Tourists begged not to use Google Maps to find ‘hidden beaches’

More than 140 tourists looking for hidden beaches on this Italian island have been rescued after a spectacular Google Maps disaster.

Tourists are being warned to avoid using Google Maps when travelling on the island of Sardinia after it was attributed to a spike in the number of rescues of lost visitors.

The Italian island is famed for its white sand coves and stunning stretches of sand, especially in the Ogliastra region.

Local authorities said they have had to rescue 144 travellers who tried to find some of the island’s “hidden beaches” but ended up instead on dangerous cliff edges, The Sun reports.

People keep needing rescuing after using Google Maps to find hidden beaches in Sardinia. Picture: iStock

Often travellers’ cars are stuck on dirt tracks. One family who were travelling in a Porsche was saved after nearly falling from a plunging cliff in Ogliastra, according to CNN.

And authorities are blaming Google Maps.

The new signs warn tourists against using Google Maps. Picture: Comune di Baunei/Vigili del Fuoco

With many of the rescues funded by the island, not by tourists, authorities are now putting up signs advising visitors to not use the directions of Google Maps. The signs also say some tracks should only be driven through by 4x4 cars.

Dozens of tourists’ cars have had to be rescued. Picture: Comune di Baunei/Vigili del Fuoco

Baunei Mayor Salvatore Corrias told CNN that Google Maps was “misleading” drivers and often took cars on “unpassable tracks”.

A Google Maps spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We’re aware of an issue in Sardinia where Google Maps is routing some drivers down roads that can be difficult to navigate due to their terrain.

Google Maps can’t distinguish between roads and rough tracks on this part of the island, CNN reports. Picture: Comune di Baunei/Vigili del Fuoco

“We’re currently working with the local government to resolve the issue and are investigating ways we can better alert drivers about these types of roads.”

Recently, a number of drivers in the United States found themselves stuck in a muddy field in Denver after an “airport shortcut” on Google Maps was impassable.

And in 2017, a Google Maps glitch resulted in tourists being sent to the “boring” NSW town of Dargan instead of the beautiful Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission