Maps Specifically For Central America
Nicaragua is like one giant jungle adventure park. You absolutely need reliable maps to navigate which routes are best for safe, speedy travel. You also need to know which routes are best for hiking, mountain biking, motorcycling, and 4wd adventures.
All Eco Travel Maps are created in person. Each and every road, motorcycle route, and hiking trail has been traveled and mapped in person. The businesses have been verified in person. The water crossings, bus stops, and view points all have been noted by a person who is actually standing at these locations.
It's hard to feel completely comfortable if you do not know where the essential services are located. All Eco Travel Maps (including the inset maps) display our symbols in meticulously structured legends which have been specifically designed for first world users traveling in third world countries.
The symbols are organized in easily referenced shape and color categories which smoothly translate into a variety of languages. Categories include consumables, services, durable goods, administration, professional offices, medical facilities, and transportation repairs. Colors indicate subcategories. For instance, ‘consumables’ are represented by baskets. A red basket is a pulperia (a small food market) while a blue basket is a bottled water store, and a purple basket is for beans, grains, and rice. The word “consumable” translates to “consummables” in French, “consumibles” in Spanish, and “materiali de consumo” in Italian.
Another category is ‘services’ (“servicios” in Spanish, “service” in French, “seirbhis” in Irish, “servizio” in Italian, and “sabisu” in Japanese). Services are represented by triangles. As you read above, a basket indicates consumables while red indicates food. So, while a red basket is a small food store, a red triangle is a restaurant and a red shopping cart is a supermarket. If you are looking for food, look for red. If you are looking for services (restaurant, bar, lodging, etc) look for a triangle.
Most people understand that on a ski mountain map there are different levels of difficulty shown for the ski trails. A black diamond indicates a trail is for experts while the blue squares and green circles are for the less experienced. Similarly, our road symbols help you find the best route for your level of comfort by not only showing which roads are paved or unpaved, but we even show you which are dirt highways, which are good dirt roads, or even which roads are very rough. Our maps show you where roads cross streams (very common in third world countries) and they show you where a road or a trail must pass through a gate (also very common). These maps even show where roads become impassable to regular vehicles but where you can continue traveling by motorcycle, on bicycle, or on foot.
Why Eco Travel Maps?
We Promote Sustainable Tourism:
Hiking, biking, motorcycling - Nicaragua is a giant adventure park but to get the most out of it you need to have the right maps. Imagine being in a rental car stuck on some muddy back road without another vehicle in sight – what a nightmare! But that same exact road is an absolute paradise for mountain bikers, motorcyclists, runners, and hikers. Not another vehicle in sight? Perfect! Why ride your bicycle next to speeding tractor trailer trucks when there are so many better options? You need to know which roads are right for your particular adventure. Eco Travel Maps has you covered! Our Routes Legend shows not only which roads are paved or unpaved but they show which dirt roads are more rough than others. We’ve even marked all of the stream crossings for you (there are a lot)!
We Sell Online Maps:
Although we do plan to create paper maps at some point we have determined that online maps should be our core product. Online maps are so much better for the environment, and they have the added advantage of continually updating. Yes, when you buy Eco Travel Maps online you get all our updates FREE.
Just like the rest of the world, Nicaragua is continually changing – new parks are created, dirt roads get paved, businesses open and close. While we do spend the bulk of our time mapping new areas, we also reserve two months out of every year to update the areas we've already mapped. We are committed to keeping all of our maps current for you!
Online maps allow you to follow yourself as you progress on the trail. Except on main highways, you won't see road signs here and there aren't any trail head markers either. But never fear because our online maps work in tandem with your GPS systems so you won't miss your turn unless you want to!
We Encourage Using Local Enterprise:
Our map legend is revolutionary because it is designed specifically for businesses in developing nations like Nicaragua. Traveling should be an adventure and there is always a bit of trepidation, of course! But you don’t need anxiety about where you can purchase bottled water or where you can get a tire fixed or even where you can purchase gasoline. Eco Travel Maps has you covered again! We show you every business and every service so you can enjoy the authenticity of Nicaragua's wild side while leaving your logistical worries at home.