It is unlikely that anyone will dispute the fact that recently our compatriots, fed up with Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Thailand, have rushed to Europe. Much more interesting for them was France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain. Port Aventura Park, Disneyland, Prater, etc. are names that are in the language of enthusiastic travelers. And not in vain, because it is here that you can get indescribable sensations, test yourself for strength and courage and just have a great time.
This article will tell you about one of these places. Readers will find out how travelers like a country like Spain can please. Port Aventura Park really deserves special attention, especially during the long-awaited summer holidays.
General description of the object
In Spain there is a world famous European resort and entertainment center under the same name. It consists of two institutions at once: the Caribe Aquatic Park water park and the Port Aventura amusement park.
In addition to having fun in huge pools, you can get acquainted with the culture and characteristics of various parts of the globe.
According to the project of architects “Port Aventura” (Spain) was originally divided into several characteristic ethnic zones:
- Mediterranean
- Imperial China;
- Aztec Mexico;
- Exotic Polynesia;
- Wild West.
Barcelona parks, or rather, most of them, are still located within the city. That is why it is easy to reach them even if the summer heat does not contribute to long walks in the fresh air.
Unlike everyone else, Port Aventura (Spain) had to be built outside of Barcelona. Why? This is explained quite simply - the city could not afford to allocate such a huge territory for an entertainment zone. Therefore, the traveler will have to spend about an hour to get to his destination.
Every year, not even thousands, but millions of tourists are attracted to Barcelona. The amusement park, for example, is visited by more than 3.5 million people every year.
Perhaps it can be safely noted that this is the largest resort in southern Europe, and by popularity and attendance it is the first park in Spain and the sixth among all theme parks in Europe.
There are two airports in the radius of Port Aventura Park, one of which is Reus International Airport, and the second is an air gate of local importance. In addition, he is connected with Barcelona and Salou by a railway station.
History of Creation and Management
Amusement park ... Spain ... Port Aventura ... Did architects and designers know how popular their brainchild would be after a few years? Most likely, they did not even guess.
Let's delve into the story. As it became known, it was designed and built by two British companies - Anheuser-Busch and Tussauds Group.
In 1995, the American corporation Universal Studios took part in the creation of the park, which in 1997 bought back the controlling part of the park. After that, the name changed a little, and it became known as Universal's PortAventura.
Later, in 2000, the Costa Caribe water park and two hotels were built here, and the park again changed its name to Universal Mediterranea.
Universal Studios NBC Universal began distributing shares of the park in 2004, and after their full sale in 2005, a controlling stake was received by La Caixa, a well-known company at that time, which returned the park to its more familiar name.
By the way, not everyone is aware that another sale of the object’s shares took place in 2013, after which they were distributed as follows: Investindustrial has 51.1%, and the KKR investment fund - 49.9%.
From its inception to today, Port Aventura, like other parks in Barcelona, has been constantly expanding and improving. At the moment, several objects are located on its territory at once:
- Port Aventura Theme Park
- Costa Caribe Water Park
- four themed hotels and a golf course.
How to get to your destination
Spain, Port Aventura Park is perhaps just the place that everyone can show the way to, so it’s impossible to get lost, even for the most inattentive travelers, and it doesn’t matter exactly how they go on a trip: by bus own car or plane.
Nevertheless, we note that in the city of Reus there is a rather large airport where the aircraft of many international airlines arrive. You can get to the park from the airport by taxi or minibus in just 15 minutes. Also nearby are air gates such as Tarragona and Barcelona.
I would like to note that, no matter how huge Port Aventura is used, its attractions are designed for tourists with different income levels. There, in principle, even on foot can be reached. If you follow from Salou a leisurely walk, the road is unlikely to take more than 20 minutes. This distance a special brightly colored and very noticeable train overcomes in 5 minutes. The way from Barcelona by rail is about an hour, from Tarragona it takes 3 minutes along with one stop along the way. The local highway AR-7 will also lead to the park.
