We’re going on a cache hunt around the Maltese Islands. Who knows what we'll find?
I've walked along the promenade in the popular resort of Bugibba countless times, but today, I'm going to walk with a renewed sense of purpose. I’m on a treasure hunt, and my pot of gold (or, more likely, box of trinkets) is at the end of an 11-stage riddle starting from the National Aquarium.
I’m on a quest to find one of over 300 geocaches hidden throughout the Maltese Islands, both on land and underwater. As a local, I am sometimes blind to the daily view in front of my very nose, but today, my eyes are wide open, as I am forced to take in every single detail while trying to decipher the clues.
The very architecture of the National Aquarium is my starting point. It’s striking, sure. But do I know how many points there are on that white star-shaped structure? No, never bothered to count. Well, today I must, as it will help me work out the formula to find the cache at the end of my search.
As I proceed along the promenade, I stop next to an old stretch of wall. But, reading my clues, I realise this is not just any old wall - it is part of a coastal entrenchment built by the Knights of St John in the 1760s to keep out invaders. As I measure its height (clue number 2 in my cache quest) I realise this geocaching business is giving me an innovative way to see Malta with a fresh perspective.
I instantly knew that the next time I tried dragging my kids along on a “pointless walk” I’d be enticing them with a geocaching hunt which should keep them on their toes. Nothing engages children more than the promise of a treasure and the excitement of a search for clues!
geocaching.com - Map of geocaches on the Maltese Islands
There are plenty of cache searches to choose from, and some will certainly take you off the beaten track. The one I was currently following covered a route of 3km along a flat seaside promenade which is ideal for a family, even with young children in a stroller. But for the more avid and adventurous types there are challenging caches which may require special equipment including head-torches, climbing ropes, snorkels and full-blown diving gear!
One of the more out-of-the-way geocaches is at Ghar Hasan, a cave in the southern town of Birzebbuga. Situated on a narrow precipice and commanding a spectacular view of sheer rock and miles of blue sea, the cave is linked to the distressing legend of a Saracen named Hasan, who abducted a Maltese farm girl and held her captive there. When locals tried to save her, Hasan threw the girl into the sea before jumping over the edge of the precipice himself. There are other versions of this legend but whatever the truth, one fact remains: it is a treacherous path to the cave, and you’ll need to crawl through a hole in the fence.
Possibly the most popular and one of the best geocaches is hidden near Fort St Elmo in Valletta, but it must be approached from the coast. Easy yet adventurous, it’s a great way to explore a Valletta landmark from a new angle. Already a treasure in its own right, Mdina also has a cache hidden in its labyrinthine streets. Take a closer look at those historical details to decipher the clues.
Oh, and for an added layer of fun if you’ve got your PADI certification, there are several caches hidden underwater including the Tug2, the MV Rozi, and the Um el Faroud diving wrecks.
Happy hunting!