Organic Maps is an open source, off-line mapping app. That means, you can download the maps over WiFi before you leave home and look at them any time you want without using any mobile data.
Go to the app store on your phone and search for Organic Maps. It's available for Android and iPhone.
Once you have it installed you'll need to download off-line maps.
- If you're walking the whole Camino Francés you'll need to download the maps for France: Aquitaine - Pyrénées-Atlantiques. And in Spain: Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y León - East and West and Galicia - North.
- If you're walking the whole Vía de la Plata you'll need to download the maps for Spain: Andalusia - Seville, Extremadura, Castilla y León - West and Galicia North and South.
Once you have the maps downloaded follow the instructions below for your make of phone.
Download the .gpx file from the website.
On your phone's home screen (this step will be different depending on your brand of phone) go to Downloads.
In Downloads you should be able to find the .gpx file you downloaded.
Now, tap on the .gpx file you want to open. Select to "Open in Organic Maps" ALWAYS (depending on your phone it may open without displaying this option).
Organic Maps should open and the Camino track should be displayed. NOTE: you may need to zoom to the correct location manually. Organic Maps will probably open zoomed in to your current location.
If the above doesn't work try using the app FX File Explorer (it's free from the Android Play Store), it works a bit like Windows Explorer. Open your Downloads folder and create a Folder to hold the unzipped .gpx files, then tap on the .zip file, this should open it, then long-tap on a file to select it then top-right menu, Select All and Copy then navigate back to the folder you just created and tap on Paste in the top-right. This should create copies of the unzipped .gpx files in this folder.
Download the .gpx file from the website.
Save the .gpx file in a folder where you'll be able to find it later.
Go to the file and press and hold it until an option appears asking which app you ant to open it with. Choose Organic Maps.
When you open Organic Maps the Camino track should be displayed.
NOTE: you may need to zoom to the correct location manually. Organic Maps will probably open zoomed in to your current location.
Copyright © Gerald Kelly 2025. All text and photos.