Tomb Raider Underworld Walkthrough and Game Guide
Featuring All Secrets and Hidden Rewards

Level 5: Southern Mexico | Part 2: Xibalba

Health Supplies: 4
Treasures: 19/50
Relics: 0/1

(Important bug warning - You are advised to save MANUALLY at least twice each part. This level can be proved really buggy and make you unable to finish it. If you have not downloaded the PC patch, do it now. Among other fixes, the game autosaves at the beginning of each part. So, in case you activate a bug, you can load an autosave and start from the beginning of the part or level instead of the game.)

Place the Jaguar Head on the statue in the middle of the calendar. When you do that, the calendar unlocks and you can use it.

(Note - If you are missing the Jaguar Head, you have to go back and get it from the beginning of the level. Exit this room, get the bike and drive to the left. The road leads back to the first building where you can find the item.)

Solving the first calendar puzzle - The calendar consists of three stone wheels. The headdress handle rotates the outer wheel while the jaguar handle rotates the other two (middle and inner ones). Notice that each wheel has a symbol on it. The goal here is to rotate the wheels so all symbols face towards the Ball Court (the courtyard below). Here is how you can do it:

(The following sequence is shown in this page.)

• Grab the jaguar handle and rotate it to either direction until the symbol of the middle wheel faces the Ball Court (it will be lined with the symbol of the outer wheel). As you do that, the inner wheel will also move, but it does not matter.

• Now grab the headdress handle and rotate it anticlockwise until you cannot move it farther. This action makes the inner wheel to slide back, thus separating the two wheels. (The outer wheel has been rotated and the symbol does not face the Ball Court, but you will move it back in just a while.)

• Go back to the jaguar handle and rotate it to either direction until the symbol of the inner wheel faces the Ball Court (it will be lined with the symbol of the middle wheel). This time, the middle wheel will not move.

• Once more, grab the headdress handle and rotate it clockwise to bring the symbol of the outer wheel to its original position. On doing that, all symbols face the Ball Court and the puzzle is solved.

When you do it correctly, a cut scene plays that shows some stone blocks in the Ball Court to take their correct position.

Exit the room by rolling through doorway you came from. Two panthers are waiting for you outside, so kill them. Get the bike and follow the right hand road (the left one leads back to the building where you got the Jaguar Head). You will soon meet a spiked pit that can be jumped over using the wooden ramp. Do that and continue down the road. You will meet a second spiked pit, only this time you have to drive to the small side path on the left.

Heading to the intersection - After the next turn, you will see a tunnel. Stop at the entrance and dismount. Break the rectangular vase and pick up the Treasure (10/50). Mount the bike and drive through the tunnel. Follow the tunnel until you reach an intersection. The stairs on the right lead to the Ball Court and the road ahead to the second calendar puzzle. To solve the puzzle, you need an item that you can get from a place that the left roard leads to.

Treasure hunting in Ball Court - If you want all Treasures, you need to go to the Ball Court (otherwise, skip this paragraph). Halfway down the stairs, look to the right to spot a rectangular vase. Break it and pick up the Treasure (11/50). Go down the rest of the stairs to reach the Ball Court. As soon as you enter, locate the rectangular vase on the right hand side. Break it and collect the Treasure (12/50). Turn right and approach the wall. If you take a look above, you will see that you are beneath the first calendar puzzle. Approach the plants in the right hand corner and break the vase to get the Treasure (13/50). Stay close to the first calendar puzzle and head to the other side. You will find the Treasure (14/50) hidden in vase in the corner. Now go to the exact opposite side, to what seems to be the second calendar puzzle. There is another vase here with a Treasure (15/50) hidden in it. (See this page for the location of all Treasures.) Return back and exit the Ball Court.

Road opposite the Ball Court - Drive through the tunnel opposite the Ball Court. As soon as you exit, stop and notice that there is a side path to the left (it goes upwards). Drive up there and halfway through the path look for a vase. Dismount and break it to get the Treasure (16/50). Continue down the patch, but do not exit to the main road yet. To the part where the path goes down and meets the road, look for another vase hidden in the bushes ahead. Break it and collect the Treasure (17/50). (This page shows where the Treasures are hidden.)

Continue through the main room until you reach the next tunnel. The ledges here prevent you from getting the bike, so continue on foot. Vault on the two ledges and go through the tunnel. The next road takes you the courtyard of a temple.

Courtyard of big Temple - Do not rush to enter the courtyard below, because there is a fight in progress. You will be able to see three poachers dealing with two black panthers. Two of the men are standing at the top of stairs (one on each side) while the third one remains at the bottom. When the fight is over you can proceed, but be alerted for one more black panther and one more poacher that are most probably alive at the top of the stairs. They usually fight each other to the right. There is one more poacher in front of the Temple, but he is already dead when you reach the place.

