Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.
Tep Bar
Thai-Chinese makes up Bangkok’s largest diaspora.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
7 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
8 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
9 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
10 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Chile Mejillones Punta Guaque 01

Punta Guaque 01

This hidden pre-Columbian rock art depicts a whale hunt.

Mejillones, Chile

Added By
CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Inside the cave.   coolcrab (atlas obscura user)
Inside the cave.   coolcrab (atlas obscura user)
Inside the cave.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
The cave and entrance.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Punta Guaque 01 is a singular natural crevice in a rock formation that stands close to the sea. The crevice is deep enough for one or maybe two people crawl into and hide from the elements and light a fire while waiting for the ideal moment to go fishing.

And it’s believed it was used for just that by the indigenous people of what is now Chile. Inside this crevice, archeologists found the remains of fish bones, shells, and other sea life pried open by human tools. On the roof, they discovered a drawing made with iron-rich paint. It’s an amazingly detailed drawing that depicts two humans in a canoe hunting what appears to be a whale.

This painting is considered to be part of the El Médano style, which dates back to about 1,000 years ago. This style is typically associated with rock paintings that mostly depict scenes of people hunting sea life in canoes.

This specific painting is special because of its accessibility, and because it’s about 125 miles north of other similar paintings.

Related Tags

Rocks Paintings Art Indigenous Archaeology Geology

Know Before You Go

The cave is relatively easy to access if you know the road. Drive past Michilla, and then on the left there will be a very hard to spot road at -22.68939, -70.27071 (just before a large rock formation and where the road curves to the left). Go onto this road and continue west until you pass a few white pits filled with shells. Go around them and keep going until you see a crossroad and head to the right, then after about 650 feet you'll see a singular rock pointing out from the ground. The cave is on the north side of it.

Please do not damage or vandalize the site. These drawings survived for centuries and have immense archeological values. Archaeologists keep these places secret because people vandalize them, please don't prove them right. 

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Edited By

finlayson, Kerry Wolfe

  • finlayson
  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

July 15, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329714216_Ballester_2018_-_Rock_art_marine_hunting_and_harpoon_devices_from_the_Atacama_Desert_coast_northern_Chile
Punta Guaque 01
Mejillones
Chile
-22.684642, -70.280936

Nearby Places

Chacabuco

Sierra Gorda, Chile

miles away

Antofagasta Mountainside Messages

Antofagasta, Chile

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chile

Chile

South America

Places 87
Stories 22

Nearby Places

Chacabuco

Sierra Gorda, Chile

miles away

Antofagasta Mountainside Messages

Antofagasta, Chile

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chile

Chile

South America

Places 87
Stories 22

Related Places

  • Ancient Indian pictographs at Fate Bell rock shelter in Seminole Canyon.

    Comstock, Texas

    Seminole Canyon

    Beauty and history abound in this remote West Texas canyon.

  • Inyo County, California

    Coso Rock Art District

    A mountain range on an active U.S. Navy base hides thousands of mysterious prehistoric rock carvings.

  • A view of the rock outcroppings.

    Kasama, Zambia

    Mwela Rock Art Paintings

    One of the largest concentrations of rock paintings in Southern Africa.

  • The paintings from a distance.

    Torslanda, Sweden

    Tumlehed Rock Paintings

    Sweden's southernmost prehistoric rock art is hidden just outside Gothenburg.

  • Crow Canyon Petroglyphs.

    New Mexico

    Crow Canyon Petroglyphs

    One of the American Southwest's most extensive collections of Navajo rock art.

  • A pictograph at Bear Gulch.

    Forest Grove, Montana

    Bear Gulch Pictographs

    A scenic ravine with an astounding collection of rock art created by the Indigenous people of the Great Plains.

  • Rock art at Tassili n’Ajjer.

    Algeria

    Tassili n'Ajjer

    The abstract sandstone rock formations at this Algerian national park are rich with prehistoric art.

  • The “map” petroglyph

    San Martín, Peru

    Petroglyphs of Polish

    This set of mysterious petroglyphs in the Peruvian jungle could shed light on centuries-old activities in the region.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.