However, there are some nice mapping capabilities coming out in the latest release of cartopy. https://scitools.org.uk/cartopy/docs/latest/whats_new.html

For example, cartopy now supports plotting labeled meridian/parallel gridlines.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/61786344/how-to-set-curvilinear-lat-lon-gridline-labels-parallel-to-gridlines-with-cartop

But the automated label alignment can get a bit messy... https://stackoverflow.com/questions/61786344/how-to-set-curvilinear-lat-lon-gridline-labels-parallel-to-gridlines-with-cartop

I think the logic for this is here https://github.com/SciTools/cartopy/blob/47ec03f606d0833cc2aba4165efb8622fbe498bb/lib/cartopy/mpl/gridliner.py#L674

Posting here to help gain visibility. Hope this is of interest and perhaps something someone might want to hack on...

Also, here some sweet basemap tiles to check out, while on the topic. https://wiki.earthdata.nasa.gov/display/GIBS/GIBS+Available+Imagery+Products

Posted an answer here on how to pull them in https://stackoverflow.com/questions/61737584/contextily-map-upside-down-when-used-with-cartopy