The leading Spanish theme park resort PortAventura is to spend €10 million expanding its Costa Caribe waterpark, including a record-breaking waterslide and a Sesame Street-themed pirate ship.
The project is part of a €75 million ($100m) investment plan for the wider resort approved in November by owner Investindustrial, which has identified waterpark facilities as key to foreign (mainly English and Russian) tourists choosing PortAventura as a holiday destination. As such, an additional 14,000 square metres will be added, taking the total area of Costa Caribe to 50,000 sq m.
Opened in 2002, the waterpark – or ”Aquatic Park” – functions as a second gate to the main PortAventura theme park, as well as a significant driver of business for the resort’s four on-site hotels.
The park will reopen this May with new attractions including the following:
12-storey Toboggan
Billed as the highest freefall waterslide in Europe, this 31m-tall attraction will feature a 55º drop and is sure to be a with adventurous Aquatic Park guests, who will reach speeds of up to 6 meters per second as they hurtle towards the water below.
Multi-bump slide
A second slide next to the 12-storey Toboggan will offer a more moderate but equally fun experience thanks to its double slope configuration. Standing almost 20m-tall, it will be more than 100m long.
Competition slide
This mat-racer slide will feature six bumpy lanes, on which both children and adults cam compete to reach the bottom.
Children’s Pool
Following the success of SésamoAventura, PortAventura is to introduce the Sesame Street characters into its Aquatic Park for the first time, where they will feature on a pirate ship just for the little ones. Four small slides will run out from the ship into a shallow depth children’s pool. Close-by a splash pad and small play are will offer various interactive water features.
Tropical adult pool
Connected to the children’s pool, this larger pool will feature a waterfall and other effects to reinforce the Caribbean theme.
Fresh theming
Detailed theming including more than 50 species of plants and palms will create an authentic Caribbean vibe, providing a space that is as relaxing as it is adventurous. A new snack bar is also planned.
http://www.portaventura.es/aquatic-park
