A Journey into the Jurassic World
The Dinosaur Route is a hidden paleontological treasure in Ombu Hills, on Route 26, Km 262,500, just a few kilometers from Tacuarembó. This open-air site museum invites you to immerse in a time when Uruguay was part of a vast desert connecting Africa with South America, back when all continents were one.
DISCOVERY IN URUGUAY
During the Jurassic period, 150 million years ago, northern Uruguay was an arid landscape, though full of life: dinosaurs, freshwater sharks, lungfish, turtles, and crocodiles lived together in the rivers of ancient Botucatú desert.
It was in this environment that fossil footprints were formed, ones you can now see with your own eyes: tracks from sauropods, those giant long-necked, heavy-walking herbivores, as well as ornithopods, bipedal herbivores, and theropods, smaller and more agile bipedal predators. There’s even one footprint left by a theropod walking peacefully at about 5 km/h.
These steps were imprinted in the sand and, thanks to geological processes, preserved for millions of years. Today, they stand as silent witnesses of a lost world, discovered in 2009 by a team of Uruguayan scientists from the University of the Republic.
A MUSEUM TO EXPLORE
The Dinosaur Route is not just a place to look around, it’s an immersive experience. You’ll find information panels in Spanish and English, QR codes to videos and digital books, and even tactile casts of footprints so you can get to feel the texture of the tracks with your own hands. You’ll be amazed by the sculpture of a giant dinosaur, a replica created by Uruguayan artist Mauro Arbiza.
It’s designed for everyone to enjoy: curious families, science enthusiasts, people with visual disabilities, and any traveler eager to discover something unique.
In addition, the infrastructure is designed to preserve the heritage while ensuring the visitor’s comfort. There are accessible raised walkways so you can explore without damaging the footprints, roofing to provide shelter from sun or rain, and clear signage to guide you easily.
HOW TO GET THERE
Just take Route 26 to kilometer 262,500. From the city of Tacuarembó, it’s only a few minutes away, and the access is clearly marked. Perfect for a weekend getaway or as part of a northern Uruguay road trip.
Dare to follow their steps?
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