Turn Right at Machu Picchu
2011 • 352 pages
Ratings3
Average rating4
15
Ratings3
Average rating4
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING TRAVEL MEMOIR What happens when an unadventurous adventure writer tries to re-create the original expedition to Machu Picchu? In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent. Turn Right at Machu Picchu is Adams’ fascinating and funny account of his journey through some of the world’s most majestic, historic, and remote landscapes guided only by a hard-as-nails Australian survivalist and one nagging question: Just what was Machu Picchu?
Reviews with the most likes.
The perfect mix of somewhere I'll never get to, great description of the people and surroundings, author's experience, and a great sense of humor told with great comedic timing.
Surprisingly enjoyable and complex. Bits of travelogue, history, opinion, even discovery—fitting for a book I chanced upon accidentally while browsing for maps at Travel Bug.
Adams ostensibly sets off to recreate Hiram Bingham's 1911 “discovery” of Machu Picchu as a centennial observation, retracing parts of Bingham's route and trying to offer us a vision of the world in those days. What he ends up with is a rich panorama of context: prehistoric, post-conquest, early twentieth century, and present day. Adams does a remarkable job of presenting the zeitgeist of each, vividly and memorably. Not just the history but the landscape, the personalities involved, even down to the minute but essential realities of plants, insects, and muddy trails. He takes you there. Adams himself is mostly invisible throughout the book; the main character is his guide, John Leivers, a truly fascinating Australian expat.
Engaging, entertaining, informative, often funny, often moving. A real gem. An absolute must-read if you're headed to Cusco, and a should-read even if you're not.
