Argentine Pride: The Imposing Giganotosaurus

While the tour culminates with the famous Tyrannosaurus rex facing off against a Barrosasaurus, the real star that captures everyone's attention is our local dinosaur: the Giganotosaurus. Discovered in 1993 in the Patagonian province of Neuquén by mechanic and amateur paleontologist Rubén Carolini, this colossal carnivore measured between 12 and 14 meters (39-46 feet) in length and weighed between 6 and 14 tons, according to various reconstructions.

Unlike the T-Rex, which lived in North America near the end of the dinosaurs' era, the Giganotosaurus inhabited Patagonia about 30 million years earlier. As the guides proudly highlight, this giant is ours, it is Argentine, and its impact was so significant that Hollywood chose it as the villain in Jurassic World: Dominion in 2022.

A Tour Full of Surprises

The experience begins with a video explaining the mass extinction that occurred 66 million years ago due to a meteorite impact. Visitors then tour various rooms recreating the Ice Age with fauna such as the Macrauchenia and the Megatherium (a giant ground sloth found in 1787 on the banks of the Luján River in Buenos Aires province), culminating with imposing flying reptiles like the Pteranodon.

The circuit includes other dinosaurs of Argentine origin, such as the Herrerasaurus from San Juan (at 230 million years old, one of the earliest dinosaurs ever discovered), the Carnotaurus from Chubut, and the Condorraptor. Additionally, the little ones have their own space in the Baby Dinos Island and can enjoy a virtual reality experience at the end of the tour.