BajaNomad

BCIMapas Mexico GPS Maps for Garmin

jaymtb - 12-10-2011 at 01:36 AM

BCIMapas Mexico GPS Maps for Garmin

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

Hi,
I recall some discussion of GPS maps earlier.
I have tried the new 2012 version of this map covering all of Mexico recently in Baja, Sonora, and Sinaloa. It served well for sea kayaking, off-road driving, mountain biking and highway driving. Topo info is in 50 meter intervals, most cities have good street maps. It had the new toll road in San Jose del Cabo to Airport, that I used to gain access by mtn bike up into more remote areas of the sierra. The 2012 version is lower priced at $ 49.50 US, and has good coastal lines compared to previous versions I've seen. When mountain biking, it showed a dirt track going the back way from Mision San Borja to Rancho Santa Anna that was barely a cow path.

I used it in a GPS 60CSX on an SD chip, for kayaking between Loreto through the islands to La Paz, for mountain biking, and for driving- using a power cable. A bigger screen GPS with routing would be better for driving, of course. It also had PEMEXs, food establishments, and some hotels on the mainland and some in Baja also.

For marine use, it does not have depth contours, soundings, many lights, etc. However, the Garmin Blue Chart that covers Baja is kind of a (cruel) joke among boaters.

There are some errors and out of date things, but the author seems to be trying to solicit and make corrections. I'm sure some of the raw data may be limiting in Mexico.

Overall I think it is quite helpful. A paper map and compass are still essential of course.....YMMV

Cheers,
Jay

TecateRay - 12-10-2011 at 08:59 AM

I have an older version of their Mexico map, but I use it primarily for Baja. It is pretty good, but most of the "out of town" data is pretty old and doesn't seem to get updated. Occasionally it is nice to get a history lesson about old ranch names, etc., but many dirt roads and trails are not on there and some of the older roads and trails shown no longer exist.

Since my focus is Baja off road, I'd like to hear any recommendations for a good electronic map with that focus.

BICIMapas

skippermike - 12-10-2011 at 09:40 AM

We use these on a large-screen StreetPilot when in Baja for SCORE and NORRA races.
I have to get the 2012 update, but the 2010 version has been very good.
I also ride in a truck with a Lowrance system. It has an advantage of storing a number of tracks, with 20,000 points per track on SD, and loading in the one you need - where Garmin only lets you load 1 active track into memory, of up to 10,000 points, and doesn't allow for tracks to be stored on SD. This primarily an issue for racers and racer-chasers.
The Garmin is far more user-friendly, with touch screen and brighter color display. There is a new combo marine and road unit that looks very good, as the big StreetPilot has been discontinued and is getting harder to find. This would be good to go from boat to truck, I would think.
Don't know other good Baja options.
Good luck

ncampion - 12-10-2011 at 11:07 AM

These maps look great however I have a problem with them being restricted to only one device. Once you buy the software, you should be able to install it in whatever device you own. If I upgreade devices, I have to buy a new license. Not a good business model IMHO

Multi use

skippermike - 12-11-2011 at 01:00 PM

When I bought a large screen StreetPilot, to use in Baja instead of my little Nuvi, I asked to move the license. The gave me an addditional code for very little money.
Don't know if they still do that - wouldn't hurt to ask.

DEVEAU - 12-12-2011 at 05:40 PM

http://www.cartografiagps.com/mape32/index.htm

I've been using this map in my Garmin Colorado for a few years. Amazing how old and faint a road/trail shows-up. And we are serious offroad dirbike guys riding way off the normal roads.

rts551 - 3-30-2012 at 04:45 PM

bump for choyero

choyero - 3-30-2012 at 04:52 PM

Thanks rts551...good stuff on these threads.

David K - 3-30-2012 at 05:06 PM

:light: (good work Ralph)

LaPazGringo - 3-30-2012 at 05:22 PM

I would have to read this literally minutes after buying a Tom Tom XXL 550 TM on eBay. :rolleyes:

motoged - 3-30-2012 at 06:00 PM

GPS MEXICO MAP:

My favourite :
Cartographia Mapa E32-2009:

http://www.cartografiagps.com/mape32/what_is_mape32.htm



- MAP E32 is a topographical map of Mexico for Garmin GPS devices, specially designed for doing routes on ATVs, enduro, off-roading, 4x4, mountain biking, hiking, etc. In a nutshell, for any outdoor activity.

