Winner of Wales Book of the Year Award 2011
In every atlas there is a country missing from the maps of South America: the Andean nation. For five months John Harrison journeys through this secret country, walking alone into remote villages where he is the first gringo the locals have ever seen, and where life continues as if Columbus had never sailed. He lives at over 10,000 feet for almost the entire trip, following the great road of the Incas: the Camino Real, or Royal Road. Hand-built over 500 years ago, this road crosses the most difficult and dangerous mountains in all the Americas, diving into sweltering canyons and soaring up into the snows. 1500 miles, half of it on foot, take him from the Equator to Cuzco and the most magical city of all: Machu Picchu. He meets locals and discovers some he can trust – and some he can’t. He struggles with dog attacks, floods, losing his way and even a stubborn donkey, but only when he returns home does he lose what he wants most.
'A must read' - Lonely Planet
Author Bio
John Harrison comes from a line of aviators and seafarers. He began travel writing after a life-
changing trip to Antarctica. Forgotten Footsteps won Creative Non-Fiction Wales Book of the Year 2013. He also won the inaugural Alexander Cordell Travel Writing Competition in 2004, and again in 2006. John is a frequent reviewer for New Welsh Review and the Mail on Sunday, and has written for Planet and the Daily Telegraph.