Taxco — Borda's Lost Silver Curse
Uncover the curse that doomed José de la Borda's silver empire. Decode clues from haunted mines and colonial haunts to break the spell before it claims another fortune.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1750s Taxco, José de la Borda unearthed staggering silver riches from mines like Pedregal and San Ignacio, funding the opulent Santa Prisca Cathedral that towers over the cobbled streets
Taxco — Borda's Lost Silver Curse
You are a historical investigator, drawn to the legends of Taxco, Guerrero, in the present day.
In 1750s Taxco, José de la Borda unearthed staggering silver riches
José de la Borda — from French miner to silver magnate
« God gives to Borda, and Borda gives to God »— José de la Borda's motto engraved on Santa Prisca
The Golden Age of Silver in Taxco
In the 18th century, Taxco becomes the heart of New Spain's silver industry thanks to José de la Borda, a French immigrant who became the most powerful mining magnate of the colonial era. Born in France around 1700, Borda arrives in Mexico in his youth and discovers the San Ignacio mine in 1751, which brings him colossal fortune. His wealth is such that he entirely finances the construction of Santa Prisca church, a jewel of Mexican baroque completed in 1759.
Borda revolutionizes mining extraction by introducing new European techniques and creating a network of underground galleries extending several kilometers. At its peak, his mines produce more than a third of the world's silver, making Taxco the most prosperous city in the viceroyalty. He employs more than 3,000 workers and radically transforms the city's urbanism, creating the zigzag paved streets that still characterize the historic center today. His death in 1778 marks the end of a golden age, but his descendants continue exploitation until Mexican independence.
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
5-10 curated sites across the territory
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?
Mining Architecture
Discover mining symbols hidden in Taxco's baroque art
Colonial Fortune
Explore the legacy of New Spain's richest man
Secret Map
Reconstruct the lost map of Borda's last veins
Uncover the silver king's mystery
Eight clues in baroque stone to find José de la Borda's lost map
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
Q01Concretely, how does it unfold outdoors?
You arrive in Historic center of Taxco, open the link on your phone, the story starts. It's the modern outdoor escape game: audio narration, camera puzzles, final code unlocked as a team. No install. No need to book a time slot.
Q02How long does it take to finish Taxco — Borda's Lost Silver Curse?
Plan 1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. Some finish in 1 h 10, others take 3 h in slow-mode. No pressure: the clock only counts for the leaderboard, you play at your tempo.
Q03Does Taxco — Borda's Lost Silver Curse work for team-building?
Yes — it's actually one of our main use cases. Outdoor escape game format, teams of 4 to 6, live ranking possible between groups. For companies above 12 participants, contact us: we can issue linked codes.
Q04Is Taxco — Borda's Lost Silver Curse stroller-accessible?
Depends on the exact route in Historic center of Taxco. The vast majority of stops are downtown, on sidewalks or squares. If a stair or narrow passage is involved, it's flagged on the product page. Generally: yes, doable with a standard urban stroller.
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Your turn to play
Unravel the mining symbols hidden in Taxco's colonial architecture. Decipher the Latin inscriptions of Santa Prisca and reconstruct the secret map of José de la Borda's last veins, the man who transformed a small town into the silver capital.
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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