Furius Baco is one of the most unusual coasters in Europe. Instead of a lift hill and a big drop, it fires a train from a standstill to 135 km/h (83.9 mph) in about 3.5 seconds, then skims low across PortAventura Park’s Mediterrània area with riders seated on the sides of the train, feet dangling.
This guide covers everything people search for around Furius Baco at PortAventura: speed, height limit, exactly where it sits in the park, how the hydraulic launch works, what the ride feels like, and how it stacks up against Red Force next door.
Quick Answer
Furius Baco is an Intamin hydraulic-launch wing coaster in the Mediterrània area of PortAventura Park in Salou, Catalonia, Spain. It opened in June 2007 and launches riders to 135 km/h (83.9 mph) in about 3.5 seconds, the fastest acceleration of any coaster in the park. It stands 46 ft (14 m) tall, runs about 850 m (2,789 ft), has one inline-twist inversion, and requires riders to be between 1.40 m and 1.95 m tall.
Furius Baco Stats at a Glance
Park: PortAventura Park (Mediterrània area), Salou, Spain. Manufacturer: Intamin, with layout design by Werner Stengel’s firm. Opened: June 2007 (sources give 5 or 7 June). Type: hydraulic-launch wing coaster. Top speed: 135 km/h (83.9 mph), reached in about 3.5 seconds at roughly 4.7 g. Height: 46 ft (14 m). Length: about 850 m (2,789 ft). Inversions: 1 (inline twist). Ride time: about 55 seconds. Trains: 3 trains, each with 6 cars; riders sit two across on each side of the train (four per row total), nothing above or below them, for a capacity of 24 riders per train. Height requirement: 1.40 m to 1.95 m (4 ft 7 in to 6 ft 5 in). Reported cost: about €15 million.
Where Is Furius Baco in PortAventura Park?
Furius Baco sits in the Mediterrània themed area of PortAventura Park, the zone built around the resort’s artificial lake. It’s grouped with other Mediterrània attractions rather than out near the Far West or Polynesia sections, so if you’re mapping a route through the park, plan to hit it alongside the rest of that lakeside area.
It’s a separate attraction from Red Force, which is next door in the adjoining Ferrari Land area of the same PortAventura World resort. The two require separate park admission depending on your ticket type, so check whether your ticket covers both PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land before you plan a day that includes both coasters.
How Fast Is Furius Baco?
Furius Baco tops out at 135 km/h, or 83.9 mph. What makes it feel faster than the number suggests is the acceleration: the train goes from stopped to full speed in about 3.5 seconds, with peak force quoted at around 4.7 g. PortAventura’s own ride page describes it as having one of the fastest accelerations of any coaster in the resort.
Because the speed comes from the launch rather than a tall drop, the train stays near ground level for the whole ride. Low tunnels, ditches and close-passing scenery amplify the sense of velocity well beyond what the top speed alone implies.
Furius Baco Height Requirement
The official limits are a minimum of 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) and a maximum of 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in). Both limits matter: shorter children are turned away, and so are very tall adults, because the wing-style restraints and side-mounted seating have a fixed fit with no adjustment range.
PortAventura also offers exclusive access arrangements for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility. Because ride rules can change, confirm current height and accessibility policy on the official Furius Baco ride page before you visit.
How the Hydraulic Launch Works
Furius Baco doesn’t use magnets or a lift chain. A catch car couples to the train and is connected by steel cables to a large winch drum. The drum is driven by hydraulic motors powered by oil stored under pressure in accumulators charged with nitrogen gas. When the launch triggers, the pressurized oil releases through valves and spins the winch, yanking the train forward in a few seconds.
The oil has to be kept cooled at a constant temperature, which is a major reason this style of launch needs serious maintenance infrastructure behind the scenes. The system was engineered by Intamin, with Werner Stengel’s firm credited for the track layout.
What the Ride Is Like
After a short dispatch sequence, the launch throws you out of the station at full force. From there the layout stays low, with tight direction changes, a tunnel section and an inline-twist inversion. The train skims close to the water of the Mediterrània lake before the ride ends, around 55 seconds after it begins.
The wing seating defines the experience: each of the six cars seats riders two across on each side of the train, with nothing above or below them. This wing-rider train design is unusual even among Intamin’s own coasters, giving Furius Baco a more exposed, open-air feel than most launch coasters. Expect an intense launch, strong lateral motion through the turns, and a persistent sensation of speed because you’re riding so close to the ground.