Ticket purchase rules for visiting
Tickets can be purchased individually for each park or purchased the so-called common subscription, valid for several days. Entrance tickets to the park are divided into two main price categories. Unsurprisingly, they will cost more to adults, for children under 10 years of age and for pensioners there is a discount. It is worth paying attention to the fact that children under 3 years old are not allowed in the park.
Speaking of cost, ticket prices, as they say, bite. Especially for Russian tourists or representatives of the CIS countries. Agree, not everyone is willing to pay about 50 euros for one day of stay. Although buying a ticket for two days is more profitable, the cost in this case is unlikely to exceed 70 euros.
Sometimes it happens that the traveler is only interested in a certain part of the park, so he seeks to purchase tickets only for visiting it. It’s cheaper, for example, a day at the Costa Caribe water park will cost about 30 euros.
The official website of the park, in addition to selling tickets, offers a lot of information about promotions and discounts on tickets and accommodation in local hotels. Those who do not want to spend too much should pay attention that in this way many manage to save up to 15%.
Description of the park structure
As mentioned above, the park is divided into six ethnic zones:
- Mediterranean
- Mexico;
- China;
- Polynesia;
- Wild West;
- Sesamo Aventura.
It is possible to move between them on foot, by boat or with the help of special trains with a bright inscription “Port Aventura”. The map of the park is located almost everywhere and is a characteristic painted stand. If you wish, you can navigate at any time. In addition, each separate zone has its own cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, playgrounds for children are equipped, and according to the schedule, various entertainment shows and shows are held there.
The park has a separate area for children "Sesamo Aventura", which is decorated in the style of the fabulous Sesame Street. Today it has many small copies of extreme and simply fun attractions: carousels, roller coasters, children's free fall , etc. Near the amusement park there is a water park and many hotels designed for different material wealth.
"Mediterranean"
Immediately after entering the park, the first zone is located - the Mediterranean, which, accordingly, was designed in the style of a Mediterranean village. There are a lot of cafes with fresh pastries and Italian pizzas, exclusive souvenir shops and restaurants with a huge assortment of both local and overseas wines. That's where you can first taste the Mediterranean cuisine and Spanish snacks, after a hearty tasting of wine and finally buy souvenirs for all friends and relatives.
The park hosts Fiesta Aventura and Sesame Parade performances, and separately, like in other areas, there are many more exciting and interesting performances for Halloween and Christmas.
The highlight of this thematic zone is considered to be one of the fastest attractions in Europe, opened in 2007, “Furius Beiko”. He is in 3.5 seconds. speeds up to 135 km / h. In order to ride it, you must have a height of not less than 140 cm and not more than 195 cm. Also in the "Mediterranean" there is a pier from which boats leave for other areas of the park, and although this is a very slow way to travel, there are still a lot of tourists choose it him.
"Wild West"
Walking along this thematic zone of the park, you can feel like a true cowboy, since, according to the name, this zone is stylized as the era of the development of the Wild West. "Wild West. Port Aventura Park is a photo that always becomes a worthy decoration of a family photo album.
Once here, you should definitely visit the shooting range located inside the cowboy's saloon. There really is something to do! The attraction of the "Wild West" is considered to be the only wooden attraction train in the world moving along the wooden rails of Stampid, making breathtaking ups, downs and coups. It consists of two compounds - blue, moving very fast, and red, which travels more slowly, but along a mysterious route. People above 1.20 m tall can ride the attraction. There is also a children's copy of this attraction - Tomahawk. Minors with a height of not less than 1 m are allowed here. For the rest, the presence of adults is required.
In addition to the above, in this zone you can meet:
- regular carousel;
- Volpaiute;
- rodeo;
- wild buffalo.
Among the water, I would like to especially note the "Silver River" and "Rafting along the Grand Canyon." In this area there is a train station with trains leaving for the Mediterranean. On the territory of the "Wild West" there is a restaurant that can offer real "cowboy" dishes. The traditional performances of Roxy Salon and Wild Wild West are held here with enviable regularity.
