Geocaching—which I like to describe as a modern day pirate experience, seeking out hidden treasures—utilizes your GPS (or even some mobile phones, check out the new geocaching iPhone app) and your sense of adventure.

Start by downloading coordinates to your GPS by simply inputting the area you want to geocache. The coordinates and geocache code will automatically show up on your GPS as treasure chest icons. Select an icon and your GPS will guide you to a hidden geocache.

Don’t expect your GPS to do all the work

Unfortunately, the GPS doesn’t find the geocache for you and there isn’t an “X” that marks the spot.

Successful geocaching requires stealth, eagle eyes, patience and dogged persistence. The coordinates don’t guarantee an easy find and there have been times when, despite my best efforts, I haven’t been able to find a geocache.

Other factors can influence your ability to locate a geocache. For one, the accuracy of your GPS satellite connection can become blocked by trees or clouds. Secondly, the geocache is hidden in a manner as to avoid the attention of muggles (muggles is geocaching-speak for non-geocachers, which was borrowed from Harry Potter.)

Geocaches are hidden

Geocaches are often hidden in crevices, under rocks and around trees. Once I even discovered one held with a magnet to a metal structure. Don’t stand there expecting to see the hidden cache at eye level. You will need to get down on your hands and knees and feel around under bushes, rocks and trees. I suggest wearing gloves.

What does a geocache look like and what’s inside?

Typically a geocache is a waterproof container (think snap-lock sandwich container). Inside there is a log book, pencil and a collection of swag available for trade.

The rule is if you take something from the geocache, then you leave something. Swag can be anything from novelty items like pencils and pins to specially marked “geocoins”, often these geocoins have originated from far away places.

That’s what’s so exciting about geocaching—it can be done all over the world! On our recent trip to Victoria, we immediately started planning how we could incorporate geocaching into our west coast adventure.

Select geocaches near areas you will be visiting

Finding geocaches to track down wasn’t a problem, it was deciding which ones to pursue!

We found coordinates for an assortment of geocaches located in and around the area we were based in Victoria. Plus, we added a few more to seek out on our day trip up island to Rathtrevor Beach and another geocache to search down before zip lining in Sooke.

I really like the fact that geocaching can be done in any type of weather. My husband, our two kids and I walked kilometers at a time along streets, through parks and along the harbour front in Victoria tracking down geocaches in sunny, overcast, and even rainy weather.

I’ve been told that some diehards enjoy geocaching in the winter—as long the geocaches are above the snow line.

Our favourite geocaches in Victoria

Here are a few of our favourite geocaches from our trip. We were constantly amazed that the geocaches led us to areas we’d never come across in our previous trips to the coast.

All geocaches have a name and description, along with logs entered by other geocachers who have found the geocache.

Hints are often provided to help in the search as some geocaches prove to be more challenging to find than others.  
Remember, part of the fun is the hunt, but the find is pretty sweet. There is nothing that is more thrilling than when your 13-year-old girl excitedly yells, “I found it, I found it!” and starts doing the happy dance with her younger sister.
 

Jaiden’s Cache (N 48 degrees 25.045 W 123 degrees 23.272)

Tips: Must be a popular place to enjoy a halibut sandwich, had to wait it out while muggles ate their lunch. Lots of action here: watch for cruise ships and helicopters!

Cruisin’ into Victoria  (N 48 degrees 24.868 W 123 degrees 23.225)

Tips: Not far from Jaiden’s Cache. Might need to do a little rock climbing. Walk along the pier once you’ve found the cache for a grand view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Beast of Burden 1 (N 48 degrees 24.691 W 123 degrees 20.801)


Tips: In mid-June hummingbirds are abundant here and you will hear their buzzing as they play in the air. Yes, the geocache is under a rock as the clue states. You’re not going believe the view.

A Birds Eye View (N 48 degrees 27.015 W 123 degrees 21.255)

Tips: This cache had a Pez-related theme, so we left a Pez dispenser. You’ll wonder why you haven’t been to this park before (oops, gave you a hint.) Sort of a zen location high above everything else. This was the last geocache that we found in Victoria enroute to the airport.

Sunken Garden (N 48 degrees 25.217 W 123 degrees 22.115)

Tips: Wandered around a bit, but the coordinates were too accurate not to miss. No muggles around, but the potential was there. Located in Victoria’s busy tourist area.