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Amerzonia: A Savage Journey Through The Americas To The Amazon
A ride into the dark south of the Americas — a failed revolution, a spewing volcano, a drawer of cocaine... and a surreal parade of oddballs and freaks. Mexico to the Amazon — to ayahuasca.
226 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
31 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 26, 2019
Walters trades in his flip-flops for Chelsea boots, in this his third travel book, as he smashes his way through Central and South America over seven months. In my opinion, Amerzonia is Walters best written book so far, providing far greater insights and information on the countries that he travels through than his previous books. But don’t fret, as there’s no less profanity or political incorrectness than his previous offerings, which is exactly what makes Walters a breath of fresh air.
Eye wateringly funny chapters on birding in Honduras, saving the turtles in Costa Rica and lying on idyllic islands in Nicaragua stand alongside chapters detailing Walters numerous interactions with “white coffee” in Colombia, Ayahuasca in the Amazon rainforest and tear gas in Honduras. The last being the only one he willingly didn’t choose to ingest/inhale.
If you’re easily offended, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you’re after a rivetting tale of full on travelling that breaks the shackles of conventional travelogues then make sure you pick up this Amerzing book.
Eye wateringly funny chapters on birding in Honduras, saving the turtles in Costa Rica and lying on idyllic islands in Nicaragua stand alongside chapters detailing Walters numerous interactions with “white coffee” in Colombia, Ayahuasca in the Amazon rainforest and tear gas in Honduras. The last being the only one he willingly didn’t choose to ingest/inhale.
If you’re easily offended, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you’re after a rivetting tale of full on travelling that breaks the shackles of conventional travelogues then make sure you pick up this Amerzing book.
September 20, 2019
Having previously read Footloose by Mark Walters, I was very excited to hear about Amerzonia.
From the usual tourist focused activities right through to sampling a mega-hallucinogenic deep in the Amazonian Forest, the authors style of writing and non-PC humor makes it feel less like reading a book, and more like you’re there, traveling with him.
Definitely a recommended read!
From the usual tourist focused activities right through to sampling a mega-hallucinogenic deep in the Amazonian Forest, the authors style of writing and non-PC humor makes it feel less like reading a book, and more like you’re there, traveling with him.
Definitely a recommended read!
September 21, 2020
The subtitle tells all.
Mark Walters, a mid-age 30 something Brit with skinny jeans and Chelsea boots, decides to travel overland from Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro. He explains his choices by noting that one really doesn't learn anything by being far away from the land, from the people, from the buildings and crops, and his is a journey to gain insight, stories, and just a few chemical alterants. He keeps assiduous notes about what he sees outside the bus windows, who he meets in the small villages, how things smell, feel, and seem in places that most European or American men would not even consider visiting.
Like any good bit of travel writing, Amerzonia is also about Mark Walters and his own philosophies and questions and insights and sense of himself in this world. His is a wry lens, one that shows the vagaries of cultures, practices, graft, and other human flotsam and jetsam throughout Latin America. His anecdote are revealing of the world and of his own predilections, and, though most readers will never travel by bus, mini van, bike, foot, riverboat, or, at one point, yacht (to the amazing world of the San Blas Islands), they will feel like they've taken an amazing journey, that they have negotiated with police on the take, with cooks ready to share, with other travelers whose motivation is the acquisition of better and stronger hallucinogens.
A wild ride shared by an insightful writer. I look forward to his future books.
Mark Walters, a mid-age 30 something Brit with skinny jeans and Chelsea boots, decides to travel overland from Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro. He explains his choices by noting that one really doesn't learn anything by being far away from the land, from the people, from the buildings and crops, and his is a journey to gain insight, stories, and just a few chemical alterants. He keeps assiduous notes about what he sees outside the bus windows, who he meets in the small villages, how things smell, feel, and seem in places that most European or American men would not even consider visiting.
Like any good bit of travel writing, Amerzonia is also about Mark Walters and his own philosophies and questions and insights and sense of himself in this world. His is a wry lens, one that shows the vagaries of cultures, practices, graft, and other human flotsam and jetsam throughout Latin America. His anecdote are revealing of the world and of his own predilections, and, though most readers will never travel by bus, mini van, bike, foot, riverboat, or, at one point, yacht (to the amazing world of the San Blas Islands), they will feel like they've taken an amazing journey, that they have negotiated with police on the take, with cooks ready to share, with other travelers whose motivation is the acquisition of better and stronger hallucinogens.
A wild ride shared by an insightful writer. I look forward to his future books.
