Horta Marina — Decipher the Sailors' Secret Code
Crack the hidden cipher left by Atlantic circumnavigators in Horta's legendary marina. Uncover the mystery of the painted signatures that mark the world's most dangerous passage.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
For over four centuries, Horta has been the spiritual capital of the Atlantic—a refuge where solitary sailors, adventurers, and merchants have stopped before facing the ocean's final trial
Horta Marina — Decipher the Sailors' Secret Code
You are a budding chronicler, summoned by Henri Queimadela Young — founder of Peter Café Sport in 1918 — to preserve the tales of navigators who made Horta
Decipher the messages left by generations of sailors on the quays of Horta, the legendary port of the Azores.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at Horta Marina, opened in 1986 as a modern extension of the old port. This site, capable of hosting 300 vessels, is famous for its maritime murals created by visiting sailors, now classified as heritage. Here you decipher the first signatures and discover hidden symbols in these artworks that bear witness to transatlantic voyages. From there, you enjoy a clear view of Pico Island, whose wine-growing landscape has been a UNESCO site since 2004, recalling the importance of the Azores in trade and navigation.
A short walk away, Peter Café Sport awaits you. Founded in 1918 by Henri Young, this place has become a landmark for sailors worldwide. It was in 1969 that American navigator Peter Tangvald gave it its current name. On the first floor, the Museu da Arte do Escrimshaw displays the largest private collection of works engraved on sperm whale teeth. This unique museum highlights the art of scrimshaw, a tradition of whaling sailors, and symbolizes Horta's cosmopolitan welcome to mariners since the 1800s.
Your route then leads you to the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora das Angústias, Horta's main church. Built in the 16th century and rebuilt after the 1672 earthquake, it was classified as a national monument in 1937. Its Baroque interior, with 18th-century altarpieces and a historic organ, offers an architectural contrast to the modern marina. This monument in Horta's historic center, near the port, anchors your exploration in the religious and cultural past of the Azores.
Continue towards Forte de Santa Cruz, built in 1599 to defend Horta's port against pirates. Located 500m from the marina, it served as a prison and military post until the 20th century. Remnants of the 16th-century fortifications are still visible in the port area, offering a glimpse into the security challenges Horta faced. This site allows you to understand the strategic importance of the Azores and the necessity to protect its coasts from maritime threats.
Your exploration concludes at Porto Pim, an iconic crescent-shaped beach 800m from the marina. This historic site was an active whaling processing bay until the 1980s, testifying to the whaling industry that shaped Horta. Today, contemporary art installations are integrated into the historic quays, merging past and present. The signatures from the end of the world you've deciphered tell the story of Horta, a maritime crossroads where sailors' tales and the heritage of the Azores meet and endure.
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
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?
Ocean Navigation
Discover the secrets of the greatest solo sailors
Maritime Cartography
Explore the secret routes of legendary circumnavigators
Living Guest Book
Dive into 90 years of ocean sailing history
The guest book of all oceans
Since 1934, no world tour is complete without passing through Horta
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.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Decipher the messages left by generations of sailors on the quays of Horta, the legendary port of the Azores.
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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