Collecting the goodies - When everything that moves is dead, you can collect the goodies from around the place. (All pick-ups and Treasures are shown in these screenshots.) First, get the Health Potion from the stone ledge that is in plain sight in the lower courtyard. Drop down and approach the left side at the bottom of stairs where you will find a vase in a small alcove. Break it and pick up the Treasure (18/50). Now go to the right hand side of the stairs. There is a wooden pole leaned against the wall and a Health Potion behind the low wall opposite the pole.

Carrying the pole, go up the stairs to the upper courtyard. Pick up the Health Potion at the top of the stairs on the left and then go to the right. There is a vase on the ledge that overlooks the lower courtyard. Break it and collect the Treasure (19/50). Turn to face the Temple and locate the vase at the top of the pillar with the hole. If you have left the wooden pole somewhere, pick it up and put it in the hole. Jump to grab the pole and climb on it. Then jump to grab the top of the pillar and pull up. Break the vase and pick up the Treasure (20/50). Drop down and approach the Temple. There is a vase in the far left corner with a Treasure (21/50) hidden in it.

Climbing into the Temple - You now have to enter the Temple. You need a wooden pole to get started; either the one you used for one of the previous Treasures or the one sticking out of one of the pillars (see this screenshot). To get this one, jump to grab the handhold on the pillar, then the pole above. Approach the pillar and then turn to face it. Press the Interact button to pull the pole out.

(The following sequence is shown in this page.) There are three pillars with holes for poles in front of the Temple. Approach the leftmost pillar and put the pole in the hole. Climb on the pole and jump up to grab the handhold on the pillar. Then traverse to the left around the corner. Jump straight up to grab the handhold above, then jump to grab the handhold of the next pillar on the left. Traverse around the corner and jump to grab the small handholds on the wall behind you. Then jump to grab the next small handholds on the right. From there, jump to the stone beam behind you and move to the other side.

Turn to face the courtyard. Jump to grab the handhold on the pillar diagonally to the left and traverse around the corners to the left to reach the stone beam. Pull up and turn around to face the Temple. Jump on the next beam on the right and hang from it. Shimmy left to reach the next beam and pull up. Jump to the beam ahead and jump to grab the handhold on the left wall. Traverse to the right around the corner and release twice to land on the ground.

Lower Temple level\ Climbing to the ledge above - Turn right and approach the broken wall. Smash the vase and pick up the Treasure (22/50). (It shown in the last screenshot of this page.) You have to reach the ledge above the Treasure, so jump to grab the horizontal pole jutting out of the pillar. Climb on it and jump to grab the next one above. Swing and jump to grab the long horizontal pole. Traverse to the very left and jump to stand on it. From here, jump up to grab the ledge above. Pull up and turn around. Jump to the top of the pillar and break the vase to get the next Treasure (23/50). Then jump back to the previous ledge.

Inside the Temple - Go to the left and drop to lower ledge. Use the Grapple to catch the metal ring and stepp off the ledge. Use the Grapple cable to climb down to the ground. Go to the other side past the pillar and enter the small alcove (as shown in this screenshot). Break the vase and pick up the Treasure (24/50). Go through the wall opening and climb on the stone ledge ahead. Jump to the L-shaped ledge and break the vase to find another Treasure (25/50). Then climb on the ledge above.

Opening the way to the secret room - You are standing on a ledge opposite the one you came from. There is a pillar in the middle of the room below and you definitely cannot miss the big stone block on top of the pillar. (The following sequence is shown in this page.) Go to the left side of the ledge and use the Grapple to catch the metal ring at the other side (the one you used before). Walk to the right until the Grapple cable hugs the stone block. Start tapping the Interact button until the stone block falls off the pillar and crashes through the floor, revealing a room below. Kill the flock of bats that comes from the hole and make your way to the ground.

Going to the room below - (See this page for the following sequence.) Approach the right hand side of the pillar and step on the lower part of the floor. Hang from the edge and release to grab the handhold below. Lara will grab onto with one hand, so press the Interact button to help her. Traverse to the left as much as you can and release to grab the small handholds below. Climb to the left until the rounded pillar is behind Lara. Jump to grab it and slide to the bottom.

Climb on the ledge with the Stone Headdress. Get it and turn around. You will be able to see the next Treasure (26/50) in an alcove ahead. To get it, drop to the ground and climb on the low broken pillar on the right. Jump to grab the handhold on the wall ahead and traverse to the lefta round the corner. Jump to the left to grab the ledge with the Treasure, shimmy left and pull up (this screenshot shows the process). Pick up the prize and drop back down.

Climbing out of the room - (The following sequence is shown in this page.) Grab the taller broken pillar to the right of the alcove where you got the Headdress and perch on it. Jump to grab the corner handhold ahead, then the next one above. Jump to grab the handhold on the left and traverse to the left. Release to grab the handhold below and traverse to the left around the corner. Jump to grab the small handholds on the wall to the left and climb a bit to the left. Jump straight up to grab the next small handholds and climb to the left around the corner.

