We've all heard of Atlantis and many people dismiss it as no more than an entertaining and enduring piece of legend.  But what if it wasn't in the Atlantic Ocean at all, but high in the Andes?  And who was really the first person from the Old World to set foot on the New - Leif Erikson, Columbus or Africans thousands of years ago?  It was with these exciting and unconventional ideas in mind that John Blashford-Snell, Richard Snailham and others set out on an epic journey across South America, navigating the Amazon in traditional reed boats to find out if pre-Inca people could have done the same with their trade goods.

Here is a highly readable account of this marathon journey and all the people who were involved, the places seen, the excavations and pure spirit of adventure.  The star of the story is undoubtedly South America itself with its vast variety of different terrains and climates and the very differing peoples whose way of life - though under threat - is still distinct and unique.  The books explores the rich and diverse history of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina - find out why women still outnumber men by three to one in Paraguay, Bolivian campesinas wear bowler hats and the archaeological treasures unearthed by the team on their voyage.

Lost civilizations, jungles meriting their vivid description as Green Hell, unique wildlife and breathtaking scenery all feature in this book. If you enjoyed the travel books of Gerald Durrell with their lively cast of humans and animals then you ought to enjoy this one.  The authors have just the right light touch to make the tale entertaining and the necessary amount of gravity and knowledge to show that this is all exciting and worthwhile research.  Highly readable.