Vámonos! Dora’s All Grown Up in Her New Movie Adventure

Get ready to grab your backpack and say vámonos, because Dora is back and she’s doing it big. Nickelodeon and Paramount+ just announced that a brand-new live-action movie, Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, is on the way, premiering Wednesday, July 2, and this time Dora is 16, all grown up, and ready for the most epic treasure hunt of her life. And this is just the beginning.

The movie kicks off what Nickelodeon is calling The Great Dora Fiesta, a massive celebration marking 25 years of Dora, packed with new shows, specials, music, partnerships, and even jungle-themed dining. Yeah, it’s that big.

Let’s Talk About the Movie

Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado stars Samantha Lorraine (you might recognize her from You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) as Dora, now a full-on teenage explorer. She’s heading deep into the Amazon jungle to stop an ancient treasure from falling into the wrong hands and, of course, she’s not going alone.

Joining her is Jacob Rodriguez as Diego, her loyal 17-year-old cousin and jungle partner; Mariana Garzón Toro as Naiya, Diego’s no-nonsense coworker; Acston Luca Porto as Sonny, Naiya’s curious younger brother; and Daniella Pineda as Camila the Crusader, a total legend in the world of archaeology and Dora’s childhood idol. And of course, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is voicing Boots, Dora’s monkey bestie.

The movie is directed by Alberto Belli (The Naughty Nine), written by JT Billings (Are You Afraid of the Dark?), and produced by a dream team including Adam Bonnett, Chris Gifford, and Valerie Walsh Valdes, who helped bring the original Dora the Explorer to life.

Welcome to The Great Dora Fiesta

The movie might be the headline, but the Dora takeover doesn’t stop there. The Great Dora Fiesta is a whole multi-platform celebration, and it’s rolling out across TV, streaming, retail, and even the rainforest (kind of). Here’s what’s coming:

-A special hour-long animated episode: Dora & Diego: Rainforest Rescues premieres on the same day as the movie (July 2) on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon, showing how Diego met Baby Jaguar. Major cuteness incoming.

-Season 3 of the CG-animated DORA series: Premieres July 2 with 26 new episodes. Featuring guest stars like Danny Trejo (as Santa!) and Jett Gomez, daughter of Taboo from Black Eyed Peas, voicing Quickatina. A special birthday episode will also air on August 15, the exact week of Dora’s 25th anniversary. Season 4 is already confirmed to arrive later this year. Dora’s not going anywhere.

-Magic Mermaid Adventures (working title): A one-hour movie event dropping this fall in over 20 countries. Expect four brand-new episodes, plus a new Mermaid Adventures podcast and YouTube series.

-ExploraDora Collection on Paramount+: If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can now stream both the new DORA series and the original Dora the Explorer episodes right now.

Dora’s Going Beyond the Screen

Dora has always been more than a cartoon: she’s a cultural icon. Now she’s stepping into even more roles that connect with families on a deeper level.

She’s the new ambassador of Beyond the Backpack, a Nickelodeon Our World campaign helping parents and caregivers with resources on STEM, literacy, health, life skills, and more, getting kids ready for kindergarten and beyond.

She’s also teaming up with Plan International to support girls’ education. This includes providing school supplies, grants, and backpacks for girls across the globe through The Dora Fund.

On top of all that, fans can expect a massive new Dora merch drop, including toys, books, clothes, snacks, and more. Even Rainforest Café is jumping in on the fun with a national collab. Imagine having chicken tenders with Dora-themed jungle vibes? Count us in.

And yes: music is coming too. Multiple soundtracks and song collections will be hitting all streaming platforms this summer, perfect for your next family dance party.

Dora Is Growing Up and Taking Over 2025

Since making her debut on August 14, 2000, Dora has gone from a curious explorer to a global phenomenon. She’s broken barriers, taught millions of kids new languages, and shown that a little girl with a backpack and a dream can change the world.

Now seen in over 150 countries and 32 languages, Dora is one of the most-watched preschool shows ever. Over the years, she’s won Emmys, NAACP awards, Imagen Awards, Peabodys, you name it.

And this 25-year celebration shows that her journey is far from over. So whether you grew up yelling “Swiper, no swiping!” or you’re just getting to know Dora through your kids, this summer is the perfect time to reconnect with TV’s most legendary explorer.

July 2. Write it down. Dora is back. And this time, she’s bringing the whole world with her.