At the beginning of this book the author states that Honduras is the only logical choice for living in Central America. He bases his view only on the low cost of living and not the quality of life. Costa Rica is more expensive than Honduras but has better infrastructure and the quality of life. The weather is also superior in Costa Rica.

This book was very helpful in making our decision to retire to Honduras. It provided us with valuable and insightful information on what to expect and how to go about settling into our new found country.

This book is well written and easy to follow. He covers the culture, history, towns/cities, regions, health/medical, laws of residency, etc. In all of my research of living in Honduras this book is the most comprehensive. I especially liked his "Prime Living Choices" where he covers the capitals, the islands, mid size towns, and even small towns. When I go and visit I am including the smaller places. Places I would of never considered before this book.

The Confession of Joe Cullen is a fast-moving novel with good characterizations and dialogue. It takes off from real newspaper accounts of the 1983 disappearance of a Catholic priest, Fr. James Carney, in Honduras. The author then weaves a story of the guilty man's confession, police investigations, and murders.

Because of his views and his commitment to justice, the real Fr. Carney was deported from Honduras in 1979 and lived in Nicaragua for several years. He was very encouraged by the social gains of the Sandinista revolution, but his heart remained in Honduras. During this time he wrote To Be a Revolutionary (listed by Amazon.com), while pastor of a rural parish. Fr. Carney entered Honduras in 1983 as chaplain to a revolutionary group.The column was surrounded by the Honduran army; some were captured and later released; others were killed; and many (like Fr. Carney ) disappeared. His remains have never been found, and we do not know how he died or disappeared.

In a New York Times Magazine article (June 5, 1988) entitled "The Honduran Army's Death Squad: How Much Did the U.S. Know?" author James LeMoyne quoted Florencio Caballero (a deserter from the Honduran army, now deceased) as saying that he personally interrogated Carney after the priest's capture: "Around the time Ms. Murillo was seized, Florencio Caballero said, he interrogated an American priest, Father James Carney...." Caballero's account that "Father Carney and nearly 70 of the captured guerrillas were executed" was "seconded by a Honduran officer."

During recent years the U.S. government has declassified and released large amounts of material, in response to an official request by the Honduran government. However, almost 50% of this material is blacked out, including paragraphs in sensitive areas where Father Carney is described as being captured by the Honduran military, tortured, and dismembered. In 1997 the C.I.A. acknowledged that this version "cannot be ruled out." (The official Honduran army version in 1983 was that perhaps Carney had starved to death in the mountains. Nevertheless, the army presented his stole, chalice and bible to his relatives but said they had not recovered his body.) One declassified C.I.A. page presents a report by an unnamed Honduran soldier who says that he carried Father Carney's head in his knapsack; recently Honduran newspapers have quoted a peasant leader who says that Honduran military officers told him that Carney's head is preserved in a jar of alcohol in what is now the Ministry of Defense building. For more information about Fr. Carney and the efforts to find his remains and to discover what happened to him, please contact Joseph Mulligan at guvols@nicarao.org.ni

For folks interested in this relatively unexplored portion of Central American, this account is a thorough examination of the flora, fauna, peoples and customs of the region. I'm still curious about his straighforward description of the legendary "chupacabra".

very nice unassuming book indepth and informative.I highly recommend it for people interested in foreign places and especial interest in Honduras

i've been to honduras 4 times, and this book helped. however, i try and stay off the beaten path. one great place to go is valle de angeles, a great village selling crafts and such. my advice would also be to experience some of village life and day to day living and do not get so caught up in only seeing beaches and nice restaurants. danli is an interesting place worth seeing...

If you want to know something about Honduran history and politics, if you want to know why that unfortunate land is so unfortunate, read this book. I don't think there is another book which will give you the background so well. It is readable and informative. How well I remember living there many years ago and often finding it difficult to buy a banana in the consummate 'banana republic'. That said it all to me. This book explains why that could be. Read it.

Very thorough and well written commentary on the social, economic and political situation in Honduras. It delves into the role of the US and the "new global order" in shaping present day Honduran society.

The Foreign Service has many would-be-writers,who want to turn their exotic overseas adventures into novels and short stories. I know because I'm one of them. It is a rare one who can transform those experiences into stand-alone literary creations that do not center on the American diplomat protagonist. Mark Jacobs has succeeded. He is an inspiration. His foreign characters come alive. The interactions of cultures rings true. His sensitivity shines. I'm glad he's a writer. I'm also glad he represents his country abroad.

If you want to get a real feel for the place without falling asleep, save your money. The author takes an otherwise fascinating subject (the outdoors Central America) and, using lifeless prose, makes you wonder why you were ever interested in CA in the first place. Hotel listings are scant, as is specific information about destinations. No picutres or maps. Possibly good information about hiking, but not much on the safefy of such excursions. The Let's Go guidebook has more specific info (though not only on the outdoors) and is much more enjoyable to read.

I live in Nicaragua -- can only comment on that location. This book is just ok to suppliment. Buy Lonely Plant Central America for detail (its better then the Rough Guide).

Hi, I am working at ILISA Spanish Language Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica and I just want to let you know that this book help our students a lot by giving them helpful tips and by making any travel plans for the weekends. Thanks!

I love Peterson's Guides, but the birds of Mexico is severely lacking. The art certainly holds up to the standard set by the guides to North America, but unfortunately, it can only be considered complete if you tag along two other Peterson Guides. Perhaps a good addition if you wish to complete your collection of Peterson Guides, but otherwise, buy Howell's or Edward's Guides, both of which far outshine this guide when considered alone. Howell's is certainly the most complete, but Edward's guide is a bit handier in the field.

I ordered this book, used, even though there was an unfavorable review. I have a number of Peterson books and like them all. The Mexican book is the exception. The one I received was from a very old edition, had incomplete illustrations of many birds, making identification difficult to impossible, and did not picture many birds found in other Peterson guide books. It is the worst. The reseller did ship the book promptly but I did not pay attention to the edition date and was unaware that there was a later edition of the book.

Other reviewers have already indicated the limitations of this book: pictures of many species and Spanish names are missing. I would add that the bibliography is lacking up-to-date references to the most usefull other guides about Mexican birds:

- A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America, by Steve N.G. Howell and Sophie Webb;

- A field guide to the birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas, by Ernest Preston Edwards. (revised edition, 1998)

Both these books also have their limitations but they are essential complements to Peterson's guide and Howell and Webb's guide is much more comprehensive.

For Spanish-speaking people I would strongly recommend to buy the Spanish version of Peterson's guide:

- Aves de Mexico. Guía de Campo. (Editorial Diana, Mexico).

This Spanish version includes explanations and pictures of all Mexican birds and it even has the English names (no index of English names, however). Amazon is not stocking this title but perhaps they will, if you insist.