Lonely Planet Guatemala

Book Description

Marvel at ancient temples rising above the jungle canopy alive with exotic birds. Visit traditional Mayan villages on the banks of a volcano-ringed crater lake. Immerse yourself in the timeless charms of colonial Antigua. Explore fascinating caves and cool off in hidden lagoons. Our ultimate guide to Guatemala covers every corner of this inspiring country.

-FIND YOUR WAY - loads of detailed maps, up-to-date bus schedules and crucial border-crossing information.

-ESCAPE THE CROWDS - insider tips from our experienced authors help you make the most of Guatemala's best-kept secrets.

-GET BELOW THE SURFACE - insights on the nation's archaeological treasures and contemporary Mayan life.

-LEARN THE LINGO - in-depth reviews of Guatemala's best language schools, plus an easy-to-use guide to Spanish and Mayan basics.

-REST EASY - frank, in-depth hotel and restaurant reviews eliminate the guesswork at any budget.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent, Helpful Guide.......2007-03-05

Once again, the Lonely Planet has outdone itself with its guidebook, Guatemala. Even Guatemalans recognized the book and held it in high regard. My traveling companion and I started calling it, La Biblia--the Bible--by the second day of travel. It was, however, a 2004 edition. I traveled in February 2007. Some things were out of date or not mentioned. Nonetheless, as someone who mainly hit the tourist spots of Antigua and Pana, I felt very well satisfied with the advice and guidance in the book.

Great buy!.......2007-02-26

If you're heading to Guatemala, this book has tons of useful information. The maps could be better, but overall this book was with me where ever I went.

useful, but disappointing.......2006-02-05

on every backpacking trip, a lonely planet was always one of the must-haves because they are always so on it when it comes to accuracy and reliability. well, i was disappointed by this guatemala edition. the author raved about the country: antigua, tikal, the people...so i had all these warm fuzzy expectations. that was mistake number one.

antigua was described as this beautiful "magical" colonial city. i spent over two weeks there to study spanish and magical wasnt at all what i experienced. nice, yes, but not MAGICAL. ever been to oaxaca, mexico? now, thats lively and magical. antigua shuts down pretty early, so if youre looking for food say at 10pm or later, youre out of luck. if you like bars (i dont), well, then your IN luck. the buildings in antigua were colorful and you can find old landmarks all around, but again, it did not have that "magical" atmosphere like the author described. im not alone on this.

tikal was not a must-see. at least not if youve already seen all the ancient sites in southern mexico. i was not impressed, but the author of the lonely planet (and apparently by some travelers) raved about how amazing it was. maybe the view from one of the temples was breathtaking, and oh yes, the howling monkeys can give you a startle if you didnt know they were just monkeys, but other than that, i was not impressed.

and as for the people, i didnt find them to be all that warm and friendly. they know youre a tourist, and they treat you like one. i stayed with a family for two weeks and still didnt experience that sincerety and warmth. i surmised somehow, that the toursim altered that experience of genuine friendliness. i found that especially true in antigua. the locals really take advantage of the tourist. theyre like robots repeating the same whiny phrase, "que compran?" when you walk by. sometimes, they dont even look at you when they say it.

i guess the author was enamoured with guatemala (he has been many times)...but i didnt find his bias to the country to be all that accurate. its the first time that ive been disappointed by the info in a lonely planet, after having used at least six or seven of them for my other travels.

buy this one for its maps and how-to-get-around and logistics like that. just watch out for the biased reviews of places. judge for yourself and ask other travelers.

This book is spot on........2006-01-22

I traveled to Guatemala for two weeks in the summer of 2005 and used Lonely Planet the entire time. It was my first trip there, so I needed and wanted extensive detail and maps, which this book provided. I found it to be right on about everything from restaurants and hotels to ATM locations. I appreciated the small bits of cultural and historical information as well. The transportation sections were the most helpful. On several occasions I had people ask to borrow my LP to look up bus connections. Overall, I thought it was excellent and recommend it highly to anyone traveling to Guatemala.

Very helpful guide to travel to Guatemala........2004-01-21

Lonely planet is very popular in this country. You'll see a lot of travelers with a copy of the book. The maps are very acurate and you'll find good recomendations. What's great about this country is that people are friendly, so you only need the basics and the book has them.

