Samana — Echo of the Arrows
Uncover the Ciguayos' secret signals from their first clash with Columbus. Decipher arrow echoes and hidden Taíno codes to expose the lost battle strategy buried in Samana's landmarks.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1493, Christopher Columbus anchored in what became Golfo de las Flechas—Bay of Arrows—off Santa Barbara de Samana
Samana — Echo of the Arrows
You are a trusted operative, dispatched by María Trinidad Sánchez herself, in Samaná, 1844.
Your urgent mission is to foil a royalist plot threatening the nascent independence of the Dominican Republic
Dive into the vibrant history of Samaná, where the echoes of Taino arrows still resonate on the shores of the Dominican Nordeste.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins on the Malecón de Samaná, a coastal promenade built in the early 20th century to connect the port to residential areas. This approximately 1 km long artery, renovated in 2015 with LED lighting, is the starting point for excursions to Los Haitises National Park. Your first clue is near the Monument to Sailors, erected in 1992 to honor Nordeste fishermen who perished in tropical storms. This 10-meter bronze colossus, sculpted by Leopoldo García, commemorates Dominican sailors lost at sea, a constant reminder of the ocean's dangers and the local resilience in Samaná.
Continue to the Puente Peatonal de Samaná, a 150 m long steel pedestrian bridge, built in 2012 over the river north of the Malecón. Located 300 m from the starting point, it connects the city center to the eastern beaches and is designed to withstand hurricanes, supporting up to 500 pedestrians simultaneously. From here, you can admire the estuary, a site where humpback whales are observed from December to March. The bridge symbolizes Samaná's connection to the outside world and marine resources, a crucial aspect of local history and the heritage of the Nordeste Dominican Republic.
Your journey then takes you to the Iglesia Santa Bárbara, a Catholic church built in 1870 in a Spanish colonial style, with a 25-meter bell tower. Located 500 m from the Malecón, in the heart of Samaná's historic center, this church is dedicated to Saint Barbara, patron saint of sailors, emphasizing the city's important port vocation. Renovated in 2005 after damage caused by Hurricane George in 1998, it embodies the faith and perseverance of Samaná's inhabitants in the face of natural challenges.
800 m from the Malecón, via the main streets, discover the Mercado Público de Samaná. This covered market, inaugurated in 1920 and covering 2,500 m² with over 100 stalls, is the city's daily commercial heart. Rebuilt in reinforced concrete after the 1946 earthquake destroyed previous wooden structures, it continues to sell local products such as fresh fish and tropical fruits since its foundation. It is here that plotters might exchange information, amidst the bustle of commerce and the flavors of the Nordeste.
Finally, the Parque de la Independencia, a one-hectare green space created in 1844 to celebrate the first Dominican independence, awaits you 600 m from the Malecón. Surrounded by 19th-century colonial buildings, it houses a 5 m statue of Duarte erected in 1925, honoring Juan Pablo Duarte. It is here, during national holidays on February 27, that public speeches resonate. By solving the ultimate puzzle in this park, you will have not only foiled the plot but also embraced the spirit of freedom that shaped Samaná and the Nordeste Dominican Republic. You leave with a deep understanding of its history and its Dominican colonial heritage.
The Route
8 sites to explore by car within the day
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
First Resistance
Relive the 'Battle of the Bay of Arrows', the first armed clash between Native Americans and Europeans.
Taíno Heritage
Explore iconic places that bear witness to the culture and wisdom of the Ciguayos.
Ancient Prophecy
Decipher a lost Ciguayo prophecy, carved into the landscape and legends.
The spirit of the Ciguayos endures.
Their voice whispers through the bay.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Dive into the vibrant history of Samaná, where the echoes of Taino arrows still resonate on the shores of the Dominican Nordeste.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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