in one hand and my camera in the other. I had studied and highlighted the things in the book I wanted to find, and with the help of the maps I was able to locate them and review what the text said about the history. As the subtitle indicates, it is very much intended to facilitate a 'Self Guided Tour', and does so well!

[Paul Eckert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Machu Picchu Guidebook is a must if you're going to visit Machu Picchu. The authors cover most of the ruins at Machu Picchu in a short span, providing some history and interesting facts about Incan civilization.

I recently visited Machu Picchu for the first time, and I was glad to have read this book before I went. The guides don't have time to tell you everything about the ruins, so it was nice to have some knowledge before going.

The book also goes over some side trips and areas that the guides won't even tell you about, so it's worth getting for these alone.

There are plenty of pictures, but at times I wish there had been more to illustrate some of the things she describes. However, the great foldout maps in the back are a great reference, one of them being a splendid illustration of Machu Picchu in its Inca heyday.

Highly recommended for anyone planning a trip to Machu Picchu, or for anyone that has been and wants to see what they might have missed.

If you're planning a trip, I would also recommend Turn Right At Machu Picchu by Mark Adams.

[Jessica Harmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was boring to read. It is basically a walk through Machu Picchu, telling you where to look and what you're seeing. It's supposed to be the best guidebook to take to Machu Picchu, but it was not as interesting to read while in California. I did gain an understanding of the geography of the site, as well as what things we will see and what current scholars think they were. The book was very useful at Machu Picchu itself, as we tried to make sense of all the impressive masonry and history of the place. We used the book to guide our tour, and it gave all the same factoids as the IRL guides. I'm glad I read it before, though, since I didn't have to spend my time t the site reading through the paragraphs. I could just skim through and remember what was important about that bit of rock.

[Sivaram Velauthapillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the architecture of Macchu Picchu, this book provides details on the ruins at Macchu Picchu. If you are planning to travel there, this is worth picking up. Even if you hire tour guides on site, it may be useful to study the site on your own with this book. One of the reasons I purchased this book is because it had some info on the various side trips you can do at Macchu Picchu (climb Macchu Picchu mountain, Huyana Picchu, walk to Sun Gate, etc). The book also has a two-page fold-out map of Macchu Picchu, which is helpful to navigate the site.

[Katie Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully informative book, though I've yet to put it to the test -- I just finished reading it and leave for Peru in May, so I will update with accuracy/usefullness as a guidebook when I come back.

As for the book itself, it is clear, concise and easy to read. It has plenty of useful pictures and diagrams that serve to enhance the explanation. It was very easy to follow and had plenty of really interesting information. Overall, it's a wonderful guidebook!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I brought this with me when we visited Machu Picchu this summer. It was SO helpful when touring the site! I was able to tell my husband all kinds of extra information not mentioned by our tour guide, the maps were very helpful, and the pictures are beautiful! Our tour guide saw me holding it and said that he thought it was one of the best reference guides on the market for Machu Picchu.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great way to guide your own way through Machu Picchu. Informative, easy to follow, great maps.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super informative, straightforward book on Machu Picchu. Great explanations of the site's architecture and cultural significances, with photos to clarify. I'll be taking it with me on the trail!

[Jeana Salman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. We ended up having an excellent guide at the site, so I felt the book was mostly unnecessary. I think it would be more useful for someone wanting to explore the ruins on their own.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide with pictures and explanations

[Sandycurtis]

not enough pictures - more of a history

[Rhett Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this before I visited Manchu Picchu. Well worth the read. I also noticed that the authors are very careful to distinguish between fact and assumption.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide book!