Moon Handbooks Yucatan Peninsula [With Spanish Phrase Book]

by Gary Chandler Prado and Liza Prado Chandler

From exploring Mayan ruins and lounging on Caribbean beaches to going on an eco-tourism adventure, Moon Handbooks Yucatan Peninsula is the guide to the best the country has to offer, both on and off the beaten path. Practical information includes suggested travel strategies and lists of must-see sights, plus essentials on dining, transportation, and accommodations for a range of budgets. Complete with details for traveling through hot spots like Merida,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566915767
• ISBN13: 9781566915762
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing
• Length: 509 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.6" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Informative but also fun to read

This is a great book for the non-Cancun, non-all-inclusive inclined traveler. I used this edition last summer while traveling around the Yucatan and found it incredibly useful, accurate, and informative. One of the useful features I liked was the fact that they include time tables that show the length of time needed to travel between cities on the peninsula- an important detail if you're taking buses, or driving, and need to plan distances/times. Not only that, it's actually fun to read- the authors write using a friendly, conversational tone. Their enthusiasm for the peninsula and their appreciation for the culture there comes through in their writing. I found myself longing to visit parts of the peninsula that I hadn't planned on, based on their descriptions alone! I realize that a more recent edition has come out since I've used this book, and I'm sure it's just helpful and informative as this one.

Awesome book, but prior to hurricane

For basics that will never change, short of a mass destruction of the entire Yucatan, this book is fantastic. I've used and abused this book for 3 trips to the region. With the bus schedules, the bus routes, the ways to do tours on your own for practically pennies compared to the formal over priced tours, this book easily paid for itself in the first day trip we ventured out on. Great background info on the region and history, things to do, places to eat, places to stay... a wealth of good info. I will definitely buy the next edition when it's updated.

Great travel companion

Hands down the best guidebook to the Yucatan. Great suggestions for restaurants and hotels, great driving directions, and accuracy in even the little details. We followed the recommendations and were rarely disappointed. The only thing it was dead wrong on was the restaurant suggestions in Isla Mujeres. We used it to drive all over the northern Yucatan, small towns, ruins, ceynotes, etc. and we loved the personality and opinions of the writers.

Best Yucatan Guidebook

I bought the Moon Cancun & Cozumel for a family trip to Cancun, and got this one for traveling on my own later. I loved the Cancun book, and was equally impressed with this one. The depth is amazing - the authors seemed to go everywhere (including Chiapas, which isn't really part of the Yucatan but still fascinating). I had planned to get the Lonely Planet guide, but it's puny compared to this one and is three years old (but it costs the same!). The Moon book covers all budgets - I mostly stay at mid-range places, but talked to backpackers and high-end using the same book and they seemed equally happy. I also liked the authors' writing, unlike the cookie-cutter books you sometimes get. The background/informational sections were detailed and well-written, and they throw in enough humor thoughout to keep it interesting. Moon isn't well-known, but this is really a top-notch book.

Comprehensive and accurate

Took three books with us on our trip to the Yucatan; the Moon Handbook was the best by far. The maps are excellent. This book covered everything thoroughly including the states of Chiapas and Tabasco. The other books spent too much time on Cancun.