mystery cache requirements

[+akacake]

Hello,

 

I will be visiting Costa Rica for a month and noticed that there are not very many caches. Can I make a cache that does not have a physical container, i.e. a mystery cache, based on co-ordinates and a photo to log it in? any input on this would be appreciated.

[Keystone]

Sorry, but Geocaching.com stopped accepting new virtual cache submissions in November 2005. Your only option would be an earthcache, which doesn't need to have a container, but does require developing a meaningful geology lesson based on a personal visit to the site.

[+NanCycle]

Are Earthcaches allowed as vacation caches?

[+lowca]

Are Earthcaches allowed as vacation caches?

 

Sure - they do not require your (constant) attention as don't have a container, but only your previous visit to the site.

[+The A-Team]

Are Earthcaches allowed as vacation caches?

2.4. Creating an EarthCache: Additional Tips

Vacation EarthCaches

 

You may submit an EarthCache for a location that is far from your home. You must have visited the site no more than two months prior to the geocache page submission. The reviewer may reject the listing if geocache maintenance seems likely in the foreseeable future (such as a need for different logging tasks).

[+akacake]

thank you for your replies. In order to do an Earth Cache, one website states that I would need approval from the land management for the ground it is on?

 

here is what it says: 4. EarthCaches must have approval from the Land Manager prior to submission (depending on local laws and customs). The name, title, and contact details of the person that authorized the EarthCache must be included in a Reviewer Note. Otherwise, information about the type of land, and the reasons why permission may not be required, must be included in a Reviewer Note. (permission requirements explained)

[+narcissa]

thank you for your replies. In order to do an Earth Cache, one website states that I would need approval from the land management for the ground it is on?

 

here is what it says: 4. EarthCaches must have approval from the Land Manager prior to submission (depending on local laws and customs). The name, title, and contact details of the person that authorized the EarthCache must be included in a Reviewer Note. Otherwise, information about the type of land, and the reasons why permission may not be required, must be included in a Reviewer Note. (permission requirements explained)

 

Yes. You should probably visit the Earthcaching site, or at least that section of the forum to learn more about the work required to publish an Earthcache.

[+Dame Deco]

You can publish an earthcache without a landowner's permission if it is in a public place such as a roadside turnoff or an educational sign at a rest stop, etc. For any kind of official park, etc., you would indeed need permission. But anything you can do by a roadside, an overlook off a highway, etc., does not require a landowner's permission.

[+narcissa]

You can publish an earthcache without a landowner's permission if it is in a public place such as a roadside turnoff or an educational sign at a rest stop, etc. For any kind of official park, etc., you would indeed need permission. But anything you can do by a roadside, an overlook off a highway, etc., does not require a landowner's permission.

 

... only as long as you are certain that the jurisdiction you are in gives blanket permission for geocaching in public spaces.

[+Dame Deco]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

[+T.D.M.22]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US.

 

The OP was asking about placing an earthcache in Costa Rica, specifically an area on the gulf coast side of the country. There are four earth caches in the country now, including two located in national parks (Parque Nacional). The area where the OP would like to create on has a couple of national parks with a lot of ecological diversity. Contacting the owner of one of the other earthcaches in a national park might help provide the information necessary for obtaining permission. The OP could also contact the CO of other local cachers in Costa Rica or the reviewer of caches there. They ought to be familiar with geocaching policies in CR.

 

BTW, the cache with most favorite points in Costa Rica and the one which probably has the most finds is the "Sitting on top of the World" earthcache at Poas Volcano. I got it last August.

[+Dame Deco]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

 

Sorry, but that's just not true. I have permission for 3 of my Earthcaches (a bog, a fen, Roosevelt Island in D.C.), but the other 8 are in public places where no permission was required.

[+Michaelcycle]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

 

It's bad but it's not that bad: NJ DEP banned the placement of any new caches in land they control over a year ago. A new set of regulations has finally been issued and permit applications are being accepted for existing caches that fit the new regs or can be modified to do so. After April 10th (don't hold me to the exact date) applications for new placements will be accepted.