Jump to grab the next small handholds on the left and climb to the left as much as you can. Now jump to grab the rounded pillar coming from the ceiling. Jump to grab the small stone handholds on the wall, to the right of the alcove where you got the Treasure. Climb up and jump up to grab the handhold above. Lara will grab onto with one hand, so press the Interact button to help her. Jump to the left to grab the next handold. Once again, help Lara to grab the handhold with both hands and traverse to the left. Jump up to grab the ledge, yet another time help Lara to grab the ledge with both hands and pull up.

Go around to the left and climb through the opening above the stone door to exit the Temple (as shown here).

Back to Temple's courtyard - When you exit, draw weapons and deal with three poachers that found their way here. Then return back to the tunnel you came from and get the bike. Follow the road to return back to the intersection.

Going for the second calendar puzzle - The way ahead leads to the Ball Court, so drive to the left and follow the road that gets you to a spiked pit. Jump over it by using the wooden ramp and continue down the road. Soon, you will that the road splits and converges again. Farther on, you will have to kill a black panther by shooting or running over it. Keep driving until you reach a building.

Second calendar puzzle/ Outside of the building - You can leave the bike before entering the area or burst in on bike and shoot. There are two poachers on a ledge to the right and a black panther on the ground. You can first deal with the panther, backing up to the road you came from. That way, you will not be within poachers' range. If you have spare grenades, you can throw a couple of them to the men.

Putting the bike into correct position - After solving the second calendar puzzle, the exit in the Ball Court opens. This is timed and you have about 80 seconds to get there. So, a wise move would be to put the bike into correct position, so as to be straightly available after solving the puzzle. Upon entering this area, look for an opening to the right hand side of the building. Drive there and position the bike beneath the opening. You will exit from there when the time starts ticking, so that way you will jump down and immediately get the bike. (See this page for screenshot.)

Getting inside - Go around the building and climb on the broken stairs. Turn right and pick up the Health Potion at the corner of the ledge. There is a third poacher lying dead beneath the gate (you did not kill him). To the left of his body is a vase that contains a Treasure (27/50).

Notice the golden hole in the wall to the right of the gate. Grab the movable stone block and push/ pull it just to the right of the hole (as shown in this screenshot). Pick up the wooden pole and jump on the stone block. Turn to face the wall and press the Interact button to put the pole in the hole. Lara's weight pulls the pole down and opens the nearby gate on the left. Turn to face this way, release the pole and run through the gate, rolling if necessary, before it closes. (You can also swing on the pole and jump to land close to the gate. Then go through it.)

Second calendar puzzle - As soon as you enter, you will be able to see an opening in the wall straight ahead. This is the way out and if you have followed this walkthrough, the bike should be beneath this opening. Look for a vase to the right of the opening. Break it and pick up the Treasure (28/50).

(Note - You may want to save your game here in a different slot in case you do not manage to reach the exit the first time through.)

To solve the second calendar puzzle, you have to follow the same procedure as the first one. First, place the Stone Headdress on the empty handle (on the outer wheel). Now do the following:

• Grab the jaguar handle and rotate it to either direction until the symbol of the middle wheel faces the Ball Court.

• Now grab the headdress handle and rotate it anticlockwise until you cannot move it farther. This action makes the inner wheel to slide back, thus separating the two wheels.

• Go back to the jaguar handle and rotate it to either direction until the symbol of the inner wheel faces the Ball Court (it will be lined with the symbol of the middle wheel). This time, the middle wheel will not move.

• Once more, grab the headdress handle and rotate it clockwise to bring the symbol of the outer wheel to its original position. On doing that, all symbols face the Ball Court and the puzzle is solved.

When you do it correctly, a cut scene plays that shows more stone blocks in the Ball Court to take their correct position. With both calendar puzzles solved, a crypt opens and a huge staue with two snake heads rises up. The stone blocks are converted into fire-breathing serpent statues and path between them retracts, revealing the exit.

The timed run - When you regain control of Lara, you have something more or less than 80 seconds to reach the Ball Court. Turn around and run to the left. Drop through the opening to land on the ground. If you have followed this walkthrough, the bike should be here, so get it and make your way back the same you came. Just make sure you do not miss the intersection and you accidentally enter the road that leads back to the first calendar puzzle.

If you fail the first time and you do not manage to reach the exit in the given time, you can load your game, but you will have to redo the puzzle. Alternatively, you can return back to the first calendar puzzle which has been reset. The only thing you have to do there is to grab the headdress handle and rotate it clockwise until the symbol of the outer wheel faces the Ball Court. Then you can start the timed run, but make sure you have parked the bike if front of the gate.

Running from the first calendar puzzle seems easier than the second one, because the road does not make so many turns. If you fall into the first spiked pit and die, the game loads the last Checkpoint which was triggered just before the pit. Do not hesitate! Get on the bike and jump over the pit again, because the countdown continues from where it was left before you die.

In the cut scene, Lara brakes and stops a few inches from a pit full of spikes. Leaving the motorbike, she notices Mayan hieroglyphs on the wall, mentioning "The Place of Fear". She understands that she has just reached Xibalba, the Mayan land of the dead.

 

     
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