Motion sickness at PortAventura Park: what's rough and how to cope

Photo: Lmbuga, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted.

Salou, Catalonia, Spain · PortAventura World · ~3.8M visitors (2024, industry estimate)

PortAventura Park runs on big iron, and the motion-sickness risk is exactly what it looks like: sustained physical force with almost no screen trickery. Shambhala is a 76 m hyper coaster, Dragon Khan stacks eight inversions, Hurakan Condor drops you from 86 m, and Furius Baco launches from 0 to 135 km/h with a vibration famous for rattling heads. Because nothing hides in a dark building or behind a 3D screen, you can size up every ride from the ground, which makes planning honest. The gentle layer is real too: SesamoAventura is a proper kids' land, Tami-Tami gives small riders their own coaster, and the Coco Piloto monorail loops slowly above it. One note for planners: Red Force and the rest of Ferrari Land are a separate gate, not part of this park.

The rides most likely to set you off

• Shambhala: 76 m hyper coaster.

• Dragon Khan: eight-inversion coaster.

• Furius Baco: 0-135 km/h launch with notorious head-rattling vibration.

• Hurakan Condor: 86 m drop tower.

Furius Baco is the one that hurts: a 0 to 135 km/h launch paired with notorious head-rattling vibration that shakes riders who handle Dragon Khan's eight inversions without a blink.

Where to reset between rides

When your stomach needs a break, head for SesamoAventura kids' area, Tami-Tami (kids coaster) or Coco Piloto monorail. Slow visuals, a fixed horizon and a seat that is not spinning give your inner ear time to settle before the next big ride.

Feeling queasy at PortAventura Park right now?

Stop the nausea

Open Dizzout, plug in any headphones, tap play. Drug-free sound therapy, and most people feel better in about 90 seconds. No pills, no drowsiness, no waiting for a tablet to kick in.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

On a computer? Dizzout installs on your phone — scan the code, or open dizzout.com/get on your phone and it'll take you straight to the right store.

Your survival plan for PortAventura Park

1. 1

   Ride Furius Baco first and fresh; its vibration is far harder to absorb once heat and fatigue set in.

2. 2

   Split Dragon Khan and Shambhala into separate sessions rather than riding them back to back.

3. 3

   On Furius Baco, press your head firmly against the restraint before the launch and keep it there.

4. 4

   Schedule Hurakan Condor before lunch rather than after it.

5. 5

   Take the Coco Piloto monorail as a slow, seated reset between intense rounds.

6. 6

   Base queasy family members in SesamoAventura, where Tami-Tami gives kids a coaster of their own.

7. 7

   Carry headphones and start a Dizzout sound therapy session at the first hint of queasiness; most people feel better in about 90 seconds.

Going with kids

SesamoAventura is a proper kids' land; note the flagship coasters run tall height minimums.

Common questions