Geocache Puzzle Solving Tips

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On one of our contests, we asked everyone to share their single best puzzle solving tip. It was very interesting to read over the answers and compile them. We started to see patterns emerging. In fact more than half of the responders (53%) gave some version of one of these 5 top tips. Here’s what they were:

Top 5 Puzzle Solving Tips

GOOGLE is your friend - google everything, use google image search on pictures, use google search on any and all important words in the text description
Check ALL parts of the cache page for clues (hidden text, exif data, source html, images, cache hider’s name, external link, attributes, etc.)
Ask for help or an extra hint (events are good places for this); ask the CO (cache owner) for a hint or nudge
Never give up! Have patience and persistence. Stick with it. Give it time.
Work with a friend, especially a puzzle-loving friend

Even though the 5 top tips were mentioned quite often, there were still MANY other great tips that were shared. Here are some more puzzle-solving tips to help you as you tackle those tricky puzzle geocaches:

More Puzzle Solving Tips

Take a break when it gets too frustrating; step away and come back later with a clear mind. Stop and take a deep breath.
Read carefully, read everything, look for hidden hints
Don't overlook the obvious; don't overthink it (sometimes - but not always - it is easier than you think!)
Study other puzzles and learn; the more puzzles you solve, the better you'll get
Start with easy ones to build up skills
Highlight all the page text to look for hidden clues (example: white letters on white background are hidden until you highlight them)
Keep in mind you're looking for numbers (15, 14, 10 or 6). Your final goal is a set of coordinates relatively close to the listed coordinates.
Buy a book on solving geocaching puzzles - the book “How to Puzzle Cache” by Cully Long (aka childofatom) was mentioned multiple times!

Think about the cache owner and their puzzle style, if they have one. Look at other caches by the same cache owner for clues to their style.
Think outside the box
The GCC app for Android has 63 different puzzle calculators within it for solving and creating cryptography puzzles!
Be still, calm your mind, focus, don't rush through it
Use the website dcode.fr - a site for decrypting and decoding messages, solving puzzles, treasure hunts, etc. All the necessary tools for games, puzzles, codes, encryptions and dictionaries are available there
Show your children the puzzle; they're good at pattern recognition and are smarter than you think
Try to explain the puzzle to someone else - sometimes that gives more clarity; ask muggle friends or family for help
Listen to PodCacher (check out all the shows listed below for tons of geocaching puzzle solving tips!)

Read the logs for hints
Just try - if you don't look at it, you can't solve it
Pay attention to every clue no matter how small or unimportant it may seem
Have a pencil and paper, and a good eraser for starting over
Check out the Geocaching Puzzle Solving 101 series by ePeterso2
Search keywords in other puzzles - you may find a similar puzzle with extra information or solving hints
Get familiar with all the different coordinate systems and conversions
When all else fails: Have someone else figure it out OR don't feel like you ought to be able to solve every puzzle!