The theme is lighthearted: a professor’s grape-harvesting machine goes wrong when his monkey assistant pulls the wrong lever, turning it into a catapult. That fits the vineyard and wine-god (Baco, or Bacchus) setting of the area.
Is It “Furious Baco” or “Furius Baco”?
The ride’s official name is Furius Baco, not “Furious Baco,” though the misspelling is common because it reads naturally as an English word. “Furius” is a deliberate play on the Latin-sounding theming of the Mediterrània area, paired with Baco, the Spanish name for Bacchus, the Roman god of wine.
Furius Baco vs. Red Force
When Furius Baco opened in 2007 it was the fastest roller coaster in Europe. That title later passed to Red Force in Ferrari Land, part of the same PortAventura World resort, which launches considerably faster and climbs much higher. Furius Baco remains a headline attraction in its own right, and its combination of hydraulic launch, wing seating and an inline twist is hard to find anywhere else.
If you have time for both, they’re very different rides. Red Force is a tall, straight-line launch coaster built for raw speed and height. Furius Baco is low, twisty and open-sided, built around close-to-the-ground sensation rather than altitude.
Tips for Riding Furius Baco
Queues peak on summer weekends, school holidays and early afternoon. Riding at park opening or in the final hour before close generally means a shorter wait. Because the train design is unusual, lines can also move slower than expected during loading, so build in extra time if you’re planning a tight itinerary.
Secure loose items before boarding: the open wing seating means anything not strapped down (hats, glasses, phones) is more exposed to wind and the twist inversion than on an enclosed coaster. PortAventura also sells on-ride photo and video products if you want a souvenir of the launch.
Planning Your Visit
Furius Baco is inside PortAventura Park, so you need a park ticket to ride; it is not covered by a Ferrari Land-only admission. Tickets are sold on the official PortAventura World website, where pricing varies by date, number of park days, and whether you bundle in a hotel stay. Multi-day and multi-park tickets are common ways to also access Ferrari Land and Caribe Aquatic Park on the same visit.
Opening days and hours shift by season and event period, so check the park’s official calendar before you travel rather than relying on a fixed schedule. PortAventura also sells Express Pass tiers to skip standard queues, and Furius Baco is included in at least one of those tiers; check current tier inclusions on the official site since lineup and ride coverage can change season to season.
Is Furius Baco Worth Riding?
Yes, if you like sharp launches and open-air seating. It’s short, but the acceleration is memorable and the low-to-the-ground layout feels fast throughout the full 55 seconds. Riders who want big drops or long airtime will prefer taller coasters elsewhere in the park, but few rides in Europe combine launch power, wing seating and an inversion in the same package.
Soak, snap and drape. A cooling towel takes the edge off a 45-minute midday queue in July.
Park apps, mobile ordering and photos kill a battery by 3 p.m. This one snaps on magnetically, so there's no cable to snag on a restraint.
Ride with your glasses on and keep them. Many parks allow glasses on rides if they're strapped, so check the ride rules first.
Furius Baco PortAventura ride guide FAQs
How fast does Furius Baco go?
Furius Baco reaches 135 km/h (83.9 mph). Its hydraulic launch takes the train from a standstill to top speed in about 3.5 seconds, at roughly 4.7 g.
What is the height requirement for Furius Baco?
Riders must be between 1.40 m and 1.95 m tall (4 ft 7 in to 6 ft 5 in). Both the minimum and maximum are enforced because of the fixed wing-seat restraints.
Where is Furius Baco located at PortAventura?
It’s in the Mediterrània area of PortAventura Park, built around the resort’s lake. It’s a separate attraction and separate admission zone from Red Force in nearby Ferrari Land.
Is Furius Baco the fastest coaster in Europe?
It was when it opened in 2007, but that title has since passed to Red Force, also at PortAventura World, in Ferrari Land.
How long is the Furius Baco ride?
The full ride lasts about 55 seconds, including the launch, an inline-twist inversion, a tunnel section, and a close pass by the Mediterrània lake.
Is it spelled “Furius Baco” or “Furious Baco”?
The official name is Furius Baco. “Furious” is a very common misspelling since it reads as an ordinary English word, but the ride’s name plays on Latin-style theming paired with Baco, the Spanish name for Bacchus.
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