Project

Project "Ruta Rica"

Author: Javier Bateman Aramendia Published: April 20, 2026 Status: Completed

Project Goals

Make a WikiLoc like local web app for me and my friends so we can share all the little known hiking and swimming spots we like to go to

Description

Why build this?

Every time my friends and family want to plan a hike, find a new river to swim in, or pick a spot for lunch, the info is scattered all over the place. Old WhatsApp messages, half remembered recommendations from someone's cousin, and travel blogs written by people who have clearly never actually been here. I figured, why not just build our own private little map where we can share the good spots amongst ourselves?

That's Ruta Rica. Kind of like WikiLoc, but small, private, and only the people we trust adding info. No ads, no strangers, no algorithm deciding what shows up first.

How does it work?

You find a cool swimming hole, you pin it on the map and drop a few notes. Maybe a photo too. You go on a hike, your phone records the GPS track while you walk and saves it for whoever wants to do that route next. Same for restaurants, picnic spots, viewpoints, whatever. Over time it turns into a real guide to the area, made by the people who actually live here.

Why a PWA?

Honestly, this is also an excuse for me to see how far I can push a Progressive Web App in 2026. PWAs have come a long way and I wanted to find out if I could get one to do all the things that usually require a "real" app. Things like:

Live GPS trail recording while you walk
Offline maps for when you're up in the hills with no signal
Geotagged photos from the camera
Local first data that syncs when you're back online
Installs on any phone without going through an app store

If I can pull all that off from a single codebase, that's the real win for me as a developer.

Is this a startup?

Nope. Not a business, not a product, not trying to grow. Nothing to sign up for, nothing to sell, no data being collected or passed along to anyone. It's just a tool for my friends and family so we can spend less time planning and more time actually getting outside.

¿Por qué montar esto?

Cada vez que mis amigos y familia queremos planear una ruta, buscar un río nuevo donde bañarnos, o elegir un sitio para comer, la información está desperdigada por todos lados. Mensajes viejos de WhatsApp, recomendaciones a medio recordar del primo de alguien, y blogs de viajes escritos por gente que claramente nunca ha pisado la zona. Así que pensé, ¿por qué no montarnos nuestro propio mapa privado para compartir los buenos sitios entre nosotros?

Eso es Ruta Rica. Algo parecido a WikiLoc, pero pequeño, privado, y solo con gente de confianza añadiendo información. Sin anuncios, sin desconocidos, sin ningún algoritmo decidiendo qué aparece primero.

¿Cómo funciona?

Encuentras una poza chula para bañarte, la marcas en el mapa y dejas unas notas. Una foto también si quieres. Te vas de ruta, tu móvil graba el track GPS mientras caminas y lo guarda para quien quiera hacer esa misma ruta después. Lo mismo con restaurantes, sitios de pícnic, miradores, lo que sea. Con el tiempo se va convirtiendo en una guía de verdad de la zona, hecha por la gente que vive aquí.

¿Por qué una PWA?

La verdad, esto también es una excusa para ver hasta dónde puedo llevar una Progressive Web App en 2026. Las PWAs han avanzado mucho y quería averiguar si podía hacer una que hiciera todo lo que normalmente requiere una app "de verdad". Cosas como:

Grabación de rutas por GPS en directo mientras caminas
Mapas offline para cuando estás en el monte sin cobertura
Fotos geolocalizadas desde la cámara
Datos guardados en local que se sincronizan cuando vuelves a tener conexión
Se instala en cualquier móvil sin pasar por una app store

Si consigo sacar todo eso desde un único código, para mí como desarrollador ese es el verdadero logro.

¿Esto es una startup?

Pues no. No es un negocio, no es un producto, ni estoy intentando que crezca. Nada que registrar, nada que vender, ni se recogen datos ni se pasan a nadie. Es simplemente una herramienta para mis amigos y mi familia, para que pasemos menos tiempo planeando y más tiempo saliendo de verdad al campo.

Project Updates

28

Apr
2026

New Features: PWA Support, Multi-Category Pins & Trail Recording

We're excited to share three major updates to the app. First, the app is now PWA-friendly. You can install it directly to your device and receive push notifications, just like a native app. Second, we've rolled out a new pin system that supports multiple categories per location, so a single spot can now be tagged across all the categories that apply to it. Finally, we've launched a fully functional hiking trail system: you can import existing routes, draw them manually on the map, or record them live from your phone as you walk the trail.

22

Apr
2026

Annnnnnnd we are live! That was fast!

This project will probably have few updates to follow this one. The fact is it took me two days to throw this together and I am pretty happy with the results. Most of this website is pretty much a repetition of what I've done on Evocultiva but with less work involved. The thing that sets it apart though is the amount of functionality I want to give the PWA. As of right now the only truly untested feature I have is the route mapping function that keeps a record of where the user has gone while hiking to draw out a trail. The idea is that a user who knows a trail can record it and other members of the community can get an idea of if they want to do that trail or not based on the map recording. We will see where it goes. But for now, this is already a live site where my friends can sign up, post their own events, places, and (supposedly) trail data, and search the map! As with everything practice makes perfect, so running the full technical stack was easier this time around than my first time with Evocultiva.org.

I'm excited to keep you updated on the progress!