Team unearths ancient cave art in Guyana’s dense interior

“We are still in the jungle, but I think we can already reveal that our cave expedition has been an astonishing success. Walking into a cave completely covered in ancient pictures and signs was beyond anything we could have imagined. It was absolutely worth the three and a half days of tough mountain travel to reach.”
Those words are from “The Wild ’Tales” – the explorers behind Guyana Uncharted who recently took part in a “31 Days in the Jungle” journey, reportedly capturing one of the most significant discoveries made in Guyana’s interior in recent years: a cave filled with preserved ancient rock artwork, hidden deep within the mountains of Region Eight.
The month-long journey involved a team of local adventurers into the headwaters of the Rewa River, one of the last true wildernesses on the planet.
The Wild Tales is the premier provider of unforgettable jungle survival courses, expeditions, and wildlife tours in Guyana, South America. The team usually showcases how to thrive in the wilderness, explore dense jungles, discover indigenous cultures, or get up close with unique wildlife.

That perseverance led to their most remarkable find. After days of climbing through the mountains, the team entered caves whose walls were completely covered with ancient markings and symbols – likely one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Guyana.
They credited the village of Kopinang for making the discovery possible, paying tribute to local guides Ian Haramottoo, Milford Pablo, Francis David, Jude Perreira, Elbert Thomas, and Compton Francis, whose knowledge and leadership carried them through the harsh terrain.
“This has truly been the biggest archaeological and cultural experience we have ever had on an expedition,” the group reflected.

Anything but easy
According to the travellers who were featured in a recent YouTube documentary, the month-long expedition into Guyana’s interior was anything but easy.
During their journey, the team quickly learnt that the jungle would test them at every turn.
By the second day – the team, who had to travel by water on boats at times, recorded that low water levels forced them to abandon the comfort of their boats and drag them across shallow stretches of riverbed.
Coupled with this was the fact that all the while, they also had to stay alert for lurking stingrays – creatures whose venomous stings could leave a person incapacitated for weeks.
After nearly a week of this exhausting routine, the explorers finally reached Corona Falls—the first great barrier on their route upriver.
Here, they paused to recover, set up camp, and brace for the next stage: portaging three massive waterfalls. This meant hauling equipment through thick jungle, dragging boats across rapids, and battling swarms of insects beneath the punishing tropical sun.

Life in the Wilderness
Yet, even in the middle of hardship, the forest provided. Hammocks swung between trees as campfires roasted freshly caught black piranhas.
Brazil nuts – described as the “ultimate jungle snack – were gathered from the forest floor, a treat shared with agoutis, one of the forest’s rodent inhabitants.
According to the documentary posted by the group, the team marvelled at the nut’s rarity, explaining that it can only be pollinated by a specific bee found in untouched forests, making plantations impossible.
“It’s a reminder,” one explorer reflected, “that some of the world’s most valuable resources only exist because these ecosystems are intact.”

Above the Falls
Meanwhile, the true sense of wilderness, the team said, began above Corona Falls. Here, deep in the headwaters of the Rewa River, the forest grew denser and the nights louder. As darkness fell, the jungle came alive – harpy eagles circled overhead, tapirs padded quietly through the trees, and shadows of big cats prowled the undergrowth.
“If you want to see wildlife, you have to go far,” one traveller explained, describing the thrill of drifting silently in a canoe, waiting for the chance to glimpse a jaguar.
Weeks turned into a blur of effort.
Supplies had to be rationed; meals were stretched across 15-day intervals without resupply.
One team member joked that the relentless heat and labour would “erase every wrinkle.”
Still, hope drove them forward. “Every time I say, ‘never again’,” one explorer admitted. “Somehow, a year or two later, I find myself doing the same thing over and over. But it’s worth it. You never give up here. Because there have been days where you’ve been drifting and you’ve all but given up, and then – boom – a jaguar appears.”
As the journey came to an end, the travellers reflected on what they had learnt. Beyond the blisters, the endless boat-hauling, and the sleepless nights, there was a deeper lesson:
Guyana remains one of the world’s last great wildernesses. Its rivers hide secrets, its forests pulse with life unseen by most, and its caves whisper stories from generations past.
For those who dare to endure the jungle’s trials, the reward is clear – the rare chance to experience a place alive, untamed, and timeless.