ULUM: El despertar jurásico

Shortly before opening, PortAventura released the first clear look at Expedición Ulum: El Despertar Jurásico. The mixed-reality walkthrough places guests inside a research expedition around underground water wells, where they search for traces of extinct aquatic animals. The story then turns into encounters with prehistoric creatures, projected into the real environment through special glasses.

The article made the practical setup much clearer. Groups of up to six guests can walk freely, still see one another and interact with digital elements. The experience lasts twelve to fifteen minutes, is recommended from age 6 and is located in the Mexican themed area behind El Secreto de los Mayas. PortAventura described it as the first family-friendly mixed-reality experience in a theme park.

For visitors, the accessibility details mattered as much as the technology. ULUM would be available in Spanish, Catalan, English and French, and the resort said it would also be accessible to guests with physical disabilities. The opening date was set for Wednesday 26 November. During the Christmas season, reservations could be made free of charge through the official app, although PortAventura might later choose a paid model.

In September 2025, PortAventura took another step in its mixed-reality strategy. After Hysteria in Boothill and the headset version of El Diablo, the resort announced a standalone walkthrough: Expedición Ulum: El Despertar Jurásico, planned for the Mexican themed area behind El Secreto de los Mayas. That made the project more than another digital layer on an existing ride; it gave Adventure Labs a new attraction with its own location.

The announcement showed how PortAventura wanted to use mixed reality beyond add-ons. Guests would still move through a real physical environment, while headsets placed digital elements into that world. At IAAPA Expo Europe in Barcelona, Adventure Labs gave visitors an early preview with an aquarium scene featuring a giant dinosaur.

For theme park fans, the news stood out because ULUM was presented as a paid experience scheduled to open in November, with a new building being created for it. The project pushed PortAventura’s technology experiments closer to permanent park infrastructure, using a Jurassic theme as an accessible hook for a family-oriented digital adventure.