Customer Reviews
The best guide book to this continent by far. - By: Manta Ray, 29 Oct 2008 
I travelled extensively throughout South America for almost a year with the 2008 version. While not essential, it does comein handy from time to time.
Strengths:
- Far, far better than the ubiquitous Lonely Planet (all South American editions), which is a complete waste of space for all but the most nauseatingly banal style of travelling.
- Introduces some places a little off the beaten track.
- Gives approximate journey times & transport-company names between many locations.
- Rugged construction.
Weaknesses:
- Tries to do too much (see suggestion below).
- Could be more concise. For example, too much space is wasted waffling on about 'pleasant' (reality: dull) cathedrals.
- A little paranoid & outdated sometimes, especially with regard to some placesin Colombia.
- The Galapagos section is weak & biased towards frilly cruises (it's very easy to do almost everything by oneself, & it can be cheaper).
A suggestion:
Why not have two editions - one for real backpackers & one for holiday-makers & armchair travellers? A real backpacker does not need to lug around pages & pages of information about luxury hotels & pretentious restaurants. In fact, the backpacker edition could exclude restaurant recommendations altogether - they're virtually pointless.
Summary:
Despite its shortcomings, it's currently the only worthwhile guidebook to South America published on paper. But it needs work.
Factually incorrect, out of date - By: Beth S, 20 Apr 2008 
We purchased this book after reading other reviews & were very disappointed. Much of the information was factually incorrect, we disagreed with hotel & restaurant recommendations & often found them to be closed down or some of the worst places we stayed or ate if we did use them. In many cases we wondered if the guide writers had even been to the places & throughout south america these books could be foundin any secondhand shop that sold english books!
Also, prices are quotedin USD not local currency which makes it virtually impossible to use them as a reference. Overall very disappointing!
The Best Travel Guide to South America - By: Craig Smith, 22 Sep 2007 
I used the 2006 edition last year for six months of travelling the continent. Most of my travelling was done overland, without booking accommodationin advance. If you're thinking of doing the same then this is the guidebook for you. Its accommodation listings are more comprehensive than any other guide to the region. Importantly, it tells you clearly how long journeys are likely to take. The history & cultural commentaries are always well written & informative. Recommendations are usually reliable. I only encountered two errorsin 190 days - a business had closed down & a border post had changed its policy. Other than that everything was spot on &in my opinion, its maps were more accurate than RG's & LP's. The large area, colour maps were particularly usefulin getting an overview of your journey ahead. You only have to compare Footprint's page count with its competitors to realise it'll be the best thing you pack before flying off to this amazing part of the world.
Comprehensive and easy to use - good value - By: , 26 Jun 2000 This guide isn't produced by one of the more obvious travel publishers (naming no names!) but that shouldn't put you off as it's just the best guidebook on South America there is. It's accurate, as up to date as it's possible to be with a print edition, the sections on culture & history help pass the time on buses, what more can you ask for? Not as many pretty pictures as some other guidebooks, but then that's not what you buy it for, is it?
Indestructable, indespencible, informative - By: , 28 Mar 2000 This Footprint has helped me travel from Caracas to Lima. It has guided, not led me & has helpedin the occasional sticky situation. It has never left my side, & constatly provides me with information I may otherwise miss.
The new style paperback actually works & I have had to do very little "patching up", odd for a paperback. Must dash, I'm off to Arequipa.
