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Mexico Maps
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Thanks to the shape, narrow at the bottom and wide at the top, maps of Mexico are often referred to as a “cornucopia” and show nearly 2 million sq. km. (1,923,040 sq km are land and 49,510 sq km are water). The Mexico map is narrowest where the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean meet, a spot called the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Here only 125 miles of land separate the two bodies of water.
Mexico’s geographic coordinates are 23 00 N, 102 00 W, and as shown on Mexico maps, the country is bordered by the United States to the north and by Belize and Guatemala to the south. The U.S./Mexico border is 1,969 miles long; the border with Guatemala is 600 miles long, and the border with Belize is 155 km long. Mexican maps also show the country to have 9,330 km of coastline. Mexico is slightly less than three times the size of Texas, and its topography is comprised of high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, deserts and high plateaus. The federal capital is Mexico City, and approximately 50% of the population live in one of the country’s 55 large metropolitan areas.
Mexico's long, shared border with the U.S. and short flight times explains why millions of people from the U.S. travel to Mexico resorts each year. Most arrive by car, but there are many flights to dozens of cities in Mexico from Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Seattle and many other major cities. Whether traveling by car or arriving by plane, a map can make your trip easier and more fun. The ability to plan your activities by their route allows you to get the most from your time in Mexico by avoiding unnecessary backtracking and head scratching over what to see, where you are and where you are headed. And if you are the type who loves the road less traveled you will at least know where it leads, not to mention avoiding the unpleasantries of wasted time, tires and patience from choosing a dead end route!
Maps are available for a growing number of Mexican cities which include very good detail. Some of the latest releases include Zacatecas, Torreon, Tampico, Villahermosa and Tuxtla Gutierrez. All of these new titles are published by Guia Roji, the leading map publisher in Mexico. Their title list includes 40 or so other cities in Mexico such as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and all of the colonial cities in Central Mexico (Puebla, Queretaro, Guanajuato, etc.) as well as a complete line of state maps and road atlases.
Link to City Maps
Guia Roji is best known outside of Mexico for their road atlases of Mexico, Por las Carreteras de Mexico. This atlas is one of their most popular titles and is the best selling road atlas of Mexico in the U.S. An expanded version is also available called the Mexico Tourist Road Atlas. These are updated on a regular basis in order to keep the information current, but with new roads under construction in Mexico all the time, its impossible for any map publisher to be 100% accurate. The road atlases contain city maps and are very useful for route planning as well as for seeing the sites once you arrive. The atlases contain road type (paved, gravel, toll, etc.) and a huge index with almost every city in Mexico listed. The Por las Carreteras de Mexico atlas is spiral bound, so it stays open on a table or lap. I hate it when a book or magazine closes when I put it down for a moment.
Link to Road Atlases
Regional maps are a good option if you are traveling to multiple states in Mexico. Quimera publishes the Mexico East and Mexico West series which are easy to read and very well executed. Many other regional maps are available from several publishers with titles including: Yucatan Peninsula, Central Mexico, Maya World, Northern Mexico and Mexico Pacific Coast to name a few. If you are flying in to Mexico these are a good option since you will likely be in a region for the duration of your stay.
Link to Regional Maps
Both Guia Roji and Ediciones Independencia (EI) publish individual folded state maps for 31 Mexican states and the DF (Distrito Federal). Guia Roji maps are indexed and EI are not, but the EI
titles are very nice maps and the back of each includes a map of the capital city and various other major cities.
Link to State Maps
For the Mexico adventurer going off road there are topographic maps available at two different scales. The 1:50,000 scale maps are the most detailed and the most popular topographic map sold. They contain information as small as a building, and include a contour line for every 20 meters of elevation change. All show major and minor roads as well as various tracks and trails for hiking and off road vehicles. There are physical features such as rivers along with many other sites and landmarks. Railroads, microwave relays, transmission lines, water features are some of the other details that are shown.
Link to Topographic Maps
GPS systems are now available preloaded with maps for Mexico. If you already have a Garmin GPS receiver there are several options for obtaining maps of Mexico. You can purchase downloadable regional maps or preloaded SD/microSD cards. Always check for compatibility before purchasing any GPS map, because like most software, it is nonreturnable once opened. Routing and address search capabilities are becoming standard features, due to customer demand, and many GPS map publishers are updating their products to include these valuable tools. Depending on the city, you can find either an exact address, or at least route to the street. Either way, the ability to see where you are in relation to the main roads keeps you on track and is a big
stress reducer, especially if you are trying to make it to an appointment in a city like Guadalajara or Mexico City. Unfortunately, owners of cars equipped with built in GPS systems may be disappointed, because neither third party or Garmin brand maps are compatible with the systems built into a Ford or a Lexus for example.
Link to GPS Maps
Link to GPS Receivers
Vector data is now available for Mexico. It is used to produce GPS maps and for detailed scientific studies of specific areas of Mexico when the latest technological tools are required. There are several digital formats, the most common being the SHP (shapefile). Other formats include DXF (native AutoCAD) and DRG (digital raster graphic). Additionally, orthophotos are available for the entire country and provide amazing detail (1:20,000 scale). The DRG format remains the most user friendly for non specific software needs. Anyone with a computer can download a DRG and view the included GIF or TIF topographic map image using their web browser or photo editing software.
In closing I would like to say, if you travel without a map you are bound to miss some wonderful sites along the way. Plus, the wealth of information stimulates your imagination and can give you the confidence to explore unknown destinations. And if you're really a map nut, like my wife, you take several maps AND guide books, cross referencing and directing the journey from the navigator's seat. This is fun for her, really, and I get the benefit of seeing absolutely everything!
Mark Walker is the owner of World Map Source and operates two web sites where maps can be purchased:
http://www.mexicomaps.com and http://www.europeanmapsource.com
Contact:
Mark Walker
World Map Source / Mexico Maps
3920 Maricopa Drive
Santa Barbara CA 93110
805-687-1011 office
805-448-7273 mobile
http://www.mexicomaps.com
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