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South America Topics specific to South America only.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 7 Dec 2016
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Map opinions please
Hi,
I am looking at buying some maps for South America. I am looking currently at the National Geographic Adventure maps as they are more durable and waterproof. Has anyone used these or have any good advice on maps for South America?

Much appreciated,

Suzie
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  #2  
Old 8 Dec 2016
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I have used both the Marco Polo and Reise maps in various parts of the world. But not in S America although you can get them. Out of the two I found the Reise maps better. Also if you are using a GPS then Reise are the better and they are waterproof and fairly robust

Wayne
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  #3  
Old 8 Dec 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lonerider View Post
I have used both the Marco Polo and Reise maps in various parts of the world. But not in S America although you can get them. Out of the two I found the Reise maps better. Also if you are using a GPS then Reise are the better and they are waterproof and fairly robust

Wayne
Totally agree, Reise maps are vey good.
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  #4  
Old 8 Dec 2016
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buy them locally, however nothing beats google maps


use google maps for planning whilst at home.
Whilst travelling, download google maps into your offline areas for your near term route
cheers

PS Garmin is useless in Bolivia (dump) and Ecuador (great)
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  #5  
Old 9 Dec 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by caminito View Post
buy them locally, however nothing beats google maps


use google maps for planning whilst at home.
Whilst travelling, download google maps into your offline areas for your near term route
cheers

PS Garmin is useless in Bolivia (dump) and Ecuador (great)
By useless do you mean the mapping???? Or the System???? Or the device????
Thats a very broad statement.

Google maps are only good when you have power...you don't need to recharge a paper map

Wayne
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  #6  
Old 9 Dec 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lonerider View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by caminito View Post
PS Garmin is useless in Bolivia (dump) and Ecuador (great)
By useless do you mean the mapping???? Or the System???? Or the device????
Thats a very broad statement.
I'd think it is the mapping ... and the mapping can come from several sources ... so which Garmin map?

OSM (free ... and capable of being 'fixed' by you)
Garmin ($$)
? ... there are some SA sources ...
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  #7  
Old 9 Dec 2016
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Maps for South America
Oficial Garmin Maos are not always the best maps for the region...

I'd recommend checking some good opensource maps...
I live in Brazil and use Tracksource. On the following link you have different versions of theirs maps and also aliar for other great maps for South America...
http://www.tracksource.org.br/desenv/tabela_mapsets.php
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  #8  
Old 9 Dec 2016
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Garmin South America map , garmin actually specify; no Bolivia or Ecuador...

I have a plug to my bike battery, a separate rechargeable battery that will charge the phone 3 times, and most cafes / gas stations will let you charge your phone.

BUT as I mentioned , I still buy paper maps, but I buy locally as they are more detailed etc. And look at the date it was published!
"The big picture" whilst I'm deciding on where to go, I do on GOOGLE MAPS, as I can also see the time from point to point, this is a great help for me. After 6 hours on the bike the wife beats me up
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  #9  
Old 10 Dec 2016
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Suzie, I had a look in my travel bookcase..

Firestone book of maps, covers Chile ,Argie, Uruguay, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. Has list ot hotels and campsites for Argentina.
In bookstores , or newsagents in Argentina ONLY

Guide book for Argie: YPF in 4 tomes
PERU: toyota guide, has good maps in back
Colombia: Movistar guide book comes w. large map.
Ecuador: nada
Brazil: Guia Mapograf (replaces Cuatro Rodas) comes with map

Then there are "deDios" tourist maps, there are crap to travel but are great because they show you all the "must see" sites, I found it great to then string all the sites together via the windiest roads

All in spanish, or Portuguese for Brazil
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  #10  
Old 11 Dec 2016
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Thanks for the info everyone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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  #11  
Old 13 Dec 2016
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There are some info about streets also on the web.. google 'ruta0', it says which kind of soil, km etc


Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk
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  #12  
Old 14 Dec 2016
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I'm in Ecuador at the moment.

National Geographic map is generally okay, though some parts are inaccurate: showing roads that don't exist and not showing main routes through some areas. It is usable.

The OSM mapping for GPS is quite good, i've found. Someone has done a lot of work on it.

.............shu
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  #13  
Old 14 Dec 2016
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I had garmin on my trip to South America. I liked using google maps more because of the better turn by turn view on the screen.

Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk
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  #14  
Old 14 Dec 2016
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Suzie;

I was in Peru last year. I navigate with a gps and paper maps when I travel. I carry a small tablet computer for routing, which I do the evening before. The paper map keeps me oriented to the big picture and also the details. The gps is for at the moment decisions and to fill in where the paper map is lacking.

I used paper maps from www.itmb.com which I recommend. They are durable and quite waterproof, and have decent detail. I used mapping software from Open Street Maps www.gamin.openstreetmap.nl (download site), and from www.perut.org Very good combination, all 3 resources having enough detail and decent accuracy. I found the perut mapping detail generally better than OSM, although sometimes OSM was better. I didn't have wifi access every night, and these resources are not wifi dependent.

I figured my route the night before using the paper map and the mapping software on a tablet computer. I made my route as a "track" and loaded it to my gps.

The perut site links to similar mapping projects for other SA countries, although I have no direct experience - yet. Heading north from Peru myself, this winter...

Edit: Did some searching to update my gps maps: http://liferemotely.com/gear/choosin...-south-america

Buen viaje!
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