more than a backdrop, the dinosaurs actually lived here
Lourinhã isn't just the name of a geological formation famous in the world of paleontology: it's literally the place where some of the largest deposits of Jurassic dinosaur eggs and fossils anywhere in the world have been found. Dino Parque set its roots here for exactly that reason, not by accident.
The park lays out an open-air route with around 200 life-sized replicas, split across six themed trails that follow the chronology of life on Earth, from the first organisms to the end of the Cretaceous. These aren't decorative figures: the reproductions are based on science and built to museum standards, which makes a visible difference when you're standing right next to a 20-metre sauropod.
There's also a paleontology lab where kids (and adults who aren't too self-conscious) can take part in replica digs. For those who want to go beyond the replicas, the site includes an exhibition of real fossils and dinosaur eggs, some of them found in the surrounding region.
During the Noites Jurássicas, the park opens after dark and the trails take on a completely different atmosphere. If you've already done the daytime visit, it's worth coming back to see what changes when the light is gone and the models stand lit up in the middle of nowhere, somewhere between Lourinhã and the Jurassic.
what you'll find
- life-sized replicas of species identified from Portuguese fossils
- excavation area where you can take part directly
- exhibition of real fossils and eggs from the region
- night-time visit programme with themed lighting
