El Fósil

Boyacá

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This impressive 120-million-year-old baby-kronosaurus fossil is the world’s most complete specimen of this prehistoric marine reptile. The fossil is 7m long – the creature was about 12m in size, but the tail did not survive – and it remains in place exactly where it was found in 1977. Museum staff can explain how the fossil was found and direct you around several other paleontological specimens in the same museum.

The fossil is off the road to Santa Sofía, 6km west of Villa de Leyva. You can walk here in a bit more than an hour, or take the Santa Sofía bus, which will drop you off 80m from the fossil.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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    7.96 MILES

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  • Plaza Mayor

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    2.41 MILES

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  • Inner courtyard of La Candelaria Monastery near the town of Raquira in Boyaca, Colombia.

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    8.69 MILES

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  • Convento del Santo Ecce Homo

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    3.77 MILES

    Founded by the Dominican fathers in 1620, this convent is a large stone-and-adobe construction with a huge, faintly regal courtyard. The floors are paved…

  • Santuario de Flora y Fauna de Iguaque

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    9.16 MILES

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  • Casa del Fundador Suárez Rendón

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    15.39 MILES

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  • Casa de Barro

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    1.53 MILES

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  • Cascada El Hayal

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    6.8 MILES

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Nearby Boyacá attractions

2. Estación Astronómica Muisca

1.23 MILES

The Estación Astronómica Muisca dates from the early centuries AD and was used by the Muiscas to determine the seasons. This Stonehenge-like site contains…

3. Casa de Barro

1.53 MILES

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4. Casa Museo de Antonio Nariño

2.33 MILES

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5. Casa Museo de Luis Alberto Acuña

2.39 MILES

Villa de Leyva's best museum features works by one of Colombia's most influential painters, sculptors, writers and historians, Luis Alberto Acuña (1904–93…

6. Casa Quintero

2.4 MILES

Casa Quintero is a fully restored colonial mansion and gourmet food court just off Plaza Mayor.

7. Museo del Carmen

2.41 MILES

Apparently one of best museums of religious art in the country, the Museo del Carmen is housed in the convent of the same name. The fairly average…

8. Plaza Mayor

2.41 MILES

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