Step-by-step guide on how to create your map

Master Carta Volta map-making step by step, from creating a new map to pinning places, uploading pictures, and giving each spot your personal touch. This guide walks you through profile setup, translation for global reach, and previewing your map through a traveller’s eyes. Bonus: discover how to turn quick voice notes into polished, on-brand descriptions using ChatGPT.

Published: 24 Aug 2026Updated: 09 Sep 20267 min read

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Log in / Create your account

Go to cartavolta.com and click 'My maps' in the top right corner. Enter your email address and you'll receive a magic link: no password or account needed. Can't find it? Check your spam folder.

Get building

Create your map

Click the magic link to go to ‘My maps’, then scroll down and click 'Where to next?' to open the Map Builder.

Add your pins

There are two ways to add a pin:

  • Search for a place: the quickest option is to search for an existing place and select it from the results. The ‘add a pin’ screen opens automatically when you open the Map Builder. But you can also find it on your right, on the ‘+’ sign: ‘+ Add Pin’.

  • Drop a pin manually: can't find the exact location? Simply drop a pin on the map and create the location yourself. You can find the pin icon in the bottom right corner of your Map Builder. Click it, then click where you'd like to drop the pin. You don't need to keep the mouse held down. Tip: Since you dropped the pin manually, it won't sync with online information. Make sure to click ‘always open’ so it appears on the Map Viewer.

Tip: Start with your favourite places, the ones that give the area its character. These fall under the "Gems" category: the reasons you love the area, the spots you'd take all your friends to, must-dos in your eyes. Next, add the places your area is known for, the ones that attract tourists and are easy to find online, in essence, the top 10 on most blogs or TripAdvisor. These are labelled "Essentials": we know everyone wants to visit them, but they're not what makes your map special. Finally, round it off with other places you'd recommend, museums, architecture, restaurants and bars, and so on.

Tip: Add 3 to 5 pins today. Then do the same tomorrow. No need to plan the perfect map before you start, it builds itself a few pins at a time, and within a month you'll have something genuinely useful to share.

Add a photo to the pin

Travellers decide in seconds whether a place is worth their time. Photos help them get there faster. We recommend choosing images that give a good impression of the experience or setting. For example: a picture of the food, the place, a picture of you there, …

  • If you forgot to add a photo, your pin will display a label showing a picture. In this case, we suggest you add a photo.

Choose the category

Categories make your map easy to scan at a glance with different pins for different types of places, so travellers can instantly see what's around and filter for exactly what they're looking for in the moment. Each pin can be assigned to one category. Often, when you add a pin, our platform automatically suggests a matching category. The main categories are: Gems, activities, shops, viewpoints, drinks, food, nature, culture, essentials and practical.

Most categories have subcategories to make it more visual and filterable. Choose the (sub) category that best describes the reason you go to this place. For the full list of categories, click here.

Write your description

The most valuable maps aren't just lists of places. Instead of only describing what a place is, explain why you recommend it. Your personal insights are what make your map unique. For example: Why did you add this place to your map? What's your favourite dish? What's the best time to visit? Is there something travellers might otherwise overlook? Why not add a bit of history?

Tip: I often tell ChatGPT, using the microphone icon, everything I think about the place. After I finish my message, I first click the ‘stop’ button, so ChatGPT knows I’ve stopped talking. It will write out everything I just said, and then I add this prompt telling it to keep my tone of voice: “Turn my spoken notes into a clear, well-structured description for this place. Keep my tone of voice, wording and personal observations as much as possible. Remove repetition and fix unclear sentences, but don't make the text sound more promotional, polished or generic than I intended. Only use the information and impressions I provided. Do not add descriptive words, opinions or details of your own, even when they seem to fit the place.”

  • If your description seems a little short, your pin will display a label showing a few lines. In that case, we suggest adding more information.

Add status labels

Each pin can carry extra status labels, so travellers know what to expect before they arrive. They're small details, but they make a real difference for someone planning their day. These labels include: Often busy, Reservation required, Ticket required, Family-friendly, Pet-friendly, Always open, Free access, Only cash, Only card, … Add whichever ones apply. As with categories, a few labels may already be added automatically. These status labels are only visible on the Map Viewer. On the Map Builder, you can have status labels such as: description is short or no photo added.

Add your own content

Want to add more to a pin? You can link out to your own content, an Instagram Reel or post, a YouTube video, or whatever's relevant. It's a simple way to add more personality and context without any extra work since you've already made this content anyway. This is an example of what it looks like for the traveller:

Have an affiliate link for a place? You can add that too. Set the pin's label to "Reservation required" or "Tickets required" first and a new field will then appear under contact. That's where your affiliate link belongs.

Websites and opening hours

Details such as opening hours, websites, and social media links are automatically added for each place. You can suggest an edit if something doesn't look right.

  • The 'always open' label makes pins appear that don’t have opening times, like some parks, things from the practical category, tours, etc.

Complete your profile

These are the first things travellers see, so it's worth getting them right. Your profile shapes their expectations before arriving on the trip. It's what puts a face and a story behind the recommendations. It establishes the bond and makes it feel like they know you.

About you

  • Add a profile photo: preferably of you, so they can put a face to your recommendations
  • Add a profile text: who are you, and what are your interests?

About your map

  • Go to the Map Builder and click on 'Map info' in the menu bar
  • Add a general map photo (this gives the general impression)
  • Name your map: is it a country, area or city?
  • Add a map description: what travellers should (and shouldn't) expect from this destination and from your map, why this area is special to you, and so on
  • Add your location underneath (if relevant for your map)

Please let us know when we can publish your map by emailing creators@cartavolta.com.

Optimise your map

Translate your map to other languages

People naturally feel most at home reading recommendations in their own language. It's a small addition that makes a real difference in how personal your map feels to them.

  • For individual creators, this widens your audience who can use your map.
  • For hospitality creators, depending on your subscription, you can add other languages.

See it through their eyes

Take a look at the Map Viewer to see your map exactly as your travellers will: pins, categories, descriptions, all of it.

Not happy with how or where your map opens in the Map Viewer? Adjust the view in the Map Builder until it looks the way you'd like your map to open, centre all your pins in the middle, for example, like in the image below. Then click the bottom icon ('expand/fit') on the right to save it as your opening view. Here's an example of a centred map and the icon you'd click to save it:

This 'expand/fit' icon only affects how your map opens for travellers. In the Map Builder itself, your map will always open wherever you last made adjustments.

Share your map

You'll find multiple tips and ideas as a resource: