Does one need a gps in C. America?
 

Hi everyone,

This will be my first trip from Canada to Panama and I was wondering if a gps is required equipment to navigate oneself through central America? Do bikers usually buy a road map for each country they're visiting or is there one good map book available that covers all the countries in C. America?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

You don't need a GPS. In fact, you'll probably find not having one enhances your trip, like Mick says.
The GPS can be good for arriving in a town after dark, but how often is that going to happen?
Get Sjoerd Bakker's guide to cheap hotels and riding in Mexico and Central America. I know for a fact Sjoerd carries a compass and knows how to use it and he's racked up some high miles down here.
Learn some basic Spanish, keep aware of your surroundings, always remember which direction the cardinal points are, and you'll be living large.

Being in the RACQ the Aussie version of AAA, I managed to pick up a free map from the AAA in San Diego

This map covered all CA and SA and was briliant. Well, some roads on the map were not on the ground, but you expect that, but the main Pan American was there and that was what I was following

Cheers
TS

Mobile phone application
 

I had a GPS for the States, paper map for Mexico and Guatemala and nothing else por the rest of my trip but most of the time a relied on signs and people's instructions (I am a spanish speaker though). I did not feel a real frustration of not having a GPS or detailed maps of every single country but it would have been nice.
Whilst reading the trip stories of porkandcorn, I thought it was a great thing to instal on my phone the same application than him and I think this would be very helpful for future trips when it is not possible to have internet connection. I you have the means to download this application then it would be a plus. I quote porkand corn here:

"already appreciating the download of the "maps with me" iphone app. i uploaded maps to all the south american countries i'll be visiting, and it just like having google maps at home. the difference: i'm offline and am still able to search like normal."

On their site they say : "MapsWithMe is available for your iPhone, iPad, iPod (Lite and Pro), Android (Lite and Pro) and Kindle Fire (Lite and Pro). "

The last post has raised the prospect of using offline maps mounted on a smart phone.
There is a largish thread on this subject that contains a lot of input for the advantages and disadvantages of such technology:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...1-9#post408067

I remain a big enthusiast for paper based maps, although I can see how tablets and such larger screens are useful and convenient for many people.

As others have already stated, GPS is not necessary. In 2010 I had the Guia Roji map book for Mexico and ITMB maps for most of the Central American countries, plus "Central America on a Shoestring" guide book. The guidebook was just for general ideas of different areas and I almost never used it for accommodations or restaurants. I regularly perused the maps to take the smaller, less travelled roads and to keep me off the Panamericana as much as possible.

Getting lost and interacting with local folks to find your way back is half the fun.


...Michelle

I have been to CA several times without a GPS. The only time I wished I have had one is when I am trying to find my out of a big city, due to the lack of highway signs through town. This helps your spanish, though, when you have to ask directions.

You will probably find it easier to buy paper maps at home, rather than in the countries you are travelling in. You can probably find the IMTB maps at a good bookstore in Canada. I like the city center maps in the Lonely Planet books, they show attractions like museums and whatever.

GPS's have their place. You will meet other travellers who will share routes with you to places they have been that would be difficult to find otherwise. Either way works, but no, they are not necessary.

Guia Roji has a considerable amount of errors regarding secondary roads.
Double check if you are heading off the beaten path.

I would fall into the camp of not necessary but definitely recommended. A GPS on the handlebars and a large scale map in your tank bag are the best of both worlds.

Traveling between cities can be accomplished pretty easily as others have said with a good sense of direction, awareness of signs, and an affable nature to chat with people to ask which way when you are unsure.

Within cities, it can be a real challenge at times without a GPS. The street signs in some places are hard to find until you figure out where to look and if your Spanish isn't great, the directions can be hard to follow. Just think how bad some directions are even when given in english in your home country. "Turn right at the big tree". Now try to comprehend this all in Spanish, given at a rapid pace.

I was just reminded of this over the holidays in Colombia as I was looking for the unmarked turnoff to a small fishing village. I had to overshoot a few times until finally narrowing to a single dusty street. This is all good fun, but sometimes on a hot day with an overheating bike, you are just happy to get to your destination before your passenger completely dehydrates.

Another example where I missed the GPS, (even though I tend to want to rely on maps and to orient myself through landmarks) is when heading in and out of cities and even returning back to your accomodation. If you stay in one place for a couple of days, you'll figure it all out but if you are moving from city to city pretty quick, riding out to get something and to come back can lead to a few wrong turns and some extra time in the hot sun until you make it back. With your GPS, you just use the track back function and you'll get back rigt away. With one way streets and busy traffic at certain times, a five minute trip can turn into a 30 minute meander pretty quick.

So in short, for a first time rider to Central or South America I would recommend to take a GPS, especially if your Spanish isn't strong. But as others have commented, orienteering and map skills are great to have so have no fear in keeping the GPS off unless really needed to hone these skills and to open up your world to random adventures. That way, you'll have the best of both worlds.

Guia Roji which I got from Omnimaps online has done me very well. They have a lot of other maps to chose from as well

No need for GPS in Central America ( or anyplace else)
The ITMB MAPS and Guia Roji atlas will provide enough framework
Then pay attention to where you are and make mental notes of
landmarks as you go . Costa Rica and Nicaragua tourism boards
give out free country maps that are very useful
Train yourself to keep track of where you
have been and use a compass to determine real directions .and ask local
residents for a bit of help and language learning
All maps and atlases have errors but still provide general picture
of the lay of the roads,towns rivers etc.
GPS MAY BE useful for the fine detail of city driving if time is critical
to you .But out in the country it is just a babysitting service holding your hand
as you move along watching the screen .I am reading a
blog from a bloke riding South America and he is constantly fighting with the GPS or it is malfunctioning or it is telling him to turnaround

thanks for everyone's input :)

I rented a BMW in Costa Rica last year. There are no street signs in San Jose, after wandering for 90 minutes I passed the American Embassy, which I knew was 400 yards from the BMW shop I started from. The Ticas were all very friendly but gave terrible directions eg it's easy directo, directo, directo, directo (straight, straight, straight), but a kilometer further the road hit a "T". A compass would have helped. When I dropped the bike off I gave a Motorcycle courier $20 to lead me. Keeping up with his 125cc bike through heavy traffic was quite an adventure. Otherwise I didn't need a GPS.

Maps all the way:thumbup1:

And if lost in a city

1. Find a taxi driver and give him the address or road you need to find.

2. Agree a price before hand for service to be provided.

3. Dont overtake him when stuck in traffic.

4. Use common sense when following the driver, so as not to be led into somewhere you do not want to be

5. Arrive at destination, and breath a sigh of relief .