ToroVerde Offers Culture and Thrills With 2 Puerto Rico Parks

Families looking to inject their Caribbean vacation with a healthy balance of culture and excitement may want to take a fresh look at Puerto Rico, where a company called ToroVerde recently debuted a science and culture park that serves as an ideal complement to its popular adventure park. 

During my recent trip to Puerto Rico, I visited both attractions: Parque de las Ciencias (Park of the Sciences), a science and culture park that opened in September in the city of Bayamon, and ToroVerde, an expansive adventure park that offers ziplines and other fast-paced, nature-based activities in the mountain town of Orocovis. 

Together, these parks offer myriad activities for adults and children looking to explore beyond the beach in Puerto Rico. Here are highlights of what to expect. 

Parque de las Ciencias: The Return of an Old Favorite

I’m married to a Puerto Rican man and have spent lots of time on the island, so I’ve always heard locals talk about childhood visits to Parque de las Ciencias, which first opened in the 1980s and was a popular destination for school groups. After a seven-year closure and an ambitious, $20 million investment, the park reopened in September with 25 attractions focused on everything from outer space to Puerto Rican history. 

RELATED: Parque de las Ciencias Reopens in Puerto Rico After $20 Million Upgrade

During my visit, I got a peek at nearly all the features in the park, which is divided into areas called planetas (planets) and includes outdoor gardens and plazas as well as multiple buildings, each of which hosts exhibits and activities centered around specific themes. 

I was especially impressed by sites including the Instituto Aeroespacial (Aerospace Institute), which showcases the contributions of Puerto Ricans in NASA and space exploration. The institute also has a virtual reality platform that allows visitors to experience the sensation of flying.    

Science and nature fans will also find lots to like at the Planet of Biodiversity, which has a reptile terrarium and a children’s activity program. Another of my favorite attractions was the Taino Museum, located in the Archaeological Planet section. It focuses on the history of the Indigenous Taino people who once populated the island, with exhibits of artifacts and interactive videos.  

I also enjoyed the culinary experiences at the park — especially at El Yunque, a restaurant named after Puerto Rico’s rainforest that’s set in a former planetarium. The ambience is just as exciting as the cuisine at this attractive venue, thanks to the spectacular visuals screened on the dome above the main dining room. 

Additional food and beverage options include Hacienda Angelina, which exudes a vintage vibe and is located in Ciudad Torito, a recreation of a traditional Puerto Rican village. The best place to satisfy a sweet tooth, however, is the Sugar Lab, which serves ice cream and other treats.

Depending on the timing of a traveler’s plans to visit Puerto Rico, it may be worth checking out the calendar of seasonal events at Parque de las Ciencias. For this year’s end-of-year holiday season, for example, the park is hosting a Chinese lantern exhibition with thousands of lights. 

General admission to the park costs $25. It’s easiest to arrive by car and best to avoid peak rush hour traffic. 

Sky-High Thrills at ToroVerde Adventure Park

While Parque de las Ciencias is designed to enrich the mind, ToroVerde is the place to thrill the soul. 

I must preface my report on this attraction with a confession: I’m not much of a thrill-seeker, so I didn’t participate in the main activities. I was, nevertheless, impressed with the attraction’s natural beauty. And I can still provide almost-firsthand praise for the fast-paced aerial activities, since my traveling companions — who are much braver than I — enjoyed the experiences immensely and heartily recommend them. 

Located in the picturesque, verdant hills of Puerto Rico’s interior, ToroVerde is billed as the largest adventure park in the Caribbean and is home to the longest zipline in the Americas: the 1.57-mile El Monstruo (The Monster), which sends visitors at speeds of up to 95 miles per hour, in horizontal position, through the air. 

For those seeking a slightly calmer experience, the park offers seven additional ziplines, which can be traversed during an approximately 2.5-hour tour. There’s also The Beast, which, like The Monster, involves horizontal flying, and Toro Bikes, which allow visitors to pedal their way along more than 1,000 feet over the lush scenery (it holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s longest cable bike circuit).  

Family members who aren’t as daring will still find things to enjoy at ToroVerde. As my friends were taking in a bird’s-eye view of the scenery, for example, I explored the expansive property on a golf cart, stopping at several scenic sites that were great for photos. There’s also a large gift shop and a restaurant — so I can vouch for the fact that it’s a family-friendly place, regardless of how adventurous some family members might be. 

The cost of visiting ToroVerde varies based on activities chosen; prices range from $9.99 for the 39-foot-high Toro Jump to $104.99 for The Monster.