Lonely Planet Belize, Guatemala and Yucatan

Average customer rating:

Perfect for my trip
Practical but a bit flawed
I Wouldn't Even Give it ONE Star...
I agree Very out of date!
Informative but prices are off

Lonely Planet Belize, Guatemala and Yucatan
Conner Gorry , Danny Palmerlee , and Lucas Vidgen
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1741040159

Book Description

Composed of Guatemala, Belize and a handful of Mexican states, La Ruta Maya inspires wanderlust with its traditional customs, phenominal Mayan sites, hedonistic beaches, superb diving and amazing wildlife. Whether you crave jungle-shrouded pyramids, adrenaline-pumping river trips or spectacular caves dripping with stalactites, our authoritative guide takes you deep into the heart of this exciting region.

• UNRAVEL THE PAST - written by an expert in the field, our chapter on ancient Mayan culture tells all • STAY ON TRACK - 128 user-friendly maps plus themed itineraries to help you plan the perfect journey • RELAX IN STYLE - from palapas to jungle ecolodges, accommodations to suit every budget and taste • TALK THE TALK - earn smiles from the locals with our handy Spanish and Mayan language chapter • GO BEYOND - in-depth coverage of the outstanding ruins of Copán in Honduras

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for my trip.......2007-06-08

I flew into Belize, took the bus up to Chetumal, Mexico on the border, then took the bus all the way down south into Guatemala (by boat). This book is ragged from me using it so much. Others borrowed it also. I wish it were a little more up to date.

Practical but a bit flawed .......2006-06-28

This Lonely Planet travel guide is valuable but flawed. Like the best Lonely Planet books, this November 2004 edition is concise, readable, and puts vital travel information at your fingertips. There's much information for budget travelers on local customs, possible hazards, changing currency, low-cost accommodations, transportation, getting to and from airports and bus terminals, etc. But this edition has a few weaknesses, which is not what you need when far from home. Several reviewers have noted that this guide has much out-of-date information on Belize. The book falls short in the maps department as well. A couple tiny maps could be added to show small towns near popular destinations to help travelers avoid getting off their bus at the wrong stop. The only map of Guatemala City doesn't show Zona 13 south of the airport where many hostels and cheap hotels are located. Also, the book warns about colder nights in the highlands but doesn't specify temperatures - a windbreaker was sufficient for a June visit.

Lonely Planet is usually a top-notch choice for backpackers and budget travelers, but this one falls a bit short in some areas.

I Wouldn't Even Give it ONE Star..........2004-12-10

This book is more than disappointing...
I used to have a lot of respect for Lonely Planet, as they took pride in sharing information for the average traveler about places that were usually off the beaten path.

However, I did not realize that they have stopped actually visiting these destinations.

I live on Caye Caulker, Belize.

The NEW book, which is their first reprint in over 4 years...has not been updated. They mention a grocery store that has been closed since 1999. They mention a deli that has been closed since 2000. The do NOT mention one new business....besides one restaurant. It is obvious Lonely Planet did not send one writer to Caye Caulker, Belize.

If they didn't take time to visit Caye Caulker ONCE in over 4 years, I can only assume the rest of the book is absolute garbage as well.

For a real Travel Book for Belize, check out Rough Guide by Peter Eltringham. He actually sends scouts out to every location before he visits. He does this to ensure that every place has a fair shot...and that they write about a real experience, not one based on a hotel or restaurant putting on a show for a known writer. Peter's writers do not announce they are writers.

That is what a real travel book should be.

Lonely Planet needs to quit relying on their name to sell books. Their information is completely outdated, and not worth your money.

Wendy Casson
www.belizecayecaulker.net

I agree Very out of date!.......2004-06-25

I agree with the earlier reviewers this guide is way out of date, prices are not even close, and places that no longer exsist. This might have been a good guide a few years ago but I would not rely on it today!

Informative but prices are off.......2004-05-23

Lonely Planet guides are my favorite because they are thorough, informative, give lots of good info for reasonably priced traveling, and identify tons of both customary and adventurous things to do and see. This holds true for this edition however, I found that the prices were significantly higher than the book stated, the water taxi times had changed, and a car rental company mentioned did not have service in Belize-not too accurate.

Lonely Planet Guatemala Belize and Yucatan LA Ruta Maya (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Guatemala Belize and Yucatan LA Ruta Maya (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)
Tom Brosnahan
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0864422202

Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belice Y Yucatan (Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belice Y Yucatan/Guatemala, Belize and Yucatan (Spanish))

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belice Y Yucatan (Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belice Y Yucatan/Guatemala, Belize and Yucatan (Spanish))
Conner Gorry
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Guatemala Et Belize (Lonely Planet Travel Guides French Edition S.)

