Rough Guides: On a Budget series

Rough Guides: On a Budget series

NEW YORK — Rough Guides has issued two new books as part of its “On a Budget” series: “The Rough Guide to South America On a Budget” ($31.99) and “The Rough Guide to Central America On a Budget” ($24.99).

The South and Central America guides, out this year, join a guide to “Southeast Asia On a Budget” ($26.99) released last fall. In February 2010, the publisher will re-release a new edition of the first book in the series, “Europe On a Budget,” which first appeared a year ago.

The guides have a section on itineraries; basic information on getting there, getting around, accommodations, culture, etiquette and health; and chapters on each country in the region.

Markets and festivals showcased in the guide to South America range from the Witches’ Market in Bolivia, where you can pick up herbal remedies and charms, to the Feria de Mataderos in Argentina, a celebration of all things gaucho, held Sunday evenings April-December and Saturdays the rest of the year. Ideas for outdoor activities include a jungle trek in the Amazon, wildlife-watching in the Galapagos and rafting Iguazu Falls in Brazil. For ancient sites, consider Easter Island’s mysterious statues; Machu Picchu in Peru, and the lost city of the Tayronas, Ciudad Perdida, Colombia.

The Central America guide promises that traveling by chicken bus — repurposed school buses that transport passengers, goods and livestock — is an “economical and unforgettable experience.” And if you’re headed to Guatemala, witness the Day of the Dead in Santiago Sacatepequez, held each November, where massive kites are flown in the cemetery.