This small, hardbound, fine print book is absolutely packed with information on South and Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. For each country there are maps, information on climate, geography, history, food, holidays, and best of all, city by city and town by town— how to get around, what to see, and where to stay and eat. Furthermore, the Handbook isn’t just for ricos. It includes listings for good 50-cent meals and two-dollar-a-night hotels with hot water. For most of us, the “how to get around”information is most valuable: what bus lines to take (and which to avoid), which border crossings are easiest, what to expect on long train rides (pack food), and which little airlines go where.