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Guatemala Et Belize (Lonely Planet Travel Guides French Edition S.)
Conner Gorry
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications - French editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2840701820

Average customer rating:

An average book for the average traveler

Lonely Planet Guatemala
Lucas Vigden
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1741044723

Book Description

Discover Guatemala

Get up early to explore the kaleidoscope of colors and incense-clouded chaos of the Chichicastenango market, p. 150
Worship the sun - just like the ancients did - atop Tikal's towering Mayan pyramids, p.288
Pay reverence to a cigar-smoking, rum-swigging saint in the traditional village of Santiago Atitlan, p.137
Learn to roll your RRRRRRRs like a local in the world-famous language schools of Antigua, p.106

In This Guide:

Resident author brings you to the seldom-visited towns of the highlands, lowlands, rivers and coasts - 55 detailed maps will keep you on track.
Specialist-written Ancient Mayan Culture chapter explores the myths and mystery of this enigmatic people.
And - since you asked for it - we've incorporated more cultural coverage than any other guidebook.

Customer Reviews:

An average book for the average traveler.......2007-10-11

I bought this book and Moon Guatemala (Moon Handbooks) (they came out at the same time) and decided to write reviews for both. Unlike the Moon guide, I found Lonely Planet's Guatemala guide extremely disappointing. I expected much more from a resident author.

Where do I begin? For starters, you'll see the tourist hordes in Guatemala sporting this book and the previous edition of LP all over the place. It's like standard issue for people who haven't the ability to discern quality or think for themselves. You can be sure that if your hotel, restaurant or language school is in this guidebook it will be packed with the Lonely Planet sheep going along for the ride. Strangely, the author acknowledges this phenomenon in a sidebar and encourages travelers to seek out new places on their own. Speaking of sidebars, these are mostly a series of superficial interviews with local people; a nice idea in theory but not very well executed. I think the most helpful sidebars tend to expand upon material covered in the main text, which this book does not do very well.

The book also doesn't go into nearly as much depth as some of the other guides in terms of helpful background info, history and the like. Worthwhile destinations covered over several pages in some of the other guidebooks are often glossed over in a one-page summary here. It's like the abbreviated version of everything. In this regard, I think both Rough Guide and Moon do a much better job of giving travelers all the information they'll need. I also noticed that it seems very little updated from the previous edition. I'd say about 75% of the material already exists in the previous edition, sometimes verbatim, though they are different authors. Finally, the writing isn't the greatest. It might be nit-picking, but it was seriously hard to read the poor writing sometimes and you won't find yourself wanting to read this book from first page to last.

These are just a few issues off the top of my head. I know some well-heeled Guatemala travelers and residents who absolutely hate this guidebook and could probably do a much better job of pointing out its specific flaws. But if you're just along for the ride then by all means be my guest, though I'd at least consider a back-up plan. You'll thank me later.

Consider Moon Guatemala (Moon Handbooks), which I gave 5 stars. Rough Guide The Rough Guide to Guatemala 3 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) is also OK as a back-up.

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Guatemala Et Belize
Lonely Planet
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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54 Maps

Lonely Planet LA Ruta Maya, Yucatan, Guatemala and Belize (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)

Average customer rating:

Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan (La ruta Maya

Lonely Planet LA Ruta Maya, Yucatan, Guatemala and Belize (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
Tom Brosnahan
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mayan | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0864421052

Customer Reviews:

Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan (La ruta Maya.......2000-06-16

Good book,(*****) Save me hundred of dollars in tour guides, hotels and places that even a regular tourist never knew that existed.Is a shame that they don't print a new edition, I'm triying to buy another as spare, for my futures trips to that wonderful area, lot of history and culture. you can trust Tom Brosnahan with your eyes closed, belived, you never be lost if you carry this book. Jose J. Valle. Cosmopolis,Washington,U.S.A

Average customer rating:

Better Than Rough Guide or Lonely Planet...

