El Fósil

More than 100 million years ago this dry valley lay under the sea. El Fósil shelters one of its former residents: a Kronosaurus, a giant marine reptile, displayed exactly where it was found.

What to see

The star is the Kronosaurus fossil, discovered by a local farmer in 1977 and left in the ground where it lay, with the museum built around it. Display cases show ammonites and other marine fossils from the area, which turn up all over the valley.

Make a half day of it

El Fósil sits close to the Muisca observatory at El Infiernito and the road to the Ecce Homo convent, so it’s easy to combine two or three sights by bike, taxi or tour.

Getting there

It’s a few kilometres from the centre: a pleasant bike ride on a mostly flat road, or a short taxi. Arrange a taxi pickup for the return if you’re not cycling.

Tips

Bring water and a hat if you cycle; the road is exposed. A local guide makes the fossils far more interesting than the labels alone.