[+narcissa]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

 

Sorry, but that's just not true. I have permission for 3 of my Earthcaches (a bog, a fen, Roosevelt Island in D.C.), but the other 8 are in public places where no permission was required.

 

That you know of.

[+T.D.M.22]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

 

Sorry, but that's just not true. I have permission for 3 of my Earthcaches (a bog, a fen, Roosevelt Island in D.C.), but the other 8 are in public places where no permission was required.

 

Who told you that you don't need permission?

[Keystone]

We should probably steer clear of a generalized permission debate. The OP wants to establish a distant cache with no container, meaning Earthcache is the only option. And we're talking about Costa Rica.

 

Targeted advice, like NY PaddleCacher's post, is what's needed here.

 

The OP is also encouraged to search the Earthcache forum section, which has several discussions about permission issues, or to write to the Earthcache reviewer covering Costa Rica (look for who published the most recent Earthcaches in the region).

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

 

Sorry, but that's just not true. I have permission for 3 of my Earthcaches (a bog, a fen, Roosevelt Island in D.C.), but the other 8 are in public places where no permission was required.

 

Who told you that you don't need permission?

 

Presumably, since the caches were published, the earthcache reviewer did.

[+blackdog7]

Hello,

 

I will be visiting Costa Rica for a month and noticed that there are not very many caches. Can I make a cache that does not have a physical container, i.e. a mystery cache, based on co-ordinates and a photo to log it in? any input on this would be appreciated.

 

Here's what I would do: Contact GeoawareGBL (reviewer) and ask him/her what requirements are needed in order to publish an Earthcache in Costa Rica.

 

Profile link: http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=e1782fa5-23a7-41c6-b887-03e954e66359

[+Michaelcycle]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

 

Sorry, but that's just not true. I have permission for 3 of my Earthcaches (a bog, a fen, Roosevelt Island in D.C.), but the other 8 are in public places where no permission was required.

 

That you and the reviewer know of.

Fixed that for you.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Hello,

 

I will be visiting Costa Rica for a month and noticed that there are not very many caches. Can I make a cache that does not have a physical container, i.e. a mystery cache, based on co-ordinates and a photo to log it in? any input on this would be appreciated.

 

Here's what I would do: Contact GeoawareGBL (reviewer) and ask him/her what requirements are needed in order to publish an Earthcache in Costa Rica.

 

Profile link: http://www.geocachin...87-03e954e66359

 

The OP might also want to look in the earthcaches forum section: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showforum=67

 

GeoawareGBL seems to be an active participant there and others readers of the forum section might benefit from a discussion there.

[+narcissa]

Quite true, I suppose--I guess I was thinking of the U.S.

 

All land is owned by someone in both Canada, and the US. Take the national forest land. I don't think they allow any geocaching. Certainly there must be some road, and therefore turnoffs, which can't host a cache of any kind.

 

Take small town in Montana. Maybe the town thinks geocaching is a great idea and even pays for a giant cache at a roadside turnoff. Different location, different rules.

 

I believe it was New Jersey state parks that banned all geocaching related activities including virtuals, earth caches, and even way marking.

 

Remember permission is required for all caches. Be it on an individual basis or a blanket basis.

 

Sorry, but that's just not true. I have permission for 3 of my Earthcaches (a bog, a fen, Roosevelt Island in D.C.), but the other 8 are in public places where no permission was required.

 

That you and the reviewer know of.

Fixed that for you.

 

What makes you think the reviewer has specialized knowledge about every jurisdiction? Often, unless an issue has been flagged, reviewers give cache owners the benefit of the doubt when it comes to these issues. If you say in your Earthcache application that a cache is on public property and doesn't require permission, the reviewer will take your word for it unless they have a reason not to. You still ought to check to make sure that public property in a given jurisdiction is actually fair game for geocaching.