Orosi — The Franciscan Secret
Uncover the Franciscan secret buried in Costa Rica's oldest church. Decode hidden symbols across Orosi Valley's colonial sites to reveal a 18th-century conspiracy before it claims another victim.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1743, Franciscan missionaries erected the Iglesia de San José de Orosi, Costa Rica's oldest surviving church, amid the lush Orosi Valley
Orosi — The Franciscan Secret
You are an 18th-century Franciscan missionary in Orosi, Costa Rica, tasked with documenting the heritage and secrets of its church.
Your mission takes you through Orosi, Cartago. Augmented
Delve into Costa Rica's colonial past and unravel the mysteries of the Franciscan missionaries who shaped the Orosi Valley almost 300 years ago.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins in front of the Iglesia de San José de Orosi, the oldest religious building still standing in Costa Rica. Built in 1743 by Franciscan missionaries, this adobe church with its red tile roof was specifically designed to withstand earthquakes. Its strategic location in the Orosi Valley, geologically protected from destructive tremors, contributed to its survival. It is here, in the heart of Cartago, that you will begin to decipher the first enigmas of colonial heritage.
A few steps from the church, the Museo de Arte Colonial, housed in an old colonial house, opens its doors. Founded in 1978, this museum contains a collection of 18th-century religious artifacts and Franciscan objects, including statues, paintings, and relics that bear witness to Orosi's missionary history. Exploring these treasures will provide crucial clues about the practices and influence of Franciscan missionaries in the Cartago region, a pillar of Costa Rican history.
The route then takes you to the Parque Central de Orosi, the village's central square. Surrounded by colonial buildings and palm trees, this square has historically been a gathering point for Franciscan religious festivities since the 18th century. Located less than 100 meters from the Iglesia de San José, this pedestrian heart typical of Costa Rican pueblos offers benches to observe local life and views of the valley, all while preparing for your next step.
Continue your exploration to the Mirador de Orosi, a viewpoint accessible on foot in about 1 km from the center, via a pedestrian path along the hills. This natural observation point offers panoramic views of the Orosi Valley and its coffee plantations, highlighting the region's protective geology. It is an emblematic spot for photography, mentioned in local tourist guides, and a moment of respite before discovering the secrets of the Río Grande de Orosi, the lifeblood of this nearby Orosi Valley UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Your journey concludes with a visit to the Ruinas de Ujarrás, located about 3 km from Orosi. These ruins are of Costa Rica's first stone church, built around 1693 and destroyed by an earthquake in 1833, offering a striking contrast to the survival of the Iglesia de San José de Orosi. This free historical site, dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Limpia Concepción, was an ancient pilgrimage center. The confrontation between these remains and Orosi's intact church reveals the ingenuity of the Franciscan builders and the resilience of Cartago's colonial heritage.
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.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
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 · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Colonial Architecture
Uncover the construction secrets of Costa Rica's oldest church, defying time and earthquakes.
Protected Valley
Explore the Orosi Valley and understand how its unique geography shaped its history and resilience.
Forgotten Manuscript
Decipher clues left by Franciscan monks to reveal the church's architectural secret.
The spirit of the builders is carved in stone.
Uncover the plan that protected Orosi.
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
Q01What's the difference with a regular indoor escape room?
Outdoor escape game format: no physical locks, no actor, no fixed time slot. You start when you want, progress through Orosi, Cartago with your phone, and the city itself is the set. More immersive on local history, more flexible in pace.
Q02Can we take a break mid-trail?
Of course. Stop at a café, have lunch, resume later: your progress is saved. Many players bake a meal break into the trail, especially with families.
Q03Is Orosi — The Franciscan Secret good for a hen / stag party?
Great fit: no costume required, the team really collaborates (it's not a linear path), and the final code earns you a souvenir photo. Pick a calm time slot — early afternoon usually.
Q04Best season to explore Orosi, Cartago like this?
Spring and autumn are the best seasons: mild temperatures, fewer tourists, gorgeous light. Summer is also great but go for early morning before 11 or late afternoon. Winter is perfectly playable, especially in southern cities — Orosi, Cartago often feels more authentic then.
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Your turn to play
Delve into Costa Rica's colonial past and unravel the mysteries of the Franciscan missionaries who shaped the Orosi Valley almost 300 years ago.
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
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