Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Mission of San Juan Murals, Monolith, and Survival Caches

Updated: 10/31/21()

This guide focuses on revisiting the level after completing it. If you are playing through for the first time, you may want to follow the main walkthrough instead to avoid possible spoilers. Collectibles are numbered in the order they appear in the main walkthrough and on the annotated level map.

Follow this link for a List of All Artifacts by Story/Dialect.

Treasure Chest · Relics · Documents · Murals · Monolith · Survival Caches · Explorer Backpacks · Archivist Maps · Artifacts & Photos · Challenge


Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

MURAL 1 - Huascar, The Syncretist (Resting Places)

This mural is found in the crypt of its namesake, Huascar, The Syncretist. The crypt can only be accessed during or after completing the Star-Crossed Side Mission. If you completed the mission but missed the relic, start at the Mission Gate Base Camp and follow the directions for relic #2, to get back to the crypt entrance. Then follow the main walkthrough to reach the mural and climb back out. The mural itself is in the room just southeast of one with the sarcophagus. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

MURAL 2 - Tree of Life (Trials of the Gods)

This mural is in the Tree of Life Challenge Tomb. If you haven't explored the tomb yet, fast travel to the Deserted Cloister or Ruined Tower Base Camp. Then follow the main walkthrough.

If you completed this area but missed the mural (or any other collectibles in the tomb), fast travel to the Mountain Catacombs Base Camp. Then retrace the route you took on your first pass through the caverns in order to find what you need, reach the tomb stele, and get back to the base camp. You won't need to solve the puzzles again, but there will be a few stray Yaaxil trying to impede your progress. This guide with screenshots details the route.

Mural #2 is just beyond the point where you jump from one of the round platforms and scramble up a short wooden wall. (Click image for more and larger screenshots.)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

MURAL 3 - God of Cocoa (Pantheon of Gods 3)

This mural is in the Thirsty Gods Challenge Tomb, in the room with the giant stone head, located between the tomb entrance and the water wheel cavern. If you haven't explored this area yet, follow the main walkthrough.

If you completed the tomb but missed the mural, fast travel to the Ruined Tower Base Camp. Then follow the directions for document #17. Continue along the path to the tomb entrance. Swim through the flooded tunnel, avoiding the eel, and surface inside the cavern. Climb onto the ledge and you'll see the giant stone head. Drop down and climb the stairs on the left to reach the mural. If that's all you need, return to the large pool the way you came. The directions for document #17 also show how to get back to the Ruined Tower camp. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

MURAL 4 - Thirsty Gods (Trials of the Gods)

This document is also in the Thirsty Gods Challenge Tomb, near the handle that rotates the water spigot. If you haven't explored the tomb yet, fast travel to the Deserted Cloister or Ruined Tower Base Camp. Then follow the main walkthrough.

If you completed the tomb but missed the mural, fast travel to the Ruined Tower Base Camp. Then follow the directions for document #18 to get in and out of the tomb. The mural is next to that document. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

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MONOLITH (Proficient Yucatec)

There's only one monolith in this level. If you missed it, fast travel to the Ruined Tower Base Camp. Go around to the opposite side of the tower and climb the ladder to the upper level. Use a rope arrow to run a line over to the ledge to the north. Climb across to the monolith. The clue, "I swim with a turtle, seen only by those who let fear fall away," leads to survival cache #4. (Click screenshot to enlarge. Check the walkthrough for additional screenshots.)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

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Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

SURVIVAL CACHE 1

This cache is in the wolf den near the entrance to the Crypt of Huascar, The Syncretist, south of the Mission. Start at the Mission Gate Base Camp and follow the road across the bridge to the southeast. Just beyond the carved stone heads and metal cross, turn right (south). Head down the slope, past relic #2, and across the gap in the cliffside. The wolf den is just ahead on the left. Watch out for respawning wolves. When the coast is clear enter the cave to find the cache buried just in front of the rock column. (Click image for more and larger screenshots.)

SURVIVAL CACHE 2

This cache is is on a ledge above the large pool southeast of the Mission, shown in this map detail. Start at the Ruined Tower Base Camp and approach the cache from either direction. (Click map to enlarge.)

Either head northeast from the campfire (white arrows). Enter the cave and walk across the fallen log to emerge on a ledge overlooking the pool. Use a rope arrow to run a line across the gap. Climb over and you'll find the cache on the right side of the path. (Click second image for more and larger screenshots.)

Or, head southeast from the campfire (blue arrows). Drop down into the Empress Jaguar's hunting ground. Lara may go into a defensive crouch even if you killed the jaguar earlier. As far as I know, she doesn't respawn. Cross the enclosure and squeeze through the opening in the rocks to the east. Then follow the path north to the rope-wrapped post. The cache will then be on the left. (Click third image for more and larger screenshots.)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

SURVIVAL CACHE 3

This cache is inside the Tree of Life Challenge Tomb. If you haven't explored the tomb yet, fast travel to the Deserted Cloister or Ruined Tower Base Camp. Then follow the main walkthrough.

If you completed this area but missed the cache (or any other collectibles in the tomb), fast travel to the Mountain Catacombs Base Camp. Then retrace the route you took on your first pass through the caverns in order to find what you need and get back to the base camp. You won't need to solve the puzzles again, but there will be a few stray Yaaxil trying to impede your progress. This guide with screenshots details the route.

The cache is buried just to the right of the ledge Lara grabs after sliding down the zip line. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

SURVIVAL CACHE 4 (Monolith Riches)

This cache is buried near the turtle-shaped rock formation on the bottom of the large pool southeast of the Mission. It can only be found by deciphering the monolith and following the clue: "I swim with a turtle, seen only by those who let fear fall away." Check the map and walkthrough for details. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

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Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

SURVIVAL CACHE 5

The next cache is also buried on the bottom of the large pool, just south of cache #4. It's between the stone turtle and the challenge tomb entrance. Again, check the map and walkthrough for help zeroing in on its location. (Click screenshot to enlarge.)

SURVIVAL CACHE 6

This cache is in the cave on the northeast side of the same large pool as caches #4 and #5. If you're coming from the Ruined Tower Base Camp, follow the path into the cave to the northeast. Step out onto the the fallen tree then drop down into the cave below to find the cache and explorer backpack #3. (Click first image for more and larger screenshots.)

If you're approaching from the water side, step out of the pool on the northwest side and you'll find the cache just ahead, before the bronze llama and explorer backpack. (Click second image for more and larger screenshots.)

To get back to the Ruined Tower Camp, climb the wall beside the cave opening and follow the path to the left.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot

SURVIVAL CACHES 7 & 8

The last 2 caches are in the Thirsty Gods Challenge Tomb. If you haven't explored this tomb yet, fast travel to the Deserted Cloister or Ruined Tower Base Camp. Then follow the main walkthrough.

If you raided the tomb but missed either of these caches, fast travel to the Flood Basin Base Camp. Go through the doorway to the west at ground level (or, if you didn't pull down the wooden barrier earlier, climb the ladder) to reach the water wheel cavern. Then hop across the floating platforms to the north side of the pool, in order to avoid the piranhas.

To retrieve cache #7, swim along the west side of the pool, where the piranhas don't go. The cache is buried on the bottom of the pool below the waterwheel. (Click the first image for more and larger screenshots.)

To retrieve cache #8, start on the floating platform just in front of the tower entrance. Swim down into the submerged alcove at the front right corner of the base of the tower. As long as you don't go too far to the right, the piranhas shouldn't bother you. The cache is buried near the back of this alcove. (Click the second image for more and larger screenshots.)

To get back to the base camp, you'll need to raise the water level if you haven't already done so. Swim back to the floating platform on the north side of the pool. Climb the wall on the left and make your way along the ledge to the rotating handle in the southwest corner. Turn the handle counterclockwise and the pool should begin to fill. Then swim back along the west wall to the floating platform on the north side of the pool. Hop across the other platforms to the southeast corner and go through the doorway. (Use a rope arrow to pull down the barrier if necessary.) The base camp is just ahead. From here, you can fast travel to wherever you need to go next. (Click the third image for more and larger screenshots.)

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UPDATE HISTORY: 10/31/21 - Page first posted online.


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