Has anyone geocached on the Camino Frances route?

[Julia Mumford]

My daughter and I are off to walk Camino Frances for the first time at the end of May 2016 and I was wondering what the geocaching was like on route? I have set myself a goal of collecting 1000 caches this year, so it would be great to collect a few on-route.

I have searched the forum, but no-one has mentioned it. I naturally assumed that hikers / ramblers would be keen to do a spot of geocaching as well.

I was just interested to know if there are any fellow cachers out there?

 

[mspath]

Hi Julia,

Welcome to the Forum!

You and your daughter must be very excited planning your future camino. You will find a great deal of helpful info here. For example this earlier Forum thread discusses geocaching -- https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/geocaching-on-the-caminos.13600/

Buen camino to you both!
MM

 

[GreatDane]

My son, his best friend and I started geocaching - if I remember right - very early, like 2000. The boys were in middle school and they're now both 29 years old. Once they got their drivers licenses and one of my caches was caught in a flood and was found 20+ miles down stream by a fisherman, I dropped out. They still geocache on occasion.That said, I did not geocache on my last partial camino but might on my next partial.

 

[Dutch]

The what now? This is a game, right? Finding something? But what do you look for? A sign? A "thing"....what? Oh and how?

I'm in!!

 

[KerrieG]

The what now? This is a game, right? Finding something? But what do you look for? A sign? A "thing"....what? Oh and how?

I'm in!!

Yes Dutch, geocaching is a game - "Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location." Go to www.geocaching.com to find out all about it!

 

[KerrieG]

I'm a geocacher, walking my first Camino in September '16. I had thought about doing some caching along the way, but it would depend on internet signal for my phone, I won't have a GPS with me. I had sort of forgotten about it actually, thanks for the reminder!

 

[HeidiL]

I have TRIED to geocache a bit on a Camino, but my GPS gave up the ghost between all the heavy stone buildings in Burgos. After two hours of walking around three blocks, I gave up and didn't try again.

Thanks for reminding me, I'll make sure my phone app is up to date!

 

[Al the optimist]

We all have our reasons for travelling the Camino and our aspirations of what it can offer differ. Just my own opinion but maybe the distraction of such an activity might possible deny those taking part from encountering some of what their Camino may offer them? What ever you do, Buen Camino both. May it be a great experience.

 

[J F Gregory]

I avoid technology as much as possible. I don't know what you are talking about? No GPS, No cell phone on the Camino except for photos.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

It's a treasure hunt with GPS coordinates.

 

[Julia Mumford]

I'm not intending to collect all caches, although I have downloaded them all onto my GPS. I will be happy with collecting just a few to mark the trek. I've downloaded over 200 caches on the Camino Frances route.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Clearly you are not the only one enjoying this. So go, do it! Just go for the ones on the Camino, not off route, or you'll add on distance that may come back and bite you in the toochy.