July 11, 2021
Interesting
Engaging style of writing, I read it in a couple of days, don't think I'll ever follow in his footsteps, except maybe to San Blas Islands. He didn't say if he would recommend the Ayahuasca experience or if it freaked him out. The epilogue reviews succinctly the book
Engaging style of writing, I read it in a couple of days, don't think I'll ever follow in his footsteps, except maybe to San Blas Islands. He didn't say if he would recommend the Ayahuasca experience or if it freaked him out. The epilogue reviews succinctly the book
October 9, 2019
What an amazing romp through the Americas! Loved every page of it. The writing style is a nice mix of quite short, direct sentences with long flowing similes and metaphors that do a great job of describing the journey without any lengthy pause in between locations.
Such a different take on travel, too. Very much catered towards motivated, budding travellers who want a real experience of such an epic route.
Highly recommended.
Such a different take on travel, too. Very much catered towards motivated, budding travellers who want a real experience of such an epic route.
Highly recommended.
August 18, 2020
Maybe closer to 2.5. This guy doesn’t sound like someone I would want to spend any time with. If you don’t care to read about drug use, skip it. There were parts where I just didn’t enjoy it (like where he talked about seeing someone topless on Little Corn Island and blundering through an encounter, but just in his head for a whole page) but kept reading for nostalgic purposes because I love Central America.
October 23, 2020
A fun way to mentally escape the lockdown bubble.
I enjoyed this book as a means of vicariously living through some adventures during a time when the world is closed and lacking a sense of fun. The stories are crazy but relatable, the author witty and self-deprecating. I enjoyed the local detail and research, it's nice to come away having learned something. Overall, a nice way to escape and an engaging read.
I enjoyed this book as a means of vicariously living through some adventures during a time when the world is closed and lacking a sense of fun. The stories are crazy but relatable, the author witty and self-deprecating. I enjoyed the local detail and research, it's nice to come away having learned something. Overall, a nice way to escape and an engaging read.
April 30, 2021
Savage indeed. Harsh sense of humour, sarcastic to the point of cruelty sometimes. But funny at others. Fabulous descriptions. Few verbs, incomplete sentences. Bam bam bam it gets inside your head. Flows through your veins like the narcotics he tries. Thump thump around and around it goes. It's a different kind of travel writing. Enjoyable? Sometimes? Colourful? Definitely. Relentless? Absolutely. Oof.
November 24, 2019
Mark's books are full of humor (the British kind). He notices little details in everyone's nature and is able to make fun of really bad situations, as follows:
"Edwin shows us a photo of paw prints in mud. 'this was a couple of days ago on this trail. A Jaguar' he says. I'm not scared: I'm not faster than a jaguar but I don't have to be; I only have to be faster than Cecil and Jack."
"Edwin shows us a photo of paw prints in mud. 'this was a couple of days ago on this trail. A Jaguar' he says. I'm not scared: I'm not faster than a jaguar but I don't have to be; I only have to be faster than Cecil and Jack."
March 3, 2020
A truly honest, funny and down to earth portrayal of travel & adventure - a welcome insight in the current world of Instagram glamorisation! If you like to travel, or need some inspiration, I’d definitely recommend reading - and the ending will leave you pondering.
August 16, 2020
Another enjoyable read. Mr Walters writes in a fluid style that is easy to read and keeps you turning the pages. His ability to describe the places he visits is first rate. As noted in previous reviews - an unexpected ending
October 22, 2020
Trip on this Trip
This is like an annotated travel log. As I lived in South America for many years this book.brought back.many forgotten memories. Things never happened until.they did. Tr
Read it. Its fascinating.
This is like an annotated travel log. As I lived in South America for many years this book.brought back.many forgotten memories. Things never happened until.they did. Tr
Read it. Its fascinating.
February 28, 2021
It was difficult to read at time for this American due to the heavy amount of British references and slang. However, it was still a great adventure. Nothing is sugar coated and you get to see just how “savage” the way much of the world lives.
June 3, 2021
Taking you right there!
January 19, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed Mark's laid back approach to both travelling and writing. An entertaining and rip-roaring ride through Central and Southern America, Mark's honesty and humour are refreshing; and when he wants to, he can really write some beautiful prose. Sorry if that sounds like a school report, but both my parents were teachers!
I'll definitely keep an eye out for his other titles.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for his other titles.
May 19, 2023
Nice reading style. Definitely take a look at his other work.
November 11, 2024
A trip through South America in more than one way.
Long winded and full of drug references.
Nearly DNF'd multiple times
Long winded and full of drug references.
Nearly DNF'd multiple times
January 22, 2026
An unusual take on travel. An unusual choice of holiday.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews