Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Archivist Maps & Explorer Backpacks Locations

Archivist Maps and Explorer Backpacks in Shadow of the Tomb Raider will reveal all other Collectible Locations on the map! They are very helpful when going for 100% game completion. Then all other collectibles get marked on the map (except Tombs and Challenges). The maps and backpacks themselves don’t count towards 100% completion, they just make your life easier with the actual collectible locations.

•  Archivist Map: Reveals all Relics, Murals, Documents Monoliths on the map.
•  Explorer Backpack: Reveals all Crypts, Treasure Chests, and Survival Caches on the map.

None of these items nor the collectibles are missable. You can get everything after the story in free-roam. Base Camps for fast travel back to the first map (Cozumel) also unlock after the story.

Below we’ll go through them region by region in chronological order.

Cozumel

Explorer Backpack: At the end of the area, after jumping over the hanging bells, you must shoot a rope arrow to cross over an abyss. Then you can rappel down a ledge and swing onto a platform below. From the distance you can already see a shimmering light because a Survival Cache is also found here.

Archivist Map: It sits in the corridor between the two base camps of this region (where a diving section happened in the story).

Peruvian Jungle

Explorer Backpack: In the south-west (bottom left) of Peruvian Jungle. You can only reach this by swimming to it, look for a cave in the water at the foot of the mountain.

Explorer Backpack: Inside the Challenge Tomb.

Archivist Map: Inside a hut on the long path in the north-east of this region.

Archivist Map: Inside the Crypt. This one can be easy to miss. Enter the Crypt and head straight down the long corridor (only one way to go). When the path splits, head right. Then jump over the two traps and up the wall until you reach a lever that opens a gate leading back to the Crypt Entrance. Where the lever is, there’s also a crack in the wall that brings you to a side room with the archivist map. Easy to overlook the crack in the wall, so just remember when you see the lever with the gate look around carefully.

Kuwaq Yaku

Explorer Backpack: In the south-west corner of the lake at Kuwaq Yaku town, there’s the base camp “Jungle Cliffs”. Next to it sits the Explorer Backpack by a tree.

Archivist Map: In Kuwaq Yaku town, inside a hut on the water, eastern shore.

Archivist Map: Inside the Crypt, after burning down a wooden barricade with fire.

Explorer Backpack: At the entrance of the Challenge Tomb.

Archivist Map: In an excavation tunnel just before the base camp “Temple of Life”.

Trial of the Eagle

No maps / backpacks (only 1 document, 2 murals, 1 cache).

The Hidden City (Paititi)

Explorer Backpack: There’s a small climbable wall just above the lake. Climb it and up there you find the backpack.

Explorer Backpack: In a little cave you can swim to. Can only be reached from the water.

Explorer Backpack: In a flooded cave. You can enter it from the east of it (the entrance is close to the base camp “Paititi market”, must go through a building with a big green tree in front of it (before going up the set of stairs to upper Paititi).

Explorer Backpack: Next to the “Wild Jungle” Base Camp. In case you missed the camp during the story, you can get back there through a tunnel in the west of Paititi.

Explorer Backpack: In the area north-west of Paititi, outside the town. You can enter this section through a muddy path on the west-side of Paititi. There’s a cave with wolves in it and after clearing them out you can pick up the backpack.

Archivist Map: Inside the Crypt, during the diving section you can swim to a side room to find this.

Archivist Map: In the area north-west of Paititi, outside the town. You can enter this section through a muddy path on the west-side of Paititi. You must attach a rope arrow between the buildings (there are two rope arrow points between two houses). Then you can use the rope to climb over to the second building and find the map in there.

Archivist Map: At the Temple District Base Camp, head upstairs all the way to the top until you can go no higher. Inside the last building at the top you will find the map location.

Archivist Map: At the entrance of the challenge tomb.

Archivist Map: Inside the Crypt, at the very end of the Crypt.

Archivist Map: Go over the chain bridge. At the end of the 2nd chain bridge is a room with the archivist map inside.

Explorer Backpack: On a rock in the water. You can either drop onto it after passing the first chain bridge or you can take the long climbing path around the area. It’s where a wooden beam with a rope-arrow attachment is.

Archivist Map: At the end of the Upper Paititi Market Square (north-east corner), there’s a broken wall you can climb over. Behind it is the archivist map and two other collectibles.

Belly of the Serpent

None (no Collectibles).

Head of the Serpent

None (only one Mural here).

Cenote

Explorer Backpack: In some ruins on the water, north-east corner of Cenote. You can fast travel to the closest base camp “Cenote Vista”, jump down in the water and swim to the backpack by the ruins.

Archivist Map: From where you found the backpack you can swim over to the other side of the lake. There’s a wall you can pull down with a rope arrow, behind it is the Cenote archivist map.

The Mountain Temple

None (no Collectibles).

Mission of San Juan

Explorer Backpack: Behind one of the buildings that’s undergoing construction.

Archivist Map: In the corner of the graveyard.

Archivist Map: In the ruins next to the “Riverside” base camp, where a guy is standing.

Archivist Map: From the “Ruined Tower” base camp, head east and check inside the cave (before jumping down into the water / before using rope arrow to cross over to the other side).

Explorer Backpack: From the “Ruined Tower” base camp, head east and jump in the water. Then you can swim to the beach where this backpack is located.

Archivist Map: At the entrance of the Challenge Tomb, next to the base camp “Deserted Cloister”.

Explorer Backpack: Inside the Challenge Tomb. Immediately after passing the “Abandoned Cloister” base camp, in the entrance corridor on the right side before jumping down.

Porvenir Oil Fields

Archivist Map:

City of the Serpent

None (no Collectibles).

 

That’s all the backpacks and maps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.