Application of tourist information of the natural trails network of Spain with capabilities of augmented reality […]. Each one of the trails has a detailed description, practical data, birdlife and maps of the itinerary and detailed information of the main points of interest that the user can find in the environment

Source: Android description (translated) / Image: Pixabay

Useful information

Download: Android 2.3.3 (13MB) / iOS  8.0 (22.4MB) / web

Price: free

Language: Spanish

Runs offline: partially

Last update: Android 03/08/2016 (v. 2.2) – iOS 04/08/2016 (v. 2.1)

Website of the developer: Tragsatec

Description

For several years, numerous itineraries, based on old infrastructure such as disused railways lines or livestock trails , are being recovered for its tourism and leisure exploitation. Caminos Naturales (Natural Trails) is the application designed by the public company Tragsatec in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment to follow these self guided routes.

The app currently has 17 routes whose information can be downloaded to a mobile device for offline use, including other 90 routes whose consultation is possible through internet.

The application has the following options:

  • “Listado de caminos” (Lists of trails), tab in which the ecotourism routes with option to be downloaded (in red) and those that are only accessible through the Internet (gray) are shown, being possible to search trails by autonomous community (filter on the top right). The downloaded itineraries are stored in the option of the menu “Mis caminos” (My trails), showing the different stages that comprise the route, each one of which has a data sheet, points of interest (POIs), the layout on Google Earth and an option to locate POIs through augmented reality (not been able to test in field). The data sheets also show details of the route, profile, a photo gallery or a list of the most representative species of birds in the area. The data sheets available on the website are not as complete, although most have option to download the routes, points of interest, maps or brochures in different formats (GPX, Google Earth, PDF, etc.).
  • “Mapa” (Map), where all trails included in the application along with the user’s location are shown.
  • “Mis caminos” (My trails), section in which the downloaded information is stored.

More information

http://www.magrama.gob.es/en/desarrollo-rural/temas/caminos-naturales/

Images: Screenshots 05/09/2016. © Tragsatec

Rating
3.8

Analysis

Ecotourism attracts more and more tourists. According to a Spanish news website which cites data from the Spanish Statistical Office, “the overnight stays in rural tourism accommodations […] grew almost 13% in 2015, reaching to 8.7 million”. These rural environments are precisely which benefit the most from the recovery of these old trails for its touristic use, promoting a sustainable mobility (motor vehicles are not permitted) that brings closer the nature.

Although the number of available routes is still low, it is a work that is being implemented gradually. In fact, new trails are added for download every few months. One aspect that it would be interesting to include is the translation of the app into other languages. Although English appears as an additional language of the tool in the iOS version description, during the review it tried to change the language, but it was not possible. This is an important issue because it would allow to promote foreign tourism and diversify the traditional coastal destinations, making known the natural heritage of the peninsula. It would also be interesting to include information about the presence of other species of representative wildlife such as mammals or amphibians of each area that can be seen or heard during the walk.

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Técnico de medio ambiente, community manager y content curator especializada en temas de medioambiente - Environmental technician, community manager and content curator specialised in environmental issues