One-stop-shopping travel guideThe Amazon -- a region of mythic
proportions, and of a mythic number of travel choices. Plenty of travel
guides compare and contrast this or that hotel, lodge or restaurant in
the various countries encompassed by the Amazon rainforest, and
traversed by the world's biggest river. But when it comes to researching
a trip that is right for you, an online search spills forth thousands of
results. Online reviews only go so far. It is sometimes hard to tell if
a review has been posted by the tour operator or lodge owner. That's
where Amazon Highlights comes in. This book caters to the first-time
Amazon traveler by narrowing down the choices. Based on more than 20
years of travel to the region, leading natural history and photography
tours, author Roger Harris shares his experience to explain to the
reader exactly what to look for in a tour operator. A step-by-step
checklist allows the reader to easily see red flags to steer them away
from the cowboys and toward reputable, reliable tour operators. The book
highlights the most reputable and eco-conscious tried and trusted tour
operators and lodges, as well as the best travel opportunities the
Amazon has to offer. The book includes several sponsored sections
featuring carefully selected tour operators renowned for their
reputation and expertise, thus providing the reader an insider
perspective of the region's travel opportunities. The book is lavishly
illustrated with gorgeous photos, maps and even diagrams such as one
that shows the variation in annual river level, and thus the best time
to travel there. The author is a qualified biologist so the detailed
natural history information is scientifically accurate. Comprising
almost a third of the book, this section focuses on the animals and
plants a first-time visitor is likely to see, rather than just the
glamorous animals that are the sole interest of most travel guides or
magazines. Other invaluable information includes health and safety,
shopping tips, viewing wildlife and photography, and so much more. The
book really does provide one-stop-shopping for a first-time traveller to
the region.
