[.ca] Lonely Planet Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands (ISBN 1740594649)

Pick of the litter:
This book was recommended by a friend who had been to Ecuador, and for good reason. The descriptions are give just enough information without missing the key points. I tried some of the more obscure places that were recommended by the Guide and found all of them to be worth the trip. The comments were pretty good and accurate, so if the authors tell you not to miss something, don't miss it and vice versa. The historical notes are accurate. Combine the book with a trip to the US State Department websites to get a good, rounded background. I also visited the Galapagos, and the book was too skimpy and rudimentary. The animal pictures are fine but quite incomplete. Don't rely on this guide if you are going to the Islands. Overall, a handy book. I read or skimmed a few other books in preparation for my trip and this one was equaly to or better than the rest.

Indispensable:
A true guidebook from our favorite travel publisher, we ended up using this book more for its information about Ecuador and its capital city, Quito, than we did for the information on the islands. While I doubt that anyone actually reads a travel guidebook from front to back, what we do like to do with the Lonely Planet guides is to concentrate on the two text sections called "Facts about the Country" and "Facts for the Visitor." These sections help travelers gain some insight into the place they are about to visit, including cultural clues (for example, it is generally not acceptable to wear shorts in Latin American cities, even if you are on vacation) and suggestions for places to go and things to see. Make sure you get the most recent edition of the guidebook if you plan to use the restaurant recommendations.

Helped plan travel at El Cafecito in Quito:
While I was living in Ecuador, I helped plan other people's travel experiences in Ecuador. For maps and information, this is the best book out of all that I have seen with people. The ones with the whole continent do NOT do Ecuador justice. Ecuador can take up to 1 MONTH for the BEST traveling. If you have 4 months...spend 1 in Ecuador and use this book.

Good hand book:
I found This book a good help and way to get to know about your destination(Ecuador). I read this book and enjoy it. I liked the way the author present his information to the readers about this destination. I have been to Ecuador and comparing the information that the author presented in his book, with some other local and travel guides of Ecuador i can see that there are some important missing information. In the other hand the book provides lot of good information, recomendations of what to do and visit when you visit this country. The author gets you to this trip while you are reading it, and makes you want to be there. I sugguest that anybody that is going to Ecuador to read this book before they go there. The author provides you with lot of information about this place, in that way you can have an idea of what to expect while you get there, what to visit etc. It is a good help for the travellers, but also check information with other sources and travel guides about this place to avoide confusion or missing information.

Good Choice:
A good choice for a practical guide. Information is current and accurate. Maps are great. Never got lost!