Geocaching cannot be unequivocally classified as a new phenomenon, but in recent years it has gained worldwide popularity. The idea is to have some kind of cache of treasure, in the form of a can or a small box, which contains a piece of paper that you must sign for after you find the cache. It can be compared to a treasure hunting game in which the whole world is your playground..
Sometimes inside you can find some uncomplicated object, left for a joke by some previous treasure hunter. To find the cache, you need a geocaching app for your Android or iOS smartphone, as well as GPS and hints. So let's move on to the applications.
Geocaching
The idea of geocaching was invented by Jeremy Irish, who was dubbed the godfather of geocaching. He has been hiding caches for over 20 years, making his app a prime starting point to start searching. Some countries also host geocaching events, a list of which you can find here..
This application has one of the largest databases of such caches in the world, with numerous coordinates and tips. The functionality includes maps, compass, offline maps and directions for driving or walking. And also a large community of users with whom you can chat. Most of the other apps are just repeating what already exists in this one, although they offer some additional functionality.
Along with a decent free version, there is also a paid one with an annual subscription for $ 30. Subscription allows you to unlock more geocaches..
Available for Android and iOS .
Cachly
Unlike Geocaching, which is available for Android and iOS, Cachly is for iOS users only. It's a sad fact when you consider the number of Android users in the world. However, Cachly has two main advantages. First, it has a partnership with Geocaching.com. Second, the paid version only costs $ 7 in a one-time payment. Which is incredibly beneficial.
At Cachly, everything you need is close at hand. For example, you can search using filters and save the results in offline maps. There is a separate function for tracking codes. Another great thing is Apple Watch support, which can come in handy when traveling over rough terrain.
Available for iOS .
C: geo
C: geo for Android is the same as Cachly for iOS users. One of the key differences is open source and completely free. As with Cachly, you can select the map app you want and mark all the places in it. There are many filters for organizing data and saving offline for later viewing the location without the Internet.
C: geo has a very simple and well thought out interface. Waypoints can help you find geocaches, and a feature has recently been added to create your own geocaches. It is especially great that you can retrieve and store geocache information from Geocaching.com. You can also mark caches that you are not interested in or have already been found.
Available for Android .
Looking4Cache
Looking4Cache can also use the Geocaching.com database through the API, and has several additional options to make your searches easier. You can save terrain patches, waypoints, cache data, logs, and images. And you can also take and upload your photos, which in my opinion should be done by all geo-caches finders.
There are some cool features here that you won't find in other apps. For example, search for information about pranksters, local contact links, vector maps, updatable maps, and support for GPX and GGZ files.
Available for iOS .
Locus map
Last but not least, geocaching app for Android and iOS users. Locus Map also works with the Geocaching.com app and has an offline map and navigation feature for finding geotocs. Unfortunately, the free version of this app does not support navigation.
Locus Map works well with other geocaching applications like C: geo. This is useful for many reasons, such as fewer repetitive operations, saving memory space given that geocaching applications can take up a lot of space. Other features include various points of interest (POI) in different formats, photos, recording your routes, navigation using sound and voice.
Available for Android .