Best cheap way for GPS (or maps) in Mexico?

Ratfink2000 · 11-06-2009, 08:33 AM

My Nuvi by Garmin has 5 roads shown in Mexico...a total waste.
We are going to Veracruz- and maybe further. Is there a off the shelf retail gps unit that is inexpensive for the secondary roads of Mexico? We are on street bikes so will not be doing the terciary donkey trails you Kowasaki and Beemers can do.
I have a Nuvi- three years old and I think the vibrations have gotten to it- it may be about to fail. so I would be up for buying a new one if it had decent road coverage.
Not going to Mexico City or the big tourist traps...

You guys (and gals) totally rock!

martinef · 11-06-2009, 09:44 AM

Good Mexican maps=Guia Roji

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratfink2000

My Nuvi by Garmin has 5 roads shown in Mexico...a total waste.
We are going to Veracruz- and maybe further. Is there a off the shelf retail gps unit that is inexpensive for the secondary roads of Mexico? We are on street bikes so will not be doing the terciary donkey trails you Kowasaki and Beemers can do.
I have a Nuvi- three years old and I think the vibrations have gotten to it- it may be about to fail. so I would be up for buying a new one if it had decent road coverage.
Not going to Mexico City or the big tourist traps...

You guys (and gals) totally rock!

tedder · 11-06-2009, 11:18 AM

want cheap? go paper.

trent · 11-06-2009, 11:40 AM

Street to veracruz is pretty straight forward. You can google map it on your cell phone down there. I used the bicimapas garmin maps though.

rdbandkab · 11-06-2009, 12:19 PM

If you were to stick with the Nuvi series, the 550 has Mexico and Canada maps. The 500 doesn't. Both are waterproof though.

*Both are in the mid-$200 range.

Gustavo · 11-06-2009, 12:53 PM

I never had a GPS. I navigate in Mexico (like everywhere else) with paper maps. Guia Roji maps recommended above are my choice of maps for Mexico. Some people like the Quimera maps, I didn't like the colors, they were harder to read at a glance when the maps are in the tank-bag map pocket.

Gustavo

damasovi · 11-06-2009, 05:34 PM

GPS Bicimapas, they are maps for GPS thinking of bicycle people how ever they work very good for motorcycle use.

http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/English.htm

+what ever on Guia ROji
Cheers

Damasovi

GSbiker · 11-06-2009, 07:14 PM

I have high resolution maps for each state in PDF format that might help. Below is a screen shot. Can't remember where I got them but I used them on the last trip and they were very accurate.

If you want them, PM me your address and I will write them to a CD and send them to you.

Gustavo · 11-07-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSbiker

I have high resolution maps for each state in PDF format that might help. Below is a screen shot. Can't remember where I got them but I used them on the last trip and they were very accurate.

Looks like the maps published by the SCT (Secretaria de Comuniacion y Transportes). Excellent maps, but if you need more than a small section, not so convenient due to size (and requires you to have a good color printer to take full advantage of the details). OTOH, if you have a color plotter, by far the best choice.

You can find the maps here, listed by state.

Gustavo

ApexJeff · 11-07-2009, 06:34 AM

try this site!! Its great, When are you going? I am going to Panama from Tucson this Jan

http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibu...=cmdEscogeRuta

trent · 11-07-2009, 04:30 PM

Thanks. These are the most complete I've seen and didn't know about them before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustavo

Looks like the maps published by the SCT (Secretaria de Comuniacion y Transportes). Excellent maps, but if you need more than a small section, not so convenient due to size (and requires you to have a good color printer to take full advantage of the details). OTOH, if you have a color plotter, by far the best choice.

You can find the maps here, listed by state.

Gustavo

jonz · 11-09-2009, 05:15 PM

somebody in a thread on advrider showed a screen shot from the very latest Garmin North America maps and the street level detail in Mexico was amazing. The screen shot showed streets in Mazatlan and was amazingly detailed. Unfortunately, I can't remember what thread showed that info.

Edit: found it

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300620

The screen shots start on page 2. but now those in the thread are speculating that the inclusion of Mexico on a CD City Nav North America 2010.2 may have been an error in favor of that purchaser. Time will tell

rawdog · 11-10-2009, 11:56 AM

Free Sonora state map here:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/30

Not sure what else is on the site.

