Aquopolis Cartaya (Huelva): Water Park Entry Ticket

The park is terrible. The children's pool full of floating turds. It leaves a lot to be desired for the price it has.... Not to mention the bad information on their website. You cannot bring cans or glass. Everyone has cans and glass, they don't check the coolers or control anything. Very long waiting lines to get a tube, but mind you, if you pay more you can have a blue one all day long, and the loaner ones of course, there are very few. Anyway, the business of the century.

Let's start from the beginning: an entrance ticket costs €27 per person; there were 5 of us in total, €135 for the tickets. We arrived and it turns out that the water park in the middle of August opens at 12:30 in the morning—I think that is quite late—and closes at 7, which is quite early to close in the middle of August. When you enter, they don't let you use your own umbrellas; we went in and the whole park is full of umbrellas, but they don't let you use them—well, yes, if you pay €10 for every 4 people, but if you don't carry money... Then there is the issue of the facilities; they charge you like an entrance fee for, for example, Isla Mágica, but it falls very, very short of offering the service. The park is small, but it's not because of that; it's because of how neglected it is, not to say abandoned. There are about 4 establishments to eat, one of which was closed. The grass wasn't green; it was brown from how dry it was, it looked like straw and you would prick your feet. The 5 slides it has haven't had maintenance since '96. There is one that is closed, black and white, that you have to go down with a float; well, the park provides 4 yellow floats that belong to the park and they make some blue ones available for a fee of €10. I think it's a shame that they only make 4 floats available; long lines form if you want to enjoy that slide when they have floats, but they only want you to pay for it. I had never seen this before anywhere; it is not worth the price of admission at all, it is a poor, decadent, and dirty place. Personally, it had been many years since I had gone, but many more will pass before I return.

We went as a family to spend a Sunday in July. We chose this water park for its proximity and with the aim of bringing the family together with the children (most of whom are already between 9 and 12 years old). The facilities and attractions remain exactly the same as they were years ago (only 5 adult "slides," 2 pools, and 2 children's areas...totally ridiculous and there is no noticeable maintenance in the grass areas, walkways, bathrooms, changing rooms, etc.) The grass is prickly and there are many dry areas. The water in the pool was super hot (it rather resembled broth). This year they have also reduced the hours and days of operation (they only open from 12:30 to 19:00 in July and August). At 12:30 they literally open the door, so when you actually enter it is approximately 1 in the afternoon, and you will have to wait in a long line in the sun, unless you arrive at the door at 11 in the morning and are the first when they open. The same happens when leaving, and by 7 the water park must be evacuated, so in reality you pay for a day pass to "enjoy" only 5 hours. The only advantage is being able to bring your own food and beach chairs (except umbrellas). It is a shame that the only water park in all of Huelva is in this state of neglect. They should consider an update or they will end up closing it. In these conditions, it does not invite a return visit.