Cabo Mondego

Cabo Mondego is a cape on the Atlantic coast of central-western Portugal, about three kilometres north of Figueira da Foz. Protected as a natural monument since 2007, it is known for Jurassic cliffs and dinosaur footprints more than 150 million years old.

Where is Cabo Mondego and what is protected here?

The cape forms the westernmost tip of the Serra da Boa Viagem range, and its coastline runs between Murtinheira beach and Figueira da Foz beach. Natural Monument status was granted by a 2007 decree to safeguard sites of scientific value and support geological education. Researchers regard it as one of Portugal's key Jurassic localities, valued for its clearly exposed rock layers.

Why do geologists love this place?

The outcrops cover a long slice of the Jurassic, roughly 185 to 140 million years ago. The layers are so well exposed and varied that the cliffs serve as a reference for stratigraphy, the study of the order in which rocks were laid down. For a visitor this means a single stretch of coast showing marls, sandstones and limestones stacked like the pages of an open book.

What dinosaur traces can you find?

The headline attraction is the dinosaur footprints. Many large theropod tracks, the prints of two-legged predators, have been recorded in the rocks of Cabo Mondego. Most measure 60–70 centimetres, and the largest, distorted by sediment slippage, reaches 92 centimetres. The rocks date to the Late Jurassic (Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian), and the likely trackmaker was Torvosaurus.

The prints are preserved in sediments of an ancient coastal tidal plain in a deltaic setting. The site was already noted by the 19th-century naturalist Jacinto Pedro Gomes, who visited in 1884, originally in connection with the Cabo Mondego coal mine, and described giant "saurian" tracks in the Jurassic of the cape.

A smaller footprint about 35 cm long, roughly 154 million years old and found near Boa Viagem, is displayed at the Municipal Museum of Figueira da Foz.

How to plan a visit

• Combine the cape with a stay in Figueira da Foz, only a few kilometres away.
• Wear shoes with good grip: rocks near the cliffs can be slippery and uneven.
• Footprints are fragile. Look, do not touch, and never collect or chip rock.
• Watch the tide and strong Atlantic waves, especially on the lower parts of the shore.
• To understand what you are seeing, start with a visit to the city museum.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cabo Mondego officially protected? Yes, it has been a natural monument since 2007.

Which dinosaurs left the tracks? Mainly large theropods; researchers link the biggest prints to Torvosaurus.

How big are the footprints? Typically 60–70 cm, with a record deformed track of 92 cm.

Is it close to Figueira da Foz? Yes, about three kilometres north of the town.

Where can I see finds in a museum? One footprint is displayed at the Municipal Museum of Figueira da Foz.