11-06-2009, 08:33 AM	#1
Ratfink2000 ^OP What Me Worry? Joined: Oct 2009 Oddometer: 7	Best cheap way for GPS (or maps) in Mexico? My Nuvi by Garmin has 5 roads shown in Mexico...a total waste. We are going to Veracruz- and maybe further. Is there a off the shelf retail gps unit that is inexpensive for the secondary roads of Mexico? We are on street bikes so will not be doing the terciary donkey trails you Kowasaki and Beemers can do. I have a Nuvi- three years old and I think the vibrations have gotten to it- it may be about to fail. so I would be up for buying a new one if it had decent road coverage. Not going to Mexico City or the big tourist traps... You guys (and gals) totally rock!

11-06-2009, 11:18 AM	#3
tedder irregular Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles (ktown) Oddometer: 8,792	want cheap? go paper. __________________ DL650A, M696A Alaska 2006 \| South America 2007 \| USA coast-to-coast 2008 \| 2009, what happened? 2011, We lost fellow PNW adventure rider Ken Morton (DreadPirateKermit)

11-06-2009, 11:40 AM	#4
trent rambler Joined: Apr 2005 Location: austin Oddometer: 352	Street to veracruz is pretty straight forward. You can google map it on your cell phone down there. I used the bicimapas garmin maps though. __________________ "I'm gonna need to have you carry some of the imagination burden with you"

11-06-2009, 12:19 PM	#5
rdbandkab Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: northern panhandle of WV Oddometer: 40	If you were to stick with the Nuvi series, the 550 has Mexico and Canada maps. The 500 doesn't. Both are waterproof though. *Both are in the mid-$200 range. __________________ 2002 aprilia Futura 2006 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 assorted mountain bikes

11-06-2009, 12:53 PM	#6
Gustavo Motociclista Errante Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Sometimes in Hillsburrito Oddometer: 2,242	I never had a GPS. I navigate in Mexico (like everywhere else) with paper maps. Guia Roji maps recommended above are my choice of maps for Mexico. Some people like the Quimera maps, I didn't like the colors, they were harder to read at a glance when the maps are in the tank-bag map pocket. Gustavo __________________ Por la Libre - New Year's in Puerto Vallarta Trailer Queens MotoAventuras New Year's Meeting - Valle de Bravo. Mexico Por la Libre - Exploring Mexico's backroads

11-06-2009, 05:34 PM	#7
damasovi Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Ensenada, Baja California Oddometer: 2,183	GPS Bicimapas, they are maps for GPS thinking of bicycle people how ever they work very good for motorcycle use. http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/English.htm +what ever on Guia ROji Cheers Damasovi

11-06-2009, 07:14 PM	#8
GSbiker new and un-improved Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Wrong side of the tracks Oddometer: 11,202	I have high resolution maps for each state in PDF format that might help. Below is a screen shot. Can't remember where I got them but I used them on the last trip and they were very accurate. If you want them, PM me your address and I will write them to a CD and send them to you. __________________ I never finish anyth

11-07-2009, 06:34 AM	#10
ApexJeff Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Tucson, Bahia de Kino, Sonora, MX, Wyoming Oddometer: 101	Mexico website/Route try this site!! Its great, When are you going? I am going to Panama from Tucson this Jan http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibu...=cmdEscogeRuta

11-09-2009, 05:15 PM	#12
jonz Miles are my mantra Joined: Aug 2004 Location: California Desert (it's a dry heat) Oddometer: 1,698	I forget get where but somebody in a thread on advrider showed a screen shot from the very latest Garmin North America maps and the street level detail in Mexico was amazing. The screen shot showed streets in Mazatlan and was amazingly detailed. Unfortunately, I can't remember what thread showed that info. Edit: found it http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300620 The screen shots start on page 2. but now those in the thread are speculating that the inclusion of Mexico on a CD City Nav North America 2010.2 may have been an error in favor of that purchaser. Time will tell __________________ JONZ KTM 950 SE, KTM640 ADV ( Hibachi, risen from the ashes) KTM520EXC (broken), KTM 400XC (the replacement) Honda ST1300 ABS (newest addition to the stable) STOC #326 IBA #217 jonz screwed with this post 11-09-2009 at 05:24 PM

11-10-2009, 11:56 AM	#13
rawdog Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Oddometer: 721	Free Sonora state map here: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/30 Not sure what else is on the site.

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