ExploROARing dinosaur tracks

“The world’s largest site of dinosaur tracks”

There is a long cliff-like wall in Sucre, Bolivia that features the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world. In. The. World.

A short 15 minute bus ride out of Sucre and you’ll arrive at an industrial Cement Factory - ’now with dinosaur park’. Sounds strange, right?

It all started 68 million years ago when the Atlantic Ocean came right up to Bolivia - now a landlocked country. The water and plants made the area a hot spot for dinosaurs who would hang out in their herds, eating, drinking and enjoying prehistoric life. Over many years, their tracks were covered by sediment. Layer upon layer of tracks around the waterhole were forever captured but hidden from the world.

Fast forward tens of millions of years to Sucre, 1959. The local cement miners were doing their thing when they discovered their precious cement was contaminated with magnesium oxide - rendering it useless. They stopped work on this part of the wall and went on to neighbouring sites letting nature take over.

But then, in 1994, the cement workers noticed something on this abandoned cliff they hadn’t touched since 1959…tracks. Between 1959 and 1994, wind and rain had eroded away layers of the the wall to reveal hundreds of dinosaur tracks. Can you imagine finding that? World leading experts were brought in to assess the tracks which were confirmed to belong to the prehistoric beauties.

Layers and layers of tracks are being revealed

Thank goodness for this cement mine, time and erosion. And a big thanks to the locals for noticing these tracks. Parque Cretacico has the largest area of dinosaur footprints in the world. 9 different types of individual tracks have been discovered. It records the longest continuous walk in the world at 620m belonging to a Theropod. You can see over 12,000 individual dinosaur tracks that have been left by small, medium and large dinosaurs - some footprints from a Sauropod are up to 70cm in length while theropods have their twinkle-toe prints at a wee 10 to 35cm in length.

But hold the phone caller - let’s reflect on something here. The dinosaur tracks were found on a vertical cliff. Key words - vertical and cliff. How the hell did these dinosaurs walk up and down this wall? Was there a special breed of dinosaur I hadn’t heard of? Spider-Dinosaurs perhaps?

Almost as if our guide, Carlos, could sense I was about to start spreading some Spider-Dinosaur rumours, he jumped in and imparted his wisdom. He explained how the region was formed. When the Andes started to rise, the pressure of the earth folded parts of this area like a book and ta-dah, the tracks were preserved vertically. Spider-Dinosaurs do not and never have existed.

Carlos knew his stuff. Part mega-geeky guide, part thespian, this was no tour, this was a show. What separates a good guide from a great guide? A brightly-coloured dinosaur collection. Carlos had a plastic dinosaur to visually reinforce every explanation and answer to my every question. My hero.

Many people told us that this attraction wouldn’t be worth it. But I stand by every Boliviano. Dinosaurs once ruled the world as humans do today and the fact that we can see how they once roamed is pretty special.

I tip my hat to Parque Cretacico. They are currently trying to have UNESCO recognise this site to enforce preservation efforts. If the erosion continues, this land before time is at risk of disappearing forever, just like the dinosaurs.

DO IT

https://parquecretacicosucre.com/
The park is open Tuesday to Saturdays. Tours to the wall are only 12noon and 1pm. Walking shoes are essential as thongs (flip flops) will not be accepted
Take the 4 or H mini bus from Sucre’s Central Marcedo for only BOP$1.5

Where in the world? Sucre is Bolivia’s capital, despite La Paz trying to steal the limelight. This pretty little city is UNESCO listed, referred to as the ‘white city’ for it’s beautiful white wash buildings and is a gruelling 500km south east from La Paz.