Turn Right at Machu Picchu

Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

By: Mark Adams

Narrated by: Andrew Garman

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Writer for the New York Times and GQ, Mark Adams is also the acclaimed author of Mr. America. In this fascinating travelogue, Adams follows in the controversial footsteps of Hiram Bingham III, who’s been both lionized and vilified for his discovery of the famed Lost City in 1911 - but which reputation is justified?

©2011 Mark Adams (P)2012 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“Adams deftly weaves together two story lines, each peopled with striking characters and astonishing landscapes.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Delightful

The author, Mark Adams, retraces the steps that led Yale Professor, Hiram Bingham, to discover Machu Picchu one hundred years ago, on July 24, 1911.

The chapters more or less alternate between Bingham’s and Adams’ expeditions. Adams packs a lot of information into the book. He includes anecdotes, observations and sometimes he tosses in hilarious tidbits. He also includes information on the flora and fauna as well as Inca history of the area. He also describes what it is like today. I picked up a bit of trivia: “Peru has twenty of the thirty-four types of climatic zones of the Earth and mules have bowel problems at high altitudes.”

The book is meticulously researched. The author does an okay job with intertwining three separate plots. I discovered that the April 1913 issue of the National Geographic is all about Bingham’s discovery of Machu Picchu. This is available on CD or on line for members. It was great to hike the Inca trail without doing the physical work and deal with the mosquitoes.

Andrew Garman does a good job narrating the book. Garman is an actor and audiobook narrator.

Don’t read before going to MP. Or do. It’s your spirit walk

Wonderfully researched. Humorous. Relatable. Awful accents. Just read in whatever your mother accent is.

Recommend not reading before doing the Inca Trail. While you’ll learn things you maybe wish you had known before your journey, you will also be unable to approach the ancient natural, archaeological, historical & spiritual journey with a clean mind. Plenty of “packing list guides” exist to get you ready.

That said, I totally agree his best piece of advice about planning a trip—don’t fly all the way to Perú and rush the Inca Trail. The less popular 5 day, 4 night hike is absolutely the best travel decision I made about Perú.

Great story telling-both past and present

We thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book on our vacation. Mark Adams wove a great story around the Incan history, Hiram Bingham's expeditions and his own Machu Picchu experience.

Must Read before visiting Machu Picchu

Excellent linkage of the adventures of Mark Adams as he retraces the explorations of Hiram Bingham and the history of both the Inca people and Bingham's efforts leading to the discovery of Machu Picchu. A must-read before visiting the site.

Entertaining travelogue...

Entertaining travelogue of the past and present of Peru’s Inca treasures. A virtual vacation during covid lockdown. South America is high on my list of places to head next and Mark Adams book is a great intro for what will certainly be part of my journey. Adams does a fantastic job tying together the historic journeys and life of Hiram Bingham, the current state of the trail and many of the key events of the intervening years. Adventure travel fans will not be disappointed. And the narration is excellent.

Too many technical glitches

Unfortunately this book was copied from a bad CD with many tracks skipping. The story was good with a little too much emphasis on the writer, but with lots of interesting details. The narrator was excellent.

Great Travel Log

Listened to it almost straight through. Never drags. I was sad to see it end. No false drama, just clever pacing.

Now I'm ready for Machu Picchu

Would you listen to Turn Right at Machu Picchu again? Why?

Maybe - after going to Machu Picchu. I think I would hear it in a new way

What did you like best about this story?

The description of sunrise on the Winter Solstice and learning about Hiram Bingham

What about Andrew Garman’s performance did you like?

He made the characters come alive without overdoing it

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

While I read this book in preparation for a trip to Machu Picchu, I enjoyed getting an insiders perspective, one that I know I won't get as a tourist.

Loved the humor..

What a great book for historical and traveling information on Machu Picchu. The personal narrative kept the story moving.

Not what I was expecting.. in the best way!

I Purchased this book on a whim from an audible sale recently. Something about the description struck a chord with me. I am so glad that I bought this book. It has become one my favorite books.