Using The Map:

Greetings Friends  / Hola Amigas y Amigos,
I'm delighted you found my custom México travel maps & mini guides. These custom Mexico travel maps are built with Google My Maps. These country-wide maps helps you located, explore, and plan. My goal is to share my knowledge of México and save you planning & research time. 

You should have the free Google Maps app installed on your phone for all of this to work properly. Apple Maps, Waze, Mapquest and other maps are not supported with this custom Mexico travel map, but our web-based option will work. Our navigation page. This is not an issue with computer access, only phone access.

These instructions will help you to get the most from my maps. They can be overwhelming when you first start with them, because there is so much information. Zoom into a specific area or use the map layers only below. Each Icon on the map is a mini-guide with web-links.

Direct links to each map layer (country-wide map is the most updated). Some devices works better using the web-based maps.

  • Country-wide GEM map: Google Maps - Web-based map

    Below are individual maps. These maps are not updated as often. Use the country-wide map first.

  • Mexico Adult beverages map (Cerveza, Vino, Tequilla etc): Google Maps - Web-based map

  • Mexico Pueblos Mágicos mapa / Magical towns map: Google Maps

  • Mexico Colonial Cities map / Ciudades Coloniales mapa: Google Maps

  • Mexico Coastal Cities & Towns map / Playas mapa: Google Maps

  • Mexico Border / Frontera - Transport / Transporte - Logistics / Logística: Google Maps

  • Mexico UNESCO - World Heritage Sites map: Google Maps

  • Mexico Archaeological / Arqueológica map - Histrorical / Historico mapa: Goggle Maps

  • Mexico Natural Areas (water) map - Áreas Naturales (agua) mapa: Google Maps

  • Mexico Natural Areas (land) map - Áreas Naturales (tierra) mapa: Google Maps

  • Mexico Caves map - Cuevas / Grutas / Minas mapa: Google Maps

  • Mexico Hot Springs map - Aguas Termales mapa: Google Maps

USING THE MAP:
Depending on which device you use to access the map; the legend & icon detail box displays differently.

I provide 2 ways to access these maps. Try the top map first - Google Maps based. Once open, click on any round map icon or the left legend for the detail box & web links. You will quickly learn to navigate around the country. iPhone users will find the bottom map - web-based to be more functional.

Computer & tablet access:
These maps works with all web browsers (PC & Mac) and tablets (iPad & Android) and these devices offer the most functionality. Your legend is on the left side. Click a legend icon or a map icon for the detail box with web-links. A computer mouse with a roller wheel helps to quickly zoom in/out for better map control. Use either Google Maps or web-based maps, each works differently.

Computer PRO TIP: 

Click on the 3 dots (in legend red top bar) for a Download KML option for this map.
Open this file with Google Earth Pro on desktop.
https://www.google.com/earth/versions/

Phone access:
Map functionality is variable depending on your phone brand & apps installed. Functionality is reduced with mobile devices vs computer/tablet access. These are Google My Maps limitations and unfortunately out of my control.

  • Android phones: Google Maps is you default map app & allows for discovery, navigation, and detail box web-links. The legend is available at the bottom of the screen or after you click an icon on the map.

    Use either Google Maps or the web-based maps, each works differently.
    *** Close the map from the LEGEND screen ***

  • iPhones:  Allow for discovery & navigation ONLY in Google Maps. The icon web-links are not active to click. This is a Google My Maps limitation outside of my control. I have contacted Google concerning this major issue with iPhones & Google My Maps functionality, but have no response nor a resolution :-(

    Use the Web-based maps for Iphones. You may need to hold the map button, and then open in a separet tab for the web-based map to open. If the map looks the same as the Google Map, then it did not open properly to web-based map.

    Use Google Maps or web-based maps for iPad or Mac and see what works best.

    *** Close the map from the LEGEND screen ***

Web-based map tips: Upper left corner (square box with arrow) is the legend. Upper right box (square with 4 corners) is the full screen button which switches to Google Maps. Share the map with the upper right icon (3 dots connected). Navigate to any icon by clicking on it, a left side detail box opens, click the arrow. This opens Google Maps. PS, you can also click on location: in the left side detail box to navigate.

ICON LEGEND: (located on left side or bottom of screen)
-Pueblo Mágicos (purple): Smaller unique tourist towns that México has identified. Wiki info & Wikivoyage info
-Colonial cities (red): Cities founded during the time of Spanish occupation. Ciudades Coloniales
-Coastal cities & towns (blue): Mexico has almost 7000 miles of coastline to explore.
-Boarder, transport & logistics (brown): Border crossings (FMM & TIP) , border towns, bus, train and ferry stations, markets, airports, other towns and more.
-UNESCO world heritage sites (burgundy): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO
-Archaeological and historical sites (yellow): Mexico has a very deep history.
-Natural areas - water (blue) Mexican natural water areas.
-Natural area - land (green) Mexican natural land areas.
-Caves & mines (grey) Mexican caves.
-Hot Springs (blue): Natural hot water pools. Mexican hot springs.
-Base map: Allows you to select a different type of map. Default is Terrain.

Tip: Check or uncheck any category you wish to display on the map. For example, if you want to show only Pueblo Mágicos or only Hot Springs, then select only those. These helps you to de-cluter the map. 

ICON DETAIL BOX CATEGORIES:
-Image: Google image search.
-Location:  Google Map location link. If multiple links exist, the top link is the wider area. Lower links provide more zoom in detail to the center of town.
-Hotel: Lodging booking service.
-Tours: Guided tours. Look for local guides if nothing listed. A deeper experience of Mexico.
-Wiki/info: Wikipedia and info sites.
-Video: Travel videos. More coming to the map soon.
-Transportation: Travel logistics.
-Guide/blogs: List of pertinent online travel guides and blogs.
-Regional guide: When they exist.
-Cenotes & more:  Yucatan water features.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenote


* not all categories featured in every icon detail*

I hope you find my México map & guide useful.
Go Experience the beauty of the land, people, culture and food that is México!
Thanks / Gracias, Bill (aka Memo)

Now #goexperiencemexico !