Customer Reviews

Guatemala 1:470,000 Travel Map (International Travel Country Maps: Guatemala)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For my purposes, the map was cool. The mileage (distance) and the highway numbers were accurate. Unfortunately, not many of the towns I passed were on the map. Still,it was a nice map to have as a point of reference eventhough I wasn't driving, but merely riding in a shuttle.

I have the previous edition and as the roads here are constantly improving, I wanted a more up-to-date edition. It's impossible to get a decent map once you are here - our Guatemalan friends are impressed with the detail. If you are planning a trip using public transport the map would be nice - if you are planning on driving, especially to more out of the way places - it is indispensible.

Good detailed map. I was expecting something a little more durable when it said "waterproof"...the paper material seems a little fragile, but it held up in my backpack for a two-week trip to Guatemala, so I can't complain.

I live in Guatemala, and I purchased this map because 1)it is difficult to find a decent road map here in Guatemala, 2) the maps I have been able to find here cost at least twice as much as this one, 3) it had good reviews, and 4) after looking at the previews of the map online, it looked pretty detailed.

I have had the map for about 2 years, and I have lived in Guatemala now for 3. Overall, the map has served me well - it has gotten me where I need to go on most occasions. If you're not going to be driving, and just want a general layout of Guatemalan roads, this is the perfect map for you - the paper is durable and the map is detailed. There have been a couple of instances when driving, however, where an error on the map has led me astray. The Carretera a Puerto San Jose from Escuintla, for example, is identified incorrectly. There is an Antigua (old) Carretera a Puerto San Jose, and a Nueva (new) Carretera a Puerto San Jose, and this map identifies the Antigua (old) one on the legend as a "principal highway" and the Nueva (new) one as a "secondary road." One would think that the new, 4-lane divided highway would be identified as the "principal highway," but that is not the case. The "principal highway" as identified by this map is the old, 2-lane curvy road. This error cost me about an hour and a half of driving around, as I thought I was on the old highway when in fact I was on the new one.

There has also been an instance where I successfully drove from `A' to `B' using the roads marked on the map, but on the return trip there ended up being several additional well paved roads that would have cut my driving time down significantly had they been marked on the map. There were also several mid-sized towns that were not identified on the map.

Another thing is that the inset map of Guatemala City only covers approximately 25% of the city. While it does show the most important parts of the city, including the area with the nice hotels, the financial district, the historical district (zone 1), the airport, and the major highway crossroads, many times I have found myself lost in a part of town that is not on the map.

In the end, I do recommend the map, because it is the only one I have found at a reasonable price and it covers all of the major highways and roadways throughout the country. It is impossible to find a map of Guatemala that is "Excellent," and by that I mean that most every paved road between towns is marked, that the roads are identified, that most towns are identified, and that there are no spelling mistakes (there are many on this map). The truth of the matter is, however, is that most of the roads simply don't have a route number, and if they do, nobody knows what they are. Also, if you're lucky enough to find a street sign or an arrow pointing you toward your destination, it may not be right. So my advice: buy the map to have a good idea of where you're going, but if you can, ask somebody who has driven the route before to see if there are any tips, construction zones, or landslides - and when you're driving, stop periodically to ask someone (I recommend at least 2 people) to make sure you're on the right road.