Olhão has opened a new geocaching route, forming a piece of virtual geoart. Geocaching is a modern take on the treasure hunt, with over a million participants across the globe.
This open air activity is an excellent way of exploring the local landscape in a new and exciting way. Users can download the geocaching app on their phone, or partake using a GPS device. From there it is possible to carry out a treasure hunt for hidden treasure boxes, known as geocaches. These small boxes often contain a guestbook, pencils, and other small objects. Those who find the geocaches can exchange objects using the small hidden box.
The new route, which consists of 144 caches, was created as a way of “allowing families, friends, or individuals to have contact with the nature, history, culture, and gastronomy of the places where the geocaches are hidden”, says Olhão Council.
The idea is to put “Olhão on the geocaching map, so that not only can there be more caches, but in the future more events.” One of these events is a workshop which will be taking place on the 21st of September this year, with objective of sparking interest in more people in the region.
“There are currently 227 active geocaches in the municipality of Olhão. The virtual cache placed at Largo da Fábrica Velha has caught the attention of over 865 geocachers fom 25 different countries, and a geocache placed in Cerro da Cabeça, named The Moor and the Abyss, was rewarded in 2014 as the best cache in the district of Faro”, revealed Olhão Council.
Comments
If you are in the Western Algarve have a go at the circuit of 10 caches near the Bravura dam, some others in and around Lagos or, if you fancy a good long walk then the cache series placed by Barbaleta near Vila do Bispo.