Cloud Road

By John Harrison,

Book cover of Cloud Road: A Journey Through the Inca Heartland

Book description

In every atlas there is a country missing from the maps of South America: the Andean nation. 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…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Cloud Road as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Like the Stevenson book, this is also about travelling with a donkey, but what makes this narrative special is the author’s hatred of his pack animal. This will sound instantly off-putting but John’s descriptions of Dapple’s transgressions are very, very funny and his fury is never translated into violence towards the animal. There are lyrical descriptions of the landscape in northern Peru, but it is for the humour that I return to this book from time to time. I’m a sucker for any book about Peru, the subject of my early adventures and very first guidebook, and this is one…

From Hilary's list on travel with animals.

Want books like Cloud Road?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 72 books like Cloud Road.

Browse books like Cloud Road

Book cover of Travels with Charley: In Search of America
Book cover of Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes: And Other Travel Writings
Book cover of Tschiffely's Ride: Ten Thousand Miles in the Saddle from Southern Cross to Pole Star

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,351

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Andes mountains, Peru, and the Inca Empire?

Peru 51 books
The Inca Empire 18 books