"Mexico"
The zone "Mexico" is all saturated with the Mexican spirit, and the restaurant located here will feed everyone with dishes typical of the country. One of the newest and most popular places in the park is located on this territory - an attraction 115 meters high and 86 m free fall. It is also called very characteristic - “Flight of the Condor”. Particularly popular in this part of the park are the attractions “Mine train”, “Yucatan”, “Feathered Serpent” and “Temple of Fire”.
"China"
The style of this thematic zone is the world famous Chinatown. Most visitors are attracted by the expensive, new and very popular Shambhala attraction, which is the fastest and highest roller coaster in Europe with a height of 76 m, with a free fall of 70 m and a train speed of up to 134 km / h, which opened on 05/12/2012. Now they can ride up to 96 people at a time.
In addition to Shambhala, there is also the largest attraction in Europe - Dragon Khan, which has a length of 1269 m and makes 8 dead loops in one trip, the Tea Cups carousel, the original Fumanchu attraction and a children's area with various games for children height up to 140 cm.
In Mexico, there is also a restaurant specializing in cooking Chinese dishes: rice dishes, crepes and a variety of Chinese delicacies. Traditionally, performances for Halloween and Christmas are held, and a soap bubble show is considered a distinctive feature.
"Polynesia"
Ah, this unpredictable Spain ... Port Aventura Park will take you to a completely different world in a matter of seconds. In fact, having arrived on vacation in one country, you can visit several at once. For example, this ethnic zone is fully framed by Polynesian exotic plants. There are cafes with Polynesian cuisine and great theatrical shows.
In "Polynesia" it is recommended to ride on the water attractions "Tutuki" and "Canoe", adapted for children, the roller coaster "Tami-Tami", the water attraction "Kon-Tiki", on the underwater simulator "Sea Odyssey", and children can go to meet the small adventure on special Waikiki and Lokotiki. In this part there is a special restaurant with the atmosphere of a typical Polynesian house, where you can taste exotic fruits and salads. In addition to the ongoing performances "Paradise Birds", "Aloha Tahiti" and "Bora Bora Robes", Halloween and Christmas performances, there is also a modern 4D Sea Odisea cinema.
Where to eat in the park
In each thematic area of the park there are cafes and restaurants stylized as the zone itself. For example, “Vinosfera Tapes i Vins” is a restaurant that will provide a large selection of wines and Spanish snacks. Racó de Mar Restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes. Il caffè di Roma will gladly serve Italian pizzas, fresh buns and cakes. Bora-Bora in Polynesia will offer a huge selection of exotic salads and fruits. China has Sichuan, which specializes in rice dishes, crepes and various Chinese delicacies. In Mexico, La Hacienda is located, which prepares amazing Mexican dishes, and the Wild West with Madame Lilie's Grill restaurant will pleasantly surprise you with cowboy food.
For lovers of shopping
Throughout the park there are a lot of souvenir shops, whose products reflect the tradition and culture of a particular ethnic zone. In the "Mediterranean", in addition to the gift shop, there is a candy store. Polynesian "Mers du Sud" can please with various handicrafts and masks. Tutuki Splash usually purchases clothing and surfing accessories. There is a Lotus Palace in China that sells kimonos, reproductions of Xi'an warriors, and traditional ancient Chinese teapots. In the Mexican Tianguis, you can buy precious stones and silver items brought from Mexico. "Western Clothing" "Wild West" will offer a wide range of real cowboy jeans and shirts.
Visitors reviews
Tourists who have visited Port Aventura Park always share their emotions with enthusiasm. Many advise you to stay in the park longer than one day, since there is sorely not enough time even to go around the whole territory.
Experienced travelers insist on pre-purchase tickets. Firstly, it will be cheaper, and secondly, more reliable, otherwise on arrival it may well turn out to be too crowded inside and the limit on the number of visitors has been exhausted.
Many people liked to spend the night in hotels on the territory of the park itself. The fact is that admission to such guests at Port Aventura is free, and tickets to the water park can be purchased at 50% cheaper.