Porto Santo — The Columbus Conspiracy
Decipher the hidden signs Columbus studied on Porto Santo before crossing the Atlantic. Uncover the maritime secrets that shaped history.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the late 15th century, Christopher Columbus arrived on Porto Santo seeking answers
Porto Santo — The Columbus Conspiracy
You are Bartolomeu Perestrelo, first captain-donatário of Porto Santo appointed in 1425, returning to the island in 1480.
Your mission
Walk in Christopher Columbus's footsteps through the house where he lived between 1478 and 1480, then discover the eight Porto Santo sites that shaped history's greatest navigator.
The story that haunts this land
Vila Baleira immediately reveals its secrets in the Casa do Cristóvão Colombo, classified as National Monument in 1937 by decree-law n° 27 106. This 16th-century house sheltered Christopher Columbus between 1478 and 1480 with his wife Filipa Moniz Perestrelo, daughter of Bartolomeu Perestrelo. The 15th-century furniture and 1492 globe testify to the era when the future discoverer of America studied Atlantic currents from Porto Santo. You discover the first maps that oriented his projects toward the West Indies.
The Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, built from 1450 under the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John, was rebuilt after the 1563 earthquake. Its single Gothic-Manueline nave preserves a 17th-century gilded wooden altarpiece and a bell dated 1435. This site of historic baptisms potentially witnessed the birth of Columbus's descendants, definitively anchoring the navigator's lineage in Madeiran heritage. You measure religious influence on Atlantic expeditions.
The Jardim do Infante pays homage to Prince Henry, promoter of Atlantic discoveries between 1394 and 1460. Landscaped in the 20th century near the historic center, this garden offers bay views and houses a statue of the Prince inaugurated in 1960. Less than 500 meters from Columbus's house, it materializes the link between Sagres navigation school and Columbian projects. From this viewpoint, you contemplate the horizon scrutinized by 15th-century cartographers.
From Miradouro das Flores to Cais de Porto Santo, your investigation follows 15th-century trade routes. This historic port, used since 1420 for sugar and wine trade, was extended in the 19th century with basalt stone quays. Arrival point for expeditions linked to Portuguese discoveries, it stands 800 meters from Columbus's house. Praia Dourada, discovered in 1420 and 9 kilometers long, offered navigators safe anchorage in calm waters that earned the island its name Porto Santo.
Your route ends at Pico Castelo, a 517-meter peak dominating Vila Baleira, site of a 16th-century fort against pirates. The 18th-century windmill remains and this Atlantic watchtower offer panoramic views of 80% of the island. 1.5 kilometers from the start via historic paved trail, you embrace the entire territory Columbus studied before his four voyages to the Americas. This overview reveals how Porto Santo was the secret laboratory of humanity's greatest maritime discoveries.
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 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?
Mysterious Island
Explore the unique landscapes of Porto Santo, the white sand island, and its links to Columbus's discoveries.
Ocean Currents
Unravel the influence of Atlantic currents and washed-up objects on the shores, sources of inspiration for Columbus.
Celestial Omens
Discover how astronomical observations and natural signs guided Columbus's theories.
The ocean reveals its secrets only to those who know how to listen.
The signs are everywhere.
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
Walk in Christopher Columbus's footsteps through the house where he lived between 1478 and 1480, then discover the eight Porto Santo sites that shaped history's greatest navigator.
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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