Hidden geocaching box underneath a fallen tree covered with leaves.

Geocaching 101 – How to get started with Geocaching

Do you love to go outdoors, go on hikes, and collect things? If so, then geocaching is the perfect hobby for you!

If you’re like me who just discovered this amazing pastime that takes you outside and lets you explore new regions, then this guide for beginners on how to get started is for you.

Geocaching 101 – A Beginner’s Guide on How to Get Started with Geocaching

Washed out tree route where a cache container is hidden but barely visible

What is Geocaching?

Let’s start with the basics. What even is geocaching? It is basically a modern treasure hunt where other people hide little treasures (caches), so anyone in the world can find them. 

The caches sometimes house actual treasures like coins or other small items, often they’re a logbook where you can write your name plus the date and time of you finding the cache.

There are over 3 million caches hidden throughout the world and you can find them with a GPS device or your phone.

Geocaching Basics

There are different types of cache and each cache has a difficulty, terrain, and size rating.

Geocache Types

Traditional Cache: the most common ones and the type I recommend going after at the beginning. This is what I’m doing currently. This cache will be located at the GPS coordinates that can be found in the app.

Multi-Cache: there will be at least two locations where you have to go to find the actual geocache and the logbook. 

Mystery Cache: these are the hardest, in my opinion. You need to do some actual sleuthing to figure out where the cache is located. Some riddles and puzzles need solving for you to be able to find the coordinates.

These puzzles can be anything, so be prepared that it might take some time.

Geocache Ratings

Difficulty: 1 to 5 stars. Shows you how difficult it will be to find the geocache.

Terrain: 1 to 5 stars. Shows you how easy or not easy it is to get to the actual cache.

Size: The sizes of geocaches can vary from “micro” to “large”. Micros are small ones that are often the size of a pill bottle, and large can be the size of a bucket. 

Geocaching Rules

There are not many rules you have to adhere to while geocaching. It’s not like someone punishes you if you break them, but for everyone to have fun, there are some rules based on common courtesy.

  • Leave no trace during your hunt – this means leave the area the way you found it. Geocachers are respectful towards nature and don’t leave trash or anything else behind.
  • Sign the logbook and place everything back where you found it.
  • Take a pen to sign the logbook.
  • Keep an eye out for muggles – you read that right, non-geocaching folk are called muggles. Try to be discrete and not get caught by a muggle. They often take the cache and throw it out because they think it’s trash.

How to get started?

Step 1: Create a free Geocaching Account

The first thing you have to do to get started with geocaching is create a free geocaching account. You can create that on the geocaching.com website.

Step 2: Download the Geocaching App (or an alternative)

The next step is to download the official Geocaching app from the app store. This enables you to open the map and see any caches that are near you that can be explored.

I use the Geocaching app but also the app called c:geo. This one doesn’t have limitations and you don’t need a premium membership to see all the caches. 

However, I use both to get the most information about a cache. 

There are also other geocaching apps available if you want to try them.

Step 3: Check the app for geocaches near you

Now that you have one or two apps, you can see where there are geocaches in your area.

I was very lucky at the beginning because there were several caches really close by. I was able to find four caches during my first outing.

You have to click on the map and turn on your location to see what’s around you.

Geocaches have icons showing the type of cache that can be found. The Geocaching app limits what you can see.

Once you’ve selected a cache you want to visit, you can check the description or more information and see what is awaiting you.

I recommend checking the virtual logbook to see the latest activity. If people have found the geocache recently then there is a high chance that it is where it’s supposed to be.

Older caches do get lost, so make sure you don’t go on a wild goose chase.

Step 4: Start the hunt

You have selected a geocache you want to find. Use the app to navigate to the cache or enter the GPS coordinates into Google Maps or a GPS device.

Once you’re close to the coordinates, use your eyes (surprise!) to find the cache. Look for something that looks out of the ordinary. 

Tupperware containers are popular containers for caches. Look for spots where something like that could be hidden. 

Geocaches are often disguised as rocks, bricks or other everyday objects. If you can’t find anything after a while then check the hint in the app for some help.

Step 5: Bathe in the victory of finding your first geocache

It’s an exhilarating feeling to find the cache. I was so happy when I found my first one – I will always treasure it.

Geocaching Etiquette for Finders

  • Try to be inconspicuous if there are muggles around to not alert them to the location of the cache
  • Check out the loot or swag inside the cache (this is optional and not always existent, so don’t be disappointed).
  • Sign the logbook with your username
  • If there is swag in the cache, you can take an item out but you have to replace it with something of equal or higher value. Swap for the win!
  • Put the cache back where you found it, the way you found it.
  • Log your visit on the app

If you find something that isn’t right with the cache, then you can leave your feedback. 

Also, don’t provide spoilers in the virtual logbook entry.

Well done! You found your first geocache. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did and continue to find many more.

Hidden geocaching box underneath a fallen tree covered with leaves.

Geocaching Acronyms

Geocaching is one of those worlds where acronyms are used wildly. Here are a few that you’ll find fairly quickly.

BYOP – Bring your own pen

DNF – Did not find

CITO – Cache in Trash Out

FTF – First to Find

TNLN – Took Nothing, Left Nothing

TFTC – Thanks for the Cache

My First Geocaching Experience

I don’t know why I didn’t start this earlier. I actually had colleagues already in 2007 who started with Geocaching but then smartphones weren’t widely available yet and I didn’t want to spend money on a GPS device. 

Now, I can geocache with my phone and I couldn’t be happier. I started geocaching in my home village, Grömitz in Germany. 

I was lucky that there are quite a few geocaches here. To take it easy I started with traditional ones that had easy ratings. 

To be honest, I read the description but didn’t pay too much attention. From the map I knew where the hiding spot was (in general) and there weren’t many options to hide the cache, so I quickly found it. 

Seeing the names of the people who had already found the cache made me feel very happy. Even as a solo traveller, I like the community feeling and there and then I definitely felt part of it.

Luckily, there was another cache not too far away which I also tried to find. And here I already had to use the hint but again, I felt elated when I found it.

It’s such a beautiful hobby that I’ll definitely continue.

If you want to follow my journey, then check out my Instagram or TikTok account to see what I’m up to.

Geocaching 101: A Beginner’s Guide on how to get started with Geocaching – Recap

I hope you learned a few things and are ready to take on your first geocaching hunt.

Be aware of the main rule “Leave no trace behind”. Geocachers value nature, so we don’t want to leave it less clean than we found it.

Use the geocaching app to find a few easy geocaches to start with and use the hints if you can’t figure it out.

Watch out for muggles, log your find, seal the cache, and leave the cache the way you found it.

Geocaches are hidden worldwide, so use this to travel the world with purpose.