If the whole story that Steven Spielberg told us in the movie 'Jurassic Park' happened in some corner of Spain, it would probably take place in Teruel. This Aragonese province is full of paleontological sites in which new dinosaur fossils are discovered every little time.
Although scientific tourism is still incipient in Spain, it has a lot of potential and more and more people are interested in taking science-related visits or excursions. Under this premise Dinópolis Teruel was born in 2001, a theme park dedicated to dinosaurs unique in Europe that since it opened its doors has attracted almost three million people thanks to the successful combination of leisure and science.
If you have ever wondered what life was like in this peaceful Spanish province millions of years ago, you can not stop visiting Dinópolis. It will surprise you!
Teruel, land of dinosaurs
It is not surprising that the province of Teruel has earned a privileged place on the world map of paleontology. To cite some examples, It was in Galve that the Aragosaurus was discovered (the first Spanish dinosaur) and in Riodeva the Turiasaurus Riodevensis (the largest dinosaur in Europe and one of the largest on the planet). But the best of all is what remains to be discovered.
Located on the outskirts of the city of Teruel, in the Polígono Los Planos, S / N, it is a theme park for the whole family that brings paleontology closer to visitors from a fun and educational point of view.
On the trail of the dinosaurs in Dinópolis
Entering Dinópolis means taking a trip back in time to prehistory. The adventure begins, precisely, in the montage "Travel in Time" where we get on board a protected vehicle to take a tour in which the origin of the Earth and the dinosaurs is explained to us with the help of special effects and animatronic creatures that come out to meet us and even give us a little scare.
We continue our journey introducing ourselves in a 3D movie theater we accompany a little dinosaur on his adventures through a dangerous but fascinating world. Later we go to the Paleontological Museum of Teruel, with more than 3.000 square meters of exhibition, where you can see fossils from all over the planet as well as watch the scientists work in their laboratory. In the museum there are original fossils, replicas, games and audiovisuals to offer an exceptional walk through paleontology.
Here we can find the bones of the Turiasaurus Riodevensis, the largest dinosaur in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Or the Proa Valdearinnoensis, the first original dinosaur skeleton mounted in Spain that was found in the Val de Ariño, in the province of Teruel, where there is another Dinópolis Territory headquarters.
One of the most popular riddles surrounding dinosaurs has to do with their extinction and what subsequently happened on Earth. The attraction that tries to answer these questions is "The last minute." Through a canal and mounted on a boat, we advance through different rooms where the moment of the disappearance of the dinosaurs is explained to us until the appearance of Homo Sapiens.
And if you ever wondered what it would be like to live among dinosaurs in the style of 'Jurassic World', in 'Terra Colossus' you can feel it. It is a virtual 4D simulator that takes us on another incredible journey through time where dinosaurs chase us. Speaking of fear of dinosaurs, in the show "T-rex", we meet one of the most sophisticated animatronics in the world. Thanks to Japanese technology, a Tyrannosaurus rex is recreated with great realism whose roar will leave you petrified. Will you be fast enough to escape?
One of the novelties of Dinópolis in 2015 is the space "Tierra Magna", where various life-size reproductions of dinosaurs such as the Allosaurus or the Turiasaurus Riodevensis, the largest dinosaur found in all of Europe whose remains were found in Riodeva (40 km from Teruel). Standing next to this European giant will make you feel like a Lilliputian. We will also see a bronze reproduction of the front leg of this European giant and little by little dinosaurs that inhabited the area millions of years ago will be added to be able to lie at their feet and be photographed with these creatures.
Children will enjoy Dinópolis as much as adults because there are specific areas dedicated to them. For example, in the Paleosenda they can dig up fossils and play in an area with mazes and slides. They can also go up in attractions like the flying Brincosaurus or the Dinovivo in the SaurioPark and make up with fun colors in Dinofotoadventure.
Dinópolis Territory
More and more people come to Dinópolis to enjoy dinosaurs. Not only because these large reptiles make us have a very entertaining time but because you learn a lot about these beings that ruled the Earth millions of years ago.
Apart from this theme park located on the outskirts of Teruel, Dinópolis Territory groups seven more museums located in different towns of the province where important findings have been made: Inhóspitak in Peñarroya de Tastavins, Legendark in Galve, Mar Nummus in Albarracín, Ambarina Region in Rubielos de Mora, Titania in Riodeva, Stone Forest in Castellote and Valcaria in Ariño.
Get organized to enjoy Dinópolis to the fullest
In Dinópolis Teruel you can spend perfectly all day. It is important to plan well what we are going to do during the day so as not to miss any show. Many activities have continuous passes but in others there is a fixed schedule. Fortunately, at the entrance to the theme park, they provide us with a map showing the schedules of all the attractions and shows.
This center is usually very crowded, especially on weekends. Take the opportunity to go first thing in the morning, when there are fewer people, to get your tickets and start seeing Dinópolis. The ticket price It is 28 euros for adults and 22 euros for children.
In short, the visit to Dinópolis Teruel is a dream come true for fans of dinosaurs. I totally recommend it because, like it happened to me, surely you will leave there with a smile on your face.