Geocache: If you hide it, they will come!

Hidden in a German prison? In your neighbours' garden or on a mountain top?

By Charlotte Helminger

Take a good chunk of enthusiasm for treasure hunting, a wee bit of patience to find the right clues and some geeky passion for GPS orienteering. Mix it up with some gusto for riddles and there you go, you'll catch the Geocaching-bug!

What is it?

Geocaching is a recreational and social treasure hunt where you can locate a geocache, or hidden object, anywhere in the world using a GPS-enabled device. And I do mean anywhere: in a bar in the midst of Bangladesh's capital, in the lush Luxembourgish countryside or on a helicopter landing site in Afghanistan!

Basically, the idea is to get young and old to leave their couches on sunny afternoons and go on an outdoor treasure hunt, anywhere and at any time!

A Geocache could be almost anything; from a tiny plastic box containing only a logbook to a large canister with any number of surprising items or fake rocks with secret compartments.

Geocachers who find the cache can sign the logbook to record that they've been there or take an item from the cache, only remember, you must leave something of equal or greater value behind!

Wort.lu/en spoke to Luxembourg's number one geocaching-fan Fernando da Silva, who organises events for the Echternach youth hostel and caught the bug after an Austrian friend invited him on a geocaching expedition in 2006.

Luxembourg caught in the grip of geocache-mania

He explained that geocache-mania has gotten hold of Luxembourg, where treasure hunters can find thousands of caches. According to Fernando, the most spectacular cache can be found in Luxembourg City.

Loved by tourists and locals alike, one seven kilometre trail encompasses all city highlights, offering splendid scenery and even leaves some time to buy delicious chocolate, as one delighted geocache fan reported. GC1JENX that's the code, so off you go!

GPS: Treasure hunt meets sophistication GPS: Treasure hunt meets sophistication

How do I do it?

It's as easy as that! Register online at the geocache website and choose a specific set of coordinates – in your city, country or next travel destination. Essentially, choose a geocache wherever you wish to explore the hidden corners you have not thought of yet!

Enter the coordinates in your GPS device, put on your best walking shoes and go and find the “treasure” hidden at that location.

Not all geocaches require a GPS device. For the easy levels you can simply find the location online – remember it – and away you go!

The fun and challenging bit starts after you've arrived at the located spot. Because the GPS only shows roughly where the 'treasure' is hidden, with the size of the geocache ranging from a pen to a sandwich box, you will have your work cut out to find the cache.

No limits to the imagination

“There are no limits to the imagination” said Fernando, remembering one particular spooky adventure. Not far from Luxembourg, he went geocaching in a dilapidated, German prison. Hunting around the empty floors he found the cache hidden between dusty folders filled with original prisoner registration lists.

Who can do it?

The beauty of geocaching is that anyone can do it, be they families, hikers, grandparents or explorers. More than four million people take part in geocaching and there are geocaches in almost every country around the globe.

Geocaching is diverse and adaptable to everyone at every time; depending on your fitness, enthusiasm and available time you can find a cache suitable for you.

Because, at the outset, geocaching seems trickier than it actually is, Fernando hosts geocaching workshops in Bourglinster. Part of the entertaining activities organised by the Echternach youth hostel, the workshop is meant to firstly show you how the website works and how to handle a GPS, before accompanying you on your first 'modern treasure hunt'.

Where can I do it?

Geocaches can be hidden all around the world; on sandy beaches, in national parks around Tanzania and on mountaintops, underwater or simply in a busy city street. So simply make sure you read the description well, or your hunt might eventually take you on an unintended rock climb.

By the way, the highest Geocache is hidden inside the International Space Station!

Usually though, geocaching will take you on a fun treasure hunt through lush parks in London, chic streets in Paris or maybe Luxembourg City's Grund?

Interested? Go and register or find out more at: www.geocaching.com

Alternatively, try the geocaching for teambuilding workshop at various Youth Hostels in Luxembourg