Port Aventura Salou

One hour from the city of Barcelona, in the spa and resort of Salou in Tarragona region of Catalonia in Spain, is the Port Aventura Theme Park. This park offers fun for the whole family with plenty of attractions, shows, shops and restaurants. Port Aventura opened to the general public in 1995 and since then has surprised and entertained visitors by giving them a unique experience. The park was built jointly by three companies: Alton Towers, Tussauds Group, Anheuser-Busch, Busch Gardens and Universal Studios. At that time, the park still had the name it bears today, however in 1997, Universal Studios bought more shares of the park, so it got more involved and decided to rename the park as "Universal's Port Aventura". Then in 2000, the park built two hotels and a water park, which prompted once again a name change, this time the name was "Universal Mediterranea". Four years later, NBC solde their interest in the theme park and it finally passed into the hands of the Caixa banking group, who then changed the name back to its original name of, "Port Aventura".

This major theme park has the privilege of being the largest in the south of Spain, and also has the facility to have two airports close by-just 30 minutes, and a train that leads directly to the park with the towns of Salou and Barcelona. Regarding the structure of the park, it has five distinct areas which are called PortAventura worlds. The first of the worlds is at the entrance to the park and is known as the Mediterranean.

Its attractions are not many compared to the other worlds, and its main highlight is the Furius Baco, a roller coaster opened in June 2007 and accelerating in 3 seconds from 0 to 135 km / h. The next world carries us far to the west and is named "Far West". This is the largest area in PortAventura and has major attractions.

The most well known is undoubtedly "STAMPIDA", an impressive wooden roller coaster and the second largest in the park. Then we move to Mexico and its fearsome "Hurakan Condor", a drop tower 100 meters high. In Polynesia we can breathe a little calmer, where Tutuki Splash is the best of the area. The best is saved for last in the world "China." It is here where the largest roller coaster of PortAventura, the Dragon Khan. This roller coaster had the title for many years as the largest in Europe.

Port Aventura Rides

FURIOUS BACO

Never trust a mad inventor, especially if his assistant is a monkey. In the tranquil Mediterrània, a great genius is in his lab adding the final touches to a new grape collecting machine. It all seems to be going well, but all of a sudden something happens and it all gets out of hand. Amidst the chaos, nothing can be done to prevent the cheeky monkey from creating some chaos of his own. "Don’t touch that!" says the inventor. But it is too late; the monkey has pulled the lever that will catapult you into the vineyards. Go from 0 to 135 km/h in 3 seconds on this unique attraction. Will you be able to resist the rush?
HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS Minimum height: 1,40 m

DRAGON KHAN

In ancient China there was once a Prince who tried to oust the Emperor. He was condemned by the Gods for this offence by being turned into a giant dragon who would wander the centuries. The Dragon Khan. Even today there are those who believe that the furious blood of the Prince still flows through the skeleton of the Dragon Khan. All you have to do is travel through its 8 loops and feel its fury at 110 km/h to prove it. Do you have the courage to give it a try?
HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS Minimum height: 1,40 m Maximum height: 1,95 m

HURAKAN CONDOR

The god Hurakan has unleashed his fury and demands the sacrifice of adventurers like you to calm him. There is nothing under your feet or in front of you. At any moment you will be launched into the void from 100 metres up and you can't help your stomach churning. Adrenaline starts to flow and you don't even know if you'll have time to scream before you reach the ground. Have you thought about how you're going to get out of this one?
HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS Minimum height: 1,40 m Maximum height: 1,95 m

PORTAVENTURA HALLOWEEN

Make no bones about it, Halloween brings out the devil in us all... ...whether we don creepy costumes for a party, frighten the neighbours trick or treating or just scare ourselves silly watching horror films. This year, don’t just settle for a bowl of bobbing apples and sticking a pumpkin in the window. Come and have a fang-tastic Hallo-scream at PortAventura. Every Halloween - from late September to mid November - PortAventura turns into a spook-tacular place. After dark, your worst nightmare begins. Terror lurks around every corner. Gruesome creatures hide in the shadows. And terrifying parades of monsters come out to play. Just pray they don’t come across you when you walk past the Wild West graveyards - the dead sometimes climb out in search of victims. If we could play creepy music, this would be the point where it kicks in.

And the spooky goings-on don’t just stop with the street entertainment. There are plenty of shows going bump into the night starring vampires, zombies and werewolves. Or really test your nerves with a visit to La Mina del Diablo. This abandoned mine hides all kinds of hideous occupants. Don’t hang about. And don’t look back. Just run for the train as fast as you can. Or maybe you’ll brave La Selva del Miedo. Walk through this Polynesian forest at your peril. Don’t go in alone. And don’t wander off the path. If you’ve got children with you, they’re not left out. There’s plenty of magical family fun to be had. Watch their eyes widen with delight as huge pumpkins glow on the streets. And they’ll love it when they spot their favourite animal characters dressed in Halloween costumes.

There are special shows for little ones, too. Puppet show La Leyenda de Jack el Linterna tells the legendary story of Halloween. Laberinto Blacksmith is a maze full of surprises. And there’s even a comic vampire hunter up to lots of ghoulish mischief. Oh, and when they’re ready to trick or treat, the houses are all ready with goodies for their knocks. All that adrenaline’s bound to work up an appetite, so have a bite – Dracula style - at one of the restaurants where you’ll find special Halloween menus. Remember – it’s better to go out for dinner than stick around and be dinner. So come and experience Halloween how it should be at PortAventura. You’ll remember the gh’oul times for years to come. Happy haunting…

OPENING TIMES 09/10

Port Aventura opens as a rule at 10:00am and closes after midnight in the summer season. Out of season the park usually closes at 8:00pm though the park will stay open later for special events ie:Halloween

The calendar on the right shows the days that the park is open for the rest of the 2009-2010 season.

2010-2011 season opening dates will appear here once they have been finalised.

PORTAVENTURA CHRISTMAS

Want to do something different this Christmas? Then why not treat yourself to a PortAventura Christmas.

Christmas is full of exciting things that can’t be missed. Come to PortAventura between the 22th November and the 6th January and share them with all the family. Come and see PortAventura as you have never seen it before. Covered in snow and twinkling lights. With masses of new shows and fun characters than won’t stop until they get your best smile out of you. And, of course, full of magic and unforgettable moments. A Christmas at PortAventura will never be forgotten as together we make Christmas what it is. Dates and Opening times Participate in the real Christmas at PortAventura from November 22nd to January 6th.

PORTAVENTURA AT CHRISTMAS

Opening Days* November: Saturdays and Sundays only. December: from the 6th to the 8th, 13th and 24th, and the 20th to the 31st. January: from the 1st to the 6th. Operating Hours* Opens 10:00 Closes 19:00 The park opens at 11:00 on December 25th and January 1st. *We recommend that you check the opening and closing hours during the same week as your visit. Hotels Hotel Caribe From December 29th to January 5th. Hotel PortAventura Weekends during November and December, and from December 24th to January 5th. Hotel El Paso Weekends during November and December, and from December 24th to 31st.

PORTAVENTURA TICKETS

SPECIAL OFFER KIDS GO FREE UNTIL 31st JULY 2010

PORTAVENTURA FIREWORKS

"Portaventura is a theme park". Oh no PortAventura is far far more than a theme park, it also puts on some of the most amazing firework displays that you are ever likely to see, at closing time in the summer months the skies light up and the fountains dance to the music as PortAventura displays its plume. It is worth the entrance cost just to see this display, try and get yourself in position early to give yourself the best possible view of this pyrotechnical extravaganza.