Smartphone-on-the-camino

Apps

First of all, you need to install an appropriate app which can open these files. There are several: Organic Maps, Maps.me, Google maps, Mapy.cz, OSMand, Oruxmap, Viewranger and Komoot. All of these apps have their own pros and cons.
For the sake of clarity, we will focus on one particular app which we think is very useful: Organic Maps. This app is free, easy to use, requires relatively little memory and – once downloaded – can be used completely offline. Once installed, you can download (Open Street) maps from all over the world for free. In addition, this app works without advertising and without trackers. This app is available for Android and for iOS (IPhone).

Before we used to recommend Maps.me in this manual. Due to a change in this app, some files cannot be read well in this app any more. Organic Maps is a spin-off from Maps.me, Because of that it looks a lot like Maps.me, to change to Organic maps will not be difficult. Besides, Organic Maps is open sourece, with no advertising and no trackers.

How to install the app? Step by step:

• Go to: Play store (android) or Apple store (IOS)
• Search for: Organic Maps
• Select: Organic Maps
• Accept the accessibility
• After downloading and installation: open the app

You will see a global map. You can now download the detailed maps of regions or countries you want. That can be done in two ways:

• Zoom into the country or region you want. At some point, a screen appears asking if you want to download that particular region. Click on ‘download’.

or

• Click the menu at the bottom of the right-hand icon (the vertical bars). Go to ‘downloaded maps’ and search for the country of your choice. This way you can load a complete country at one time.

The app is ready for use!

Now you can use the map, but you will also want to get the Camino trackfiles and maybe also your Caminos’ accommodations!

For sleeping accommodations

So far there is a file for the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Portugal and the Spanish Camino Frances, Primitivo and Invierno which contains accommodations. Check the version date of these files regularly. Regular updates will appear. These files are also in GPX and in KML format. Before downloading, you can also check these tracks and accommodations on this webpage: www.santiago.nl/looproutes-in-europa

So: (I repeat part of the steps from above)

• Take your smartphone and browse to this webpage: santiago.nl/downloads. The site is in Dutch, but on top you can (google)translate it to English or any other language.
• Scroll down to the country from which you want the file. Then in the second (with red) bar you see ‘Voorzieningen’ or ‘Facilities’ in English. For each app you can download here a specific file. You will also see a version date.
• The download will only take a few seconds. Then pull down the menu from the top of your smartphone and click “download completed”. The first time, your smartphone will ask you to complete “action with” or “open with”.
• On almost any smartphone , you’ll see now the “Maps.me” logo (and/or any other app which is installed). Click on the app of your choice. For an Iphone or Ipad: you may see a text. Press the bottom right of the three dots above each other. A menu with ‘Open in Safari’ (or any other browser you use) appears at the bottom. Click this and the text ‘Open with Maps.me (or any other installed app appears. Click on it.
• It is important to install the app before downloading these files. Now go to the Maps.me (or any other app which you choosed) and zoom in to the downloaded country. You will see many coloured dots or flags. Each one represents a place to stay, if you click on it you will see more information about that address. Except from the Spanish and the Portuguese files, all the information is only available in Dutch. Once you translate some of the Dutch text, most of the text will become clear.
• Also possible: download the PDF version of these files. These can be printed or taken as a file in your phone.

We hope these files are of any help to you. We are always happy to receive your experience with them. But we also need to improve and update them! Please send see your feedback, additions and improvements through the ‘feedback’ button which you will see at any accomodation in the app. You can also email us at overnachtingen@santiago.nl (can be in English, German and Dutch).

Buen Camino y buenas noches!