1. Valverde’s Gold by Mark Honigsbaum

Legend says that deep within the Llangantes National Park in Ecuador lies hidden the last great hoard of Inca gold. An ancient map leading to the treasure and a written guide have enticed many an explorer into this inhospitable and wild territory in the hope of discovering the supposedly cursed lost riches. Tales of past and present treasure hunters are shared as Honigsbaum himself ventures on an expedition to find the treasure.

2. Savages by Joe Kane

A fascinating, funny, tragic and thought-provoking insight into the life and culture of the Huaorani Indians, a nomadic indigenous nation of around 1300 people who live in Ecuador’s Amazon region. With a territory which is rich in oil, the Huaorani fight a valiant battle to protect their lands and culture, not only from missionaries and colonists, but also from the giants of oil exploration in Ecuador’s rainforest.

3. Evolution’s Workshop: God and Science on the Galapagos Islands by Edward John Larson

This book offers a compelling and comprehensive history of Galapagos including stories about Darwin’s arrival on the islands & their impact on his development of the theory of evolution, the establishment of the National Park, how Galapagos has influenced evolutionary science and thinking and the current struggles to conserve this unique environment.

4. The Mapmaker’s Wife by Robert Whitaker

A true story of love, murder and survival in the Amazon, this book gives a great insight into the extreme trials and tribulations of the French Geodesic Mission, which came to Ecuador in the 1700s on a quest to measure the circumference of the Earth. When one of the scientists marries a local girl, it leads to an unforgettable journey of endurance and hardship through the Amazon when the mapmaker’s wife Isabel tries to reunite with her husband after 20 years of separation.

5. Bolivar: American Liberator by Marie Arana

An incredibly well written account of the life of South America’s Liberator – Simon Bolivar. From his travels to Europe where, as a young man, he met with royalty, Alexander von Humboldt and the Pope to his 14-year war of independence against the Spanish. An epic tale of one of the greatest figures in Latin American history.