WINNER OF THE WALES BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
For five months John Harrison journeys through this secret country, walking alone into remote villages where he is the first gringo the inhabitants have ever seen, and where life continues as if Columbus had never sailed. He lives at over 10,000 feet for most of the trip, following the great road of the Incas: the Camino Real, or Royal Road.
Hand built over 500 years ago, it 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 is attacked, gets lost and is trapped by floods, but only when he goes home does he lose what he wants most.
‘His approach is thorough and his excitement contagious...’
– The Independent on Sunday
‘This is a must read for those who want to get below the surface and find out about the real Peru... He brings to life the landscape he treks through...’
– Lonely Planet
‘...a lyrical and sharply observed account...’
– JP O’ Malley