Stretching close to 7000 km (4350 mi) from Venezuela to Chile, the Andes are the longest chain of mountains in the world. Add superb scenery, vibrant cultures, and a wealth of unique flora and fauna and it’s no wonder people want to explore its length. The problem is figuring out where to begin. Val Pitkethly, Kate Harper, and Victor Saunders take the burden off their reader’s shoulders with their book, The Andes: Trekking & Climbing.

What do you get when you take a Canadian trekking guide, an experienced British mountain guide and add in the expertise of a French alpine guide and climber? You get an indispensable guidebook packed with pertinent details that covers a lot of territory in just 192 pages.

The book includes comprehensive coverage of 26 treks (ranging from four days to two weeks in length) and 18 climbing peaks. It covers the Andes from south to north, divided into six chapters: Chile and Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. The introductory chapter describes the landscape, provides a brief overview of the people and village life, and informs readers as to why Columbia’s instability keeps it from being included in the guide.

The following chapters briefly introduces the logistics involved in trekking the Andes – from hiring pack animals and guides to basic equipment and safety.
Each country chapter begins with an excellent overview of the history, geography and culture as well as specific travel details before diving into each trek (e.g. Trek 1: Circuit of Torres del Paine – a 6-10 day, 100 km/62 mile hike in Chile’s most famous national park).

I got a chuckle out of the brief sidebar in the introductory chapter offering 32 Spanish words and phrases. If you don’t know how to say “yes” and “no” in Spanish already, then you’re in trouble! But I guess it does reinforce the fact that language is an issue worthy of addressing prior to arrival. Overall, the abundant sidebars - covering everything from trekking essentials (length, access, highest point, restrictions, options, and maps) to elevation profiles, and airlines to trekking agencies - are well worth every inch on the page.

The Andes: Trekking & Climbing is easy-to-follow, concise, well-illustrated, and packable. I’d definitely pick up a copy prior to planning a trek in the Andes. The amount of information in this slim guide is quite simply astonishing.