How To Create a Treasure Hunt and Earn Money

Do you know your local area better than most? Do you know the hidden history, the architectural gems, the stories behind the streets that visitors walk past without noticing? If so, you have something genuinely valuable — and HUNTA gives you a way to monetise it.

HUNTA is a platform where anyone can create a self-guided treasure hunt for their city, town or village — and earn money every time someone plays it. Creators earn a share of every purchase, and the best hunts generate consistent passive income.

Here's everything you need to know about creating your first treasure hunt.

What Is a HUNTA Treasure Hunt?

A HUNTA treasure hunt is a GPS-guided self-guided experience where players follow a series of clues to locations around a town or city. Each clue leads to the next location, and players learn about the history, culture and hidden gems of the area as they go.

The hunts are played on mobile phones via the HUNTA app — no paper, no special equipment. Players simply purchase the hunt online and start whenever they like.

Who Can Create a Hunt?

Anyone can create a HUNTA hunt. You don't need to be a professional tour guide, historian, or writer. You just need:

• Local knowledge: You know your town or neighbourhood well.
• A sense of curiosity: You're interested in the stories behind places.
• A smartphone: You'll use the Walk & Create mode to build your hunt on location.

HUNTA creators include local residents, tour guides, historians, teachers, travel bloggers, retired professionals, and anyone who loves sharing what they know about a place.

How Much Can You Earn?

HUNTA creators earn a percentage of every hunt sale. Hunts are typically priced between €5-10 per device, and popular hunts in well-visited locations can generate hundreds of euros per month in passive income.

The more you promote your hunt — through social media, local tourism boards, Airbnb listings, and travel forums — the more you'll earn. HUNTA also features popular hunts in search results and on the platform homepage.

Step-by-Step: How To Create Your First Hunt

Step 1: Choose Your Location

Pick somewhere you know well. It doesn't need to be a major tourist city — in fact, hunts in undervisited destinations often perform well because they fill a gap. A beautiful village, a historic market town, a coastal path — anywhere with stories to tell is a good starting point.

Step 2: Plan Your Route

Walk your intended route before you start building. Identify 6-10 interesting stopping points: historic buildings, hidden courtyards, unusual street features, natural landmarks, anything with a story attached. Think about how these connect into a logical walking route.

Step 3: Use Walk & Create Mode

HUNTA's Walk & Create mode lets you build your hunt on location. As you walk to each clue location, the app records your GPS position and allows you to add:

• The clue text (a riddle or question)
• A hint (for players who get stuck)
• The answer
• An interesting fact about the location
• A photo

This means your hunt is always accurate — you're building it exactly where players will experience it.

Step 4: Write Great Clues

The quality of your clues is what makes or breaks a hunt. Good clues:

• Direct players to a specific, interesting feature of a location
• Can be solved by observing something on-site (a number, a name, a detail)
• Are challenging but fair
• Feel satisfying to solve

Avoid clues that require obscure prior knowledge or that could change over time (temporary signs, seasonal features).

Step 5: Add Interesting Facts

Each clue location is an opportunity to teach players something. Add interesting historical facts, local stories, or unusual details about each spot. This is what makes players feel they've really discovered something — and what generates 5-star reviews.

Step 6: Set Your Price

HUNTA hunts are priced between €5-10 per device. Consider your location and the quality of your hunt. A well-crafted hunt in a popular tourist destination can command a higher price. Most new creators start at €5-7 and increase after positive reviews.

Step 7: Submit for Review

Once your hunt is complete, submit it for HUNTA's quality review. The team checks that clues are clear, locations are correctly mapped, and the content meets quality standards. Reviews typically take 24-48 hours.

Step 8: Promote Your Hunt

Once published, promote your hunt:

• Share it on social media with local hashtags
• Add it to your Airbnb listing or local tourism websites
• Email local tourism boards and visitor centres
• Post in local Facebook groups and travel forums
• Ask friends and family to try it and leave reviews

Tips for Creating a Successful Hunt

• Focus on stories, not just facts: People remember narratives, not dates.
• Test it yourself first: Walk the hunt as if you were a visitor and see where it confuses.
• Ask someone else to test it: Fresh eyes spot problems you've become blind to.
• Respond to reviews: Engaging with players builds your reputation and improves your hunt.
• Keep it updated: If a location changes, update the clue.

Ready to Start?

Creating a HUNTA hunt is free. You invest your time and local knowledge, and HUNTA handles the platform, payments, and customer support. It's one of the genuinely low-barrier ways to turn local knowledge into recurring income.

Start creating your hunt today →