Ponta Delgada — Atlantic Cable Conspiracy
Uncover the silenced voices of the first transatlantic telegraph cable. Decode hidden messages in Ponta Delgada's landmarks to expose a sabotage plot that nearly severed global communications forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1866, Ponta Delgada became the vital relay point for the world's first successful transatlantic telegraph cable, linking Europe to America in an instant
Ponta Delgada — Atlantic Cable Conspiracy
You are a British intelligence operative, arriving in Ponta Delgada in 1893, tasked with a critical mission.
You step into the shoes of Carlos Machado, naturalist and museum
Dive into the intrigue of the first transatlantic telegraph cables, when Ponta Delgada became in 1893 the secret crossroads of global communications.
The story that haunts this land
Ponta Delgada establishes itself as a global telegraph hub from 1893, when British and German companies install their relay stations there. At Portas da Cidade, built in 1783 and restored in 1949 after World War II damage, you discover the first clues: these three baroque arches topped with Portuguese arms concealed secret negotiations between European diplomats for control of transatlantic communications.
Palácio de Sant'Ana, official residence since 1893 and classified as Imóvel de Interesse Público in 1976, houses the first experimental antennas in its 25,000 m² botanical gardens. Built in the 17th century then expanded in 1840, this palace becomes the unofficial headquarters of British intelligence services monitoring German activities in the archipelago. Its sacred art collections hide coded maps of cable routes.
Igreja do Colégio dos Jesuítas, erected between 1590 and 1672, serves as a privileged observation post thanks to its 30-meter tower completed in 1710. Its baroque gilded wood altarpieces from the 17th century conceal an optical signaling system linking the port to telegraph installations. The Episcopal Seminary, transferred in 1854, gives way to the first submarine cable technicians.
Portas do Mar, modern complex inaugurated in 2013 over 20,000 m², occupies the site of former cable stations. The 400-berth marina replaces the quays where cable ships docked to repair transatlantic links. The Festival do Atlântico perpetuates the tradition of international meetings held here to coordinate global communications.
Your mission concludes at Museu Carlos Machado, founded in 1878 in a 16th-century convent restored in 1930. Its 3,000 archaeological and ethnographic pieces reveal the true stakes of this era: Ponta Delgada, discreet but decisive crossroads of global information, where alliances were forged that would shape the 20th century.
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?
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Applied Science
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The world's first electric voice
When São Miguel became the invisible crossroads of modernity
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
Dive into the intrigue of the first transatlantic telegraph cables, when Ponta Delgada became in 1893 the secret crossroads of global communications.
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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