The PortAventura complex near the Spanish town of Salou was opened in 1995 and has since become the most visited of the European amusement parks. It is constantly expanding and new facilities are periodically opened. The territory of the entertainment complex is divided into six thematic zones representing to the public different geographical regions and historical civilisations.
Thematic zones in PortAventura:
- Guests of the amusement park have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in other worlds and get to know the most famous regions of the planet:
- In the Mediterranean area there are not only rides, but also souvenir shops, and the restaurants of this thematic zone present the best dishes of the countries of the southern part of Europe.
- Cowboys, typical streets of American cities and the atmosphere familiar from Hollywood westerns await visitors in the Wild West.
- Mayan rituals, temples of ancient peoples and searing spices of traditional Central American dishes are a sure sign that you are in the Mexico themed zone.
- The traditional atmosphere of Chinatown with magic lanterns, mythical dragons and aromas of oriental cooking awaits guests in the China zone.
- The marine theme permeates Polynesia with its impenetrable jungle, mysterious animals and Robinson Crusoe-style adventures.
- The youngest visitors to the park will find entertainment to their liking in Sesame Aventura, the land of children, where every corner is thoughtfully and lovingly arranged for a comfortable holiday.
The best rides in the park
PortAventura offers attractions, many of which remain European records for height and speed, despite the fact that a quarter of a century has passed since the opening of the park. For example, the Hurakan Condor in the Mexican zone is 115 metres high, with a vertical freefall of 86 metres.
A real attraction of PortAventura is the Chinese attraction Dragon Khan, whose route is 1269 metres and includes eight dead loops. All of them are completed in 1 minute and 45 seconds. 45 seconds. -
After its opening, the Shambhala roller coaster broke several European records: its height is 76 metres, the length of the fall is 78 metres, and the speed of 134 km/h is reached by the moving element of the ride on the first descent. The height of the lowest rise of the device is equal to a seven-storey building, and on it, as well as on all subsequent ones, the riders lose contact with the seat - very sharp impressions are also guaranteed.
The park also has a wooden roller coaster with moving carriages, a water ride with a mountain river and inflatable cylinders and the famous Furius Baco, whose cars reach a maximum speed of 135 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.
Each themed area of PortAventura has its own performances, including those dedicated to famous holidays. On Halloween, for example, there are the shows "Vampire Love", "Mayan Ritual" and "Jungle of Fear", while during the New Year holidays there are the shows "Winter. Magic. Bubbles", "Christmas Gift", "Magic Forest" and "Champions on Ice".
Water Park in PortAventura
Part of the entertainment resort is the "Costa Caribe", a huge water park with its own rides, water slides, restaurants and shops. It is decorated in the spirit of Caribbean resorts: with palm trees, sunny beaches and reggae music, so favourite in the Central American islands.
Costa Caribe attractions are designed for a wide range of ages. For example, the "King of Cajun" is a European record holder, and the speed of free fall from a height of 31 metres reaches 6 metres per second. The Pirate Galleon, on the contrary, is designed for the youngest guests, and on the decks of the ship children are greeted by characters from the favourite Sesame Street.
The water park is equipped with a toboggan "Tropical Cyclone" with a 100-metre track and a slide with six lanes "Fast Race". Visitors like "Sesame Beach" with children's pools of various depths and "Paradise Beach" with a waterfall and Jacuzzi. On the Torrente boats you can go through the canals with twists and turns, and on inflatable mattresses you can conquer the river "Crazy Rio", which, despite its name, is completely calm but full of different water effects.
Souvenir shops
Visitors spend a lot of time in the souvenir shops, each of which corresponds to the thematic zone where it is located. In the shops of PortAventura you can buy authentic clothes of cowboys living in the Wild West or silver jewellery in the Mayan style. Shoppers will also be offered utensils for traditional Chinese tea ceremonies and accessories for water sports, which are customary for Polynesians.
The range of dishes on the menus of the park's restaurants corresponds to the regions and fits in very well with the overall thematic concept.
On a side note
- Official website: http://portaventuraworld.com
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. in spring and autumn, 10 a.m. to midnight in summer.
- Tickets: daily rate for adults 55 euros, children and pensioners 48 euros.
