Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Stock up on picnic supplies with a side of history.
Horton Bay General Store
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
Though they’re protected inside the park, wolves can be killed when they cross its borders.
Wolves Have a Bad Reputation. One Yellowstone Naturalist Is Trying to Fix It.

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Cuba Viñales Parque Prehistórico

Parque Prehistórico

Prehistoric history as seen through the lens of an outsider artist.

Viñales, Cuba

Added By
alexmensing
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The roadside sign announcing the park.   Alex Mensing
Dinosaur sculpture in the Parque Prehistórico.   Alex Mensing
Dinosaur sculpture in the Parque Prehistórico.   Alex Mensing
Jesus’ business card. Send him a specimen!   Alex Mensing
  greg 1b818d0d / Atlas Obscura User
  greg 1b818d0d / Atlas Obscura User
  greg 1b818d0d / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Local Vinales man Jesus Arencibia Coro runs this small outdoor museum which is full of specimens that have been donated from around the world and subsequently encased in concrete. 

The small sign by the road says: "Parque Prehistórico de Referencia Nacional. Paleontology. Biology. Anthropology. Natural Medicine" which is just the first indication of the eclectic offerings ahead. The park is full of plants and specimens that Coro has collected or that people have sent him from all corners of the earth. He encases his specimens in crude concrete pillars with glass viewing windows built in, and he knows the history of each and every piece. In addition to the collection of rocks, shells, and fossils Coro grows endemic, medicinal, and prehistoric plants.

Coro will give you a very animated tour if he catches you checking out the park, and his historical descriptions are intermingled with wonderful philosophical musings. "I am ignorant," he constantly says, "but I love to learn." He is simply delighted by all things ancient. His enthusiasm shows in the cement dinosaur sculptures throughout the park which are more impressionistic than representative of any firm anatomy. There are also scattered pieces throughout the park that explore the development of ancient man through rough stone figures which look like they hail from the time of hunters and gatherers. 

While there is no admission fee to the park, Coro will ask for a donation for the tour. However if you want to bring him, or send him, a specimen, he will take very good care of that donation as well. 

Related Tags

Parks Museums Dinosaurs Outsider Art Sculptures Animals

Know Before You Go

Adela Azcuy No. 6 Norte. There's a sign with a dinosaur picture on the left side of Adela Azcuy walking north from the main drag.

Community Contributors

Added By

alexmensing

Edited By

hrnick, Molly McBride Jacobson, greg 1b818d0d

  • hrnick
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • greg 1b818d0d

Published

October 14, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu-qAitJh0c
Parque Prehistórico
Calle Adela Azcuy Norte
Viñales
Cuba
22.617008, -83.711782
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Viñales Mural de la Prehistoria

Viñales, Cuba

miles away

Cueva del Indio

Viñales, Cuba

miles away

Presidio Modelo

Nueva Gerona, Cuba

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Viñales

Viñales

Cuba

Places 2

Nearby Places

Viñales Mural de la Prehistoria

Viñales, Cuba

miles away

Cueva del Indio

Viñales, Cuba

miles away

Presidio Modelo

Nueva Gerona, Cuba

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Viñales

Viñales

Cuba

Places 2

Related Places

  • Up close and personal with the T-Rex.

    Concepción, Chile

    Plaza Jurásica

    Full-scale dinosaurs dominate the forested park in the middle of Chile’s second city.

  • Vermontasaurus

    Thetford, Vermont

    Vermontasaurus

    This folk art dinosaur was almost pushed to extinction due to lack of a building permit.

  • Staré Město, Czechia

    Kovozoo (Metal Zoo)

    Hundreds of "animals" created from scrap metal, alongside a collection of other oddities.

  • Vancouver, British Columbia

    Two Spirits Carving

    A mysterious sculpture is hidden in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

  • Home for Retired Playground Animals

    Queens, New York

    Home for Retired Playground Animals

    A menagerie of concrete animals brought together from across New York City's parks.

  • Skippy

    Boston, Massachusetts

    'Frogs in Common'

    Created by a local artist, these quirky sculptures each have their own names and personalities.

  • 10-15-23

    Erie, Kansas

    Erie Dinosaur Park

    A Jurassic artscape composed of transmission casings and other mechanical parts.

  • Durham, North Carolina

    Durham's Hidden Dinosaur

    Don't be surprised if you see a long-necked dinosaur peeking out from among the trees in Northgate Park.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.