Fossil, Cundiboyacense Highlands Travel Guide

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Discover a 120-million-year-old Kronosaurus skeleton at El Fósil museum near Villa de Leyva, Colombia, and explore ancient marine life.

El Fósil, located near Villa de Leyva, Colombia, is a paleontological museum built around the remarkably complete fossil of a Kronosaurus boyacensis, a marine reptile from the Cretaceous period. Discovered by local farmers in 1977, the museum offers a glimpse into the ancient marine life that once thrived in this region.

A brief summary to Fossil

Via el Fósil, Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, 154007, CO
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Monday 8 am-5:30 pm
Tuesday 8 am-5:30 pm
Wednesday 8 am-5:30 pm
Thursday 8 am-5:30 pm
Friday 8 am-5:30 pm
Saturday 8 am-5:30 pm
Sunday 8 am-5:30 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Fossil.

Wear comfortable shoes for the walk from the roadside to the museum entrance.
Combine your visit with other nearby attractions like El Infiernito or the Ostrich farm.
Check the weather forecast, as the contrast between the arid landscape and the fossils is best appreciated on a clear day.

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Cascadas La Periquera

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Paleontological Research Center

Museo Paleontológico de Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva

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Getting There

Bus

From Villa de Leyva, take a buseta (small bus) towards Santa Sofía. Inform the driver that you wish to get off at El Fósil. The museum is approximately a 10-minute walk from the roadside. Bus fare is approximately 2,000 COP.
Taxi

A taxi from Villa de Leyva to El Fósil costs around 15,000-20,000 COP. Negotiate the price before starting the journey. The drive is about 15 minutes.

Discover more about Fossil

El Fósil museum, located a few kilometers outside Villa de Leyva, is a unique destination for those interested in paleontology and natural history. The museum's centerpiece is the fossil of a Kronosaurus boyacensis, a pliosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period, approximately 110 to 115 million years ago. This particular specimen is celebrated as the most complete pliosaur fossil ever discovered.The fossil was discovered in 1977 by local farmers working in the area, and the museum was built around it to preserve and educate about the find. The Kronosaurus skeleton stretches about 7 meters in length. The museum also displays a collection of smaller marine fossils, including ichthyosaurs and ammonites, providing a broader view of the region's prehistoric marine ecosystem.Visiting El Fósil offers a fascinating look into a time when the area around Villa de Leyva was a shallow coastal sea teeming with marine life. The museum is community-run, adding a unique local touch to the experience.