- MAP E32 inculdes: Highways, roads, dirt roads, trails, railroad tracks, cities, towns, airports, contour lines every 30 meters, hills, points of interest, rivers, state borders, lakes and dams, gas stations, etc.


- It has 250 cities, such as: Aguascalientes, Mexicali, La Paz, Campeche, Tuxtla, Gutiérrez, Chihuahua, Saltillo, Ciudad de México, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Chilpancingo, Pachuca, Guadalajara, Toluca, Morelia, Cuernavaca, Tepic, León, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Chetumal, San Luis Potosí, Culiacán, Hermosillo, Villahermosa, Ciudad Victoria, Tlaxcala, Jalapa, Mérida, Zacatecas.

- MAP E32 is perfect for the Baja 1000 race, or others such as the Baja 500 and San Felipe 250 in the Baja California peninsula, or other famous spots such as the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua.

rts551 - 3-30-2012 at 06:07 PM

But I believe, like most Baja Maps it will not do auto-routing...in other words I can not plug in a city or street and say get me there. It is good for tracking.Correct me if I am wrong.
Quote:
Originally posted by motoged
GPS MEXICO MAP:

My favourite :
Cartographia Mapa E32-2009:

http://www.cartografiagps.com/mape32/what_is_mape32.htm



- MAP E32 is a topographical map of Mexico for Garmin GPS devices, specially designed for doing routes on ATVs, enduro, off-roading, 4x4, mountain biking, hiking, etc. In a nutshell, for any outdoor activity.

- MAP E32 inculdes: Highways, roads, dirt roads, trails, railroad tracks, cities, towns, airports, contour lines every 30 meters, hills, points of interest, rivers, state borders, lakes and dams, gas stations, etc.


- It has 250 cities, such as: Aguascalientes, Mexicali, La Paz, Campeche, Tuxtla, Gutiérrez, Chihuahua, Saltillo, Ciudad de México, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Chilpancingo, Pachuca, Guadalajara, Toluca, Morelia, Cuernavaca, Tepic, León, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Chetumal, San Luis Potosí, Culiacán, Hermosillo, Villahermosa, Ciudad Victoria, Tlaxcala, Jalapa, Mérida, Zacatecas.

- MAP E32 is perfect for the Baja 1000 race, or others such as the Baja 500 and San Felipe 250 in the Baja California peninsula, or other famous spots such as the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua.

motoged - 3-30-2012 at 06:28 PM

Correct....I do not believe it works for auto-routing...but I am a Luddite....so maybe that is the GPS function and not the software function....I don't know that.

My experience is that I do not use the GPS for auto-routing as much as for knowing where I am....

GPS maps can be inaccurate, so I use them as a general rather than specific tool....I also like to have paper maps and a compass as support tools.

I have NEVER been lost....but there are times where I am not sure where I am....:tumble:

Hook - 3-31-2012 at 06:46 AM

Definitely no auto-routing.

http://www.cartografiagps.com/mape32/features.htm

Look to the bottom of the page under WARNING.

wiltonh - 3-31-2012 at 09:05 AM

Auto routing will be an issue in Baja due to the lack of good addresses for many of the places.

I have a friend who built a house last year. The address on his water bill is some like this:

House North of the highway between the two topes.

After the house was finished they repaved the highway and removed the topes. As far as my friend knows there is no house number for his place.

Pescador - 3-31-2012 at 02:53 PM

As with most software that is used in Mexico, the maps that the cartographers used are old. The entrance to Mulege does not show even though the main road has been there for what seems like eons and the road to Punta Chivato is the old road that has not been in use for almost 15 years. But it does show some streets and has the older back country roads so it seems to work in conjunction with the Almanac. I am going to La Paz next week so I will be interested to see if the Street names are readable and semi-accurate. If so, it will be worth every penny I paid since almost all of the street signs are non-existant in La Paz any more.
After using my Nuvi in the US a month or so ago, I admit I got really lazy about putting in an address and letting the machine take all of the guesswork out of going wherever I wanted to go.
The go to function definately does not work as it still shows me as being in Arizona and wants to only go to addresses there.
All in all, it is still good information and will proably continue to provide some usefullness.

