How to follow a route track with your smartphone?

In this post we are going to explain how to follow a map or track with Guru Maps, a totally free mobile navigation app. As you know, at localguidegrancanaria.com you can download maps of hiking, bike and motorcycle trail routes so that you can discover Gran Canaria on your own. These maps are in .gpx format and can be downloaded to your computer or smartphone to follow with a Garmin-type GPS watch, apps like Strava and Guru Maps.

However, for those who want to follow a track with their smartphone, there are several ways to download the maps in .gpx format and follow it with the Guru Maps app. As you know, some of our maps are free and others are paid to support this project.

First step: download the track in .GPX format

One of the apps that you can use to follow tracks with your mobile is Gurú Maps and it is totally free. If you have Strava, that’s another option, too. In the case of Guru maps, there are a few steps to follow to open the map, depending on whether you download it from a computer or mobile device. In turn, within mobile devices the guidelines to follow vary if you have an iPhone or Android. Don’t worry, we’ll clarify it for you below:

Option A) if the .gpx map download is from a smartphone

First of all, go to the Apple Store or the Play Store and download the Guru Maps app. Then, if you are going to download the track from your mobile (either a free or paid download), these are the steps to follow:

• Download free tracks from iPhone: if you click download from your mobile and you have an iPhone, the map will be saved in your files and you just have to open it with Guru Maps. It is important that you have the app downloaded before attempting to open the file.

REMEMBER that it is absolutely essential to download the App Guru Maps BEFORE opening the .GPX file.

• Download free tracks from Android: If you have an Android device, sometimes the download is saved in the “.xml” format. In order to open it, you have to rename the file by removing the .xml from the end. That is, if the map is called “circular-caldera-de-bandama.gpx.xml”, you have to go to My Files, search for the track and edit the file name by deleting the end “.xml”. Once this is done, you open with Guru maps and that’s it. At the end of this article we explain how Guru Maps works.

• Paid tracks: if you make the purchase from your mobile, you will receive an email with the download link. The steps to open the track from Guru maps are the same as explained before (depending on your operating system).

Option B, if the download of the .gpx map is from a laptop

If you download from your computer or laptop, the file is downloaded directly in .gpx format and you don’t have to change the file name. You will find it in your downloads folder on your computer. Then, you can transfer it to your mobile by airDrop, email, WhatsApp or saved Telegram messages (or the way you use to transfer files from your computer to your smartphone).

If you have to pay the track, once the purchase is made, you will receive an email with a download link. Click on the link to download it and that’s it. Then the step of sending it to your mobile device with the method you prefer would be missing. In both cases, to follow the map with your mobile the steps are the same. We explain them below in case there are any doubts.

Second step: how to follow a track with Guru Maps gpx format from smartphone

As we said before, first of all, you must have the Guru Maps app downloaded. On the other hand, once you have the track downloaded in the correct .gpx format on your mobile, open it with Guru Maps and the map of the hike or trail will appear as shown below (but in English).

You can scroll to check all the characteristics of the hike. Next, for it to give you directions, you have to click on the icon that we show you with the blue arrow.

To open de navigator, you must already be in the area where the trail begins or zoom the map of the area where the trail is (since the mobile will geolocate you where your device is at that moment). Once you are going to start the trail, you can activate the sound so that it gives you the instructions as we show below and so you do not have to walk with your mobile in your hand, something that can be dangerous. Also keep in mind that the ideal is to download the map and do all these tests before going out to do the route in case there is no phone signal in the area where the trail is.

Very important for starters

If you are new to the world of mountaineering, be it hiking, cycling or even trail riding, the ideal thing to do is to start with simple circular routes that don’t get lost, such as the Caldera of Bandama. Also, you can download this track 100% for free. Once you understand the application well, you can experiment with other hiking trails in Gran Canaria (or another sport) that are more difficult and where signage is scarcer. In any case, it is always a risk to go hiking without experience and individually, so we recommend that you gain experience little by little before embarking on an adventure, we do not want you to get lost!

How to upload a .GPX track to my navigator?

In this case, the most normal thing will be to use the application that we have installed on the computer of the navigator device that we have. For example, for Garmin you can upload the tracks from the Garmin Base Camp. The first thing to do is drag the .GPX file into My collection. In this way we already have the route in the computer application.

The next step is to connect the Garmin to the computer until it appears on the application screen. At that moment we drag the track that we want to pass to the Garmin navigator on the icon of our device. And that is!

How to follow a track with a Garmin Edge navigator?

Then you have 4 screenshots on how to select a track that we have imported into our Garmin Edge, in the case of the photo, it is the 830 model. This type of device is very practical for your bike routes through Gran Canaria or even for motorcycle trail routes, since you can fix it to your handlebars.

Garmin Edge 830

The device that I just showed you is the Garmin Edge 830, which Jorge has been using for almost a year and the truth is that he is very happy with it.

We believe that this article was necessary, since we have had various queries depending on the type of device and operating system. If you have any questions or incidents, please leave them in the comments, since your questions may be common to other users. Thank you for your support with this exciting project to discover Gran Canaria on your own!