Moon Guatemala (Moon Handbooks)
Al Argueta
Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1598800574

Book Description

Part-time Guatemala resident Alvaro Argueta provides travelers with an insider's view of Guatemala's rich ecological gems, including idyllic surfspots and popular volcanoes. Argueta is the perfect tour guide — providing trip ideas like Highland Adventure and Exploring the Maya Past and Present. Packed with information on dining, transportation, and accommodations, Moon Guatemala has lots of options for a range of travel budgets. Every Moon guidebook includes recommendations for must-see sights and many area, regional, and city-centered maps. Including experienced advice on visiting Lake Atitlan, La Antigua, and the variety of museums in Guatemala City, Moon Guatemala gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience. With expert writers, first-rate strategic advice, and an essential dose of humor, Moon guidebooks are the cure for the common trip.

Customer Reviews:

Better Than Rough Guide or Lonely Planet..........2007-09-24

This guidebook is hands down THE best guidebook if you're planning a trip to Guatemala. On the practical side, it's surprisingly lightweight despite being almost 500 pages in length. It also features some excellent photography (by the author who is also a photographer) including a great color section with accompanying intro at the start of the book.

The author, Al Argueta, is Guatemalan-American and obviously knows Guatemala intimately. He has a good grasp on the history of Guatemala and shares his insights without sounding like a boring textbook. There are all sorts of facts and tidbits included throughout that make this guide interesting. It's also very humorous in places and you can tell he had a good time researching the topic - on which he is clearly an expert. There are some well-written sidebars, too. My favorites were on "Pollo Campero", a Guatemalan fried chicken franchise that has gone global: Be sure you check out their TV comercials when you get there - They're a kick!

The maps are straight-forward and easy to read. As with other Moon guides, place names are located directly on the maps so you don't have to go looking for a key on a separate page. The book's organization is also very well thought-out. He includes a whole section on the often overlooked park known as the Maya Biosphere Reserve with tons of information on remote Maya sites. There's also a section on the cloud forests of the Verapaz region, which I haven't seen done as well elsewhere. Guatemala's more traditional destinations are covered equally as well. The Guatemala City and Antigua restaurant reviews are alone worth the price of admission.

All in all, this is a great book that gives great options for any budget. Comparing it with the other recent Guat books, this is my top pick and I expect to see others toting it on my next visit. It's raised the bar for guidebooks on Guatemala and it was about time someone with this kind of knowledge & experience wrote such an excellent guidebook to one of my favorite countries.

Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan LA Ruta Maya (Lonely Planet Belize, Guatemala & Yucatan)

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan
The straight stuff
THE BEST FOR TRAVEL IN THE YUCATAN

Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan LA Ruta Maya (Lonely Planet Belize, Guatemala & Yucatan)
Tom Brosnahan , and Nancy Keller
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0864424248

Amazon.com

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

Whether you're packing your snorkel to explore Palancar Reef (the second-longest barrier reef in the world), stocking extra film to explore the Toltec-Maya roots of Chichén Itzá, or toting your hiking boots to the volcanoes of Guatemala, this practical guide will help you get where you want to go. It features more than 100 maps; useful cultural, biological, and geographical footnotes; places to stay and eat for any budget; overviews of the major Mayan archaeological sites; and a handy glossary of Spanish and Mayan terms. This book also covers Chiapas, Tobasco, and the incredible ruins of Copán in Honduras. --Kathryn True

Book Description

100 Maps

Customer Reviews:

Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan.......2001-01-21

While being a good general guide it is not, as others seem to believe, for those of you interested in getting "off the beaten path". You will end up visiting the same sites as the rest of the thousands that have purchased this book and others like it. Also, keep in mind that this book has not been updated in three years and is not to be relied upon heavily. I do believe the Lonely Planet series is quite helpful, but remember that you are the true judge of what you see and experience.

The straight stuff.......2000-05-25

This guide is packed with a ton of great info. This book is indespensible for those traveling off the beaten path in the Yucatan, from the colonial cities to Mayan pyramids hidden in the jungle. With out this book I would have missed what became some of the highlights of my trip!

THE BEST FOR TRAVEL IN THE YUCATAN.......2000-04-25

My husband and I used this book on both of our trips to Mexico and found it fabulous. Detailed maps of the major cities. It helped us get through Cancun, Chetumal and Merida which are difficult on your own - driving or walking. This book gave hotels and restaurants for all travel budgets and if ever in Merida, I recommend the Hotel Trinidad Galleria. Quite a sight! Also detailed the ruins and gave some background. This book gave good tips for traveling to other countries too. Highly recommended for Mexico traveling.

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