Waypoint types

A cache may have additional waypoints assisting in finding it or better access to it.

This document describes the existing waypoint types across Opencaching sites.

Waypoint types matrix

ID		Type		Usage	Image		Notes
OCPL	OCDE	OCPL	OCDE		OCPL	OCDE
1		Physical point		OCPL
2		Virtual point		OCPL
	2		Stage or reference point	OCDE			Equivalent to Virtual / Physical point from OCPL
3	4	Final location	Final	All
4	5	Interesting place	POI (Point Of Interest)	All
5	1	Parking area	Parking	All
	3		Path	OCDE			First point on path may be equivalent to Trailhead
6		Trailhead		OCPL			new OCPL feature (2017)

ID's based on current implementations.

Should be merged in the future to a common set.

Physical point

A physical container or object placed by the owner of the cache. It usually containes either coordinates to the next stage or clues on how to calculate them.

It represents a stage for a cache that is not hidden at the published coordinates (like Multi-cache, Puzzle cache, Unknown cache).

Virtual Point

A place where the geocacher must gather information in the field. Such information is to be used to calculate coordinates for the next stage. There is no physical object placed by the owner here.

It represents a stage for a cache that is not hidden at the published coordinates (like Multi-cache, Puzzle cache, Unknown cache).

Stage or reference point

A place where the geocacher must gather information in the field. Such information is to be used to calculate coordinates for the next stage. Such information may be from the surrounding environment or a physical object placed by the cache owner.

Equivalent to both "Physical point" and "Virtual point".

It represents a stage for a cache that is not hidden at the published coordinates (like Multi-cache, Puzzle cache, Unknown cache).

Final location

The actual place where the geocache container is hidden. The geocacher must solve intermediate stages or a puzzle or do some other type of research in order to obtain these coordinates.

Geocache owner may provide the possibility to check the solution for the final coordinates using the OpenChecker (OCPL feature)

Interesting place / POI

A place highlighted by the cache owner to enhance the experience of the geocaching searching for that particular cache.

Parking area

Parking place, recommended by the cache owner, where one can safely and legally leave the car, while geocaching for that particular cache.

Trailhead

Starting point of a path/trail/route towards the cache location. Useful for caches hidden in nature. This is the owner recommended way to the cache.

Path

One or more points along a path/trail/route towards the cache location. This is the owner recommended way to the cache.

First point on the path may be equivalent to "Trailhead".