Auto-routing

skippermike - 3-31-2012 at 04:22 PM

A Garmin with BiCiMapas will do auto routing.
However, a few caveats:
Precision is less than using N.America map in San Diego, for example - and it doesn't know al one-way streets!
Be sure to not have N.America map and Baja map active at same time.
Be careful of allowing off road routing set as OK in preferences. The first time we went to Rancho Veronica (East of Tecate), I had off road on in the prerences, and the GPS suggested some very exciting paths - thru fences, gullys and through a farmer's yard. We turned that off, and the GPS resigned itself to marked trails!

In a recent trip down for the San Felipe 250, we went down the Compadre Trail. The GPS did very well seeing only the primary trail routes - even though I'd driven the route a number of times before, it was fun/relaxing/interesting watching the Garmin pouint out the trails I remembered.

David K - 3-31-2012 at 05:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by skippermike
A Garmin with BiCiMapas will do auto routing.
However, a few caveats:
Precision is less than using N.America map in San Diego, for example - and it doesn't know al one-way streets!
Be sure to not have N.America map and Baja map active at same time.
Be careful of allowing off road routing set as OK in preferences. The first time we went to Rancho Veronica (East of Tecate), I had off road on in the prerences, and the GPS suggested some very exciting paths - thru fences, gullys and through a farmer's yard. We turned that off, and the GPS resigned itself to marked trails!

In a recent trip down for the San Felipe 250, we went down the Compadre Trail. The GPS did very well seeing only the primary trail routes - even though I'd driven the route a number of times before, it was fun/relaxing/interesting watching the Garmin pouint out the trails I remembered.


What is the "Compadre Trail"???

Compadre Trail

skippermike - 4-1-2012 at 08:08 AM

David, you may know it by a more correct name - that is what our marking and race teams call it.
Go east from Tecate on toll road, get off at El Hongo exit, go right at OXXO. After getting out of civilization and past the cemetary (go slow in respect!), there is a right fork to Haceienda Veronica. Go left and continue on south.
The road is pretty good, with local traffic in early AM and late afternoon. There are a few rough, rocky uphill areas - but still 2wd. There are a few stream crossings, but not too deep.
Eventually you get to Rte 3 below Ojos Negros, and above Valle de Trinidad.
I took this route before the San Felipe 250 just to show my wife the route, and to view the backcountry coming all green and into bloom from the winter rains. Also we wanted to stop on Rt3 and check out our pit locations at the top of the lake bed.
We were going 15-20 mph slower than we usually go, so it was a slower route than going thru Ensenada, Ojos and down to Rte 3.
In our prerunners or chase trucks it is about a wash, but with no traffic. It is an easy and fun ride.
Rte 2 toll road east to cutoff and down Rte 5 is still quickest route to San Felipe by about 45 minutes.

rts551 - 4-1-2012 at 12:53 PM

Has anyone tried the 2012 version of BICImapas atlas?

BiCiMapas

skippermike - 4-1-2012 at 04:29 PM

Haven't done the upgrade.
I didn't see much that improved in Baja.
Anyone else?

rts551 - 4-1-2012 at 06:31 PM

For 49 maybe a will try it. The upgrade is even cheaper

steve5555 - 4-4-2012 at 08:31 PM

Has anyone got a US source for the E32 Map? I live in San Diego. I looked on the website and all of the distributors are in MX.

David K - 11-26-2012 at 06:42 PM

Bump

Marc - 11-26-2012 at 07:09 PM

I just get lost. See more that way.

motoged - 11-26-2012 at 07:37 PM

Nomads,
I think auto-routing can be dangerous as some people will blindly follow the route and leave their brain at the curb.

Folks have died following auto-routing probably more often than those thinking about where the track is leading them.

It can be helpful, I guess.....but risky for those who are not paying good attention to their surroundings.

I have followed "roads" in Baja using the Cartografia map and found that the road does not exist after 50 meters off Hwy #1.... and followed a "road" into places where it was a mere trace of something that was questionable 15 years earlier.

For my use, auto-routing functions would be turned off....


http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/30/3362727/death-by-gps-in-desert.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/05/11/nevada-chretien-search-rescue.html


Be careful out there.