Audio Guide of Loja Paleontology Museum

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed Sundays and Mondays). It is located on Bernardo Valdivieso and Sucre streets, in Loja's historic center. It can be reached by taxi or city bus from anywhere in the city. To confirm special hours, you can call +593 7-274-9616.

Admission has a symbolic cost of $2 for national adults and $3 for foreigners. Students and children pay $1. Loja residents with ID and older adults enter free of charge. Payments are cash only.

It is recommended to allow between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours. The visit includes 4 rooms with fossils unique to the province, including a replica of the giant sloth (Eremotherium) that deserves time to appreciate its details.

It is the only paleontological collection in southern Ecuador with more than 3,000 original Pleistocene fossils. Highlights include megafauna remains such as mastodons and glyptodonts found in the Catamayo Valley, key to understanding evolution in the tropical Andes.

From June to December (dry season), when the weather in Loja is stable (15-23°C / 59-73°F). Weekday mornings are less crowded. Check the forecast at AccuWeather Loja before planning your visit.

The historic building has stairs at the main entrance and steps between rooms inside. Visitors with reduced mobility are advised to come with a companion. For special assisted access, contact the museum in advance.

Within less than 1 km you will find: Loja Cathedral (Neoclassical architecture), Gate of the City (cultural center), and Jipiro Park with replicas of world monuments. All are reachable on foot.

Wear comfortable shoes (uneven stone floors) and bring a light jacket (the rooms are kept at 18°C / 64°F for conservation). Flash photography is prohibited. If you are traveling with children, ask about the fossil replica workshop offered on weekends.