Parque de Diversiones

Parque de Diversiones, formally known as El Parque Diversiones Dr. Roberto Ortiz Brenes, is an amusement park in San José, Costa Rica. It is also commonly referred to as Parque Diversiones or simply Parque. The park combines a conventional leisure offering of rides, games, themed areas, and family attractions with a social-purpose mission: its profits are intended to support the Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera National Children's Hospital in San José, commonly known as the Hospital Nacional de Niños. This purpose is expressed through the park's motto, “healthy children help sick children.” The park's origins are associated with Dr. Roberto Ortiz Brenes, whose proposal for an amusement park led to its creation. The project was conceived as a way to provide recreation while generating resources for pediatric healthcare. The hospital it supports was established in 1964, and the park began operating at the end of 1981. It was subsequently named for Ortiz Brenes in recognition of his role in proposing the project. Parque de Diversiones serves the Costa Rican domestic leisure market, with a broad audience that includes children, teenagers, adults, and families. Its attraction portfolio has included steel roller coasters, water coasters, thrill rides, children's rides, family transportation, arcade games, and a Ferris wheel. A children's area known as Plaza Tío Conejo provides a themed setting for younger visitors. The park's offering has changed over time as individual attractions have opened, been replaced, closed, or removed. Notable roller coasters listed in references include Ghibli, a children's coaster introduced in 1984; Ciclón, which opened in 1987 and was removed in 2006; Teletren, a children's coaster associated with 2002; Bocaraca, a Vekoma Whirlwind-model coaster completed in 2005; Bumeran, a Vekoma Boomerang coaster introduced in 2012; and Torbellino, a Zamperla Wild Mouse coaster associated with 2018. The park has also featured water attractions called Splash Caribe, Reventazón, and Pacuare. Other named rides include Disko, Skymaster, Torre, Tornado, Conchas Locas, adult bumper cars, and the Rueda de Chicago Ferris wheel. The Pulpo attraction is identified as having closed in 2018. Beyond individual rides, the brand is defined by the combination of entertainment, local accessibility, and charitable purpose. Rather than operating solely as a commercial theme-park destination, Parque de Diversiones presents admission and visitor spending as part of a wider public-benefit model tied to children's medical care. The available reference material does not identify a separate parent company, a listed corporate structure, current executives, ownership details, annual attendance figures, or financial results. The park's official website remains the primary public-facing source for current visitor information and operations.

Parque de Diversiones was established in San José, Costa Rica, as an amusement project linked to pediatric healthcare. Its creation is credited to Dr. Roberto Ortiz Brenes, whose proposal envisioned a park that could provide recreation while directing profits toward the Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera National Children's Hospital, also known as the Hospital Nacional de Niños. The hospital had been established in 1964, providing the institutional beneficiary for the park's social mission. The amusement park began operating at the end of 1981. From the outset, its identity was different from that of a purely commercial rides venue. Its stated motto, “healthy children help sick children,” summarizes the relationship between the park's family-oriented entertainment and its support for children's medical services. The park was named for Dr. Ortiz Brenes in recognition of his role in originating the concept. Over the following decades, Parque de Diversiones expanded and refreshed its attraction portfolio. Early attractions included Ghibli, a children's roller coaster associated with 1984, and Ciclón, which opened in 1987. Ciclón was later closed and removed in 2006. The site subsequently added or identified newer attractions, including Teletren in 2002 and Bocaraca in 2005. Ciclón's replacement was Disko, which was introduced in 2007. The park continued to add larger or more distinctive coaster experiences. Bumeran, a Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster, was introduced in 2012. Torbellino, described as a Zamperla Wild Mouse coaster, followed in 2018. The reference material also identifies three water coasters or water attractions—Splash Caribe, Reventazón, and Pacuare—alongside a collection of flat rides and family attractions. Its wider attraction mix has included Disko, Skymaster, Torre, Tornado, Conchas Locas, adult bumper cars, and the Rueda de Chicago Ferris wheel. Family-oriented facilities include Electrónicos, an arcade area, and Tren Pachuco, a train that travels around the park. Younger visitors are especially associated with Plaza Tío Conejo, a themed children's zone. Some attractions have not remained in operation; Pulpo is recorded as having closed in 2018. The available sources describe Parque de Diversiones primarily through its location, mission, and attractions. They do not provide a detailed corporate history, ownership chronology, executive roster, financial statements, attendance data, or a complete account of every attraction change. Accordingly, the park's documented history is best understood as the development of a Costa Rican amusement destination whose ride portfolio has evolved while its central charitable purpose has remained part of its public identity.

• 2018

  Torbellino added and Pulpo closed

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Torbellino, described as a Zamperla Wild Mouse coaster, was associated with 2018, while the Pulpo attraction is recorded as having closed that year.

• 2012

  Bumeran introduced

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Bumeran, a Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster, joined the park's attraction lineup.

• 2007

  Disko replaces Ciclón

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Disko was introduced as the replacement for the removed Ciclón coaster.

• 2006

  Ciclón removed

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Ciclón was closed and removed from the park.

• 2005

  Bocaraca completed

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Bocaraca, a Vekoma Whirlwind-model coaster, was completed.

• 2002

  Teletren added

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Teletren, a children's coaster, was introduced.

• 1987

  Ciclón opens

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  The Ciclón roller coaster opened and operated until it was later closed and removed.

• 1984

  Ghibli children's coaster

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Ghibli, a children's roller coaster, was introduced as part of the park's early attraction portfolio.

• 1981

  Park begins operating

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  Parque de Diversiones began operating in San José at the end of 1981.

• 1964

  National children's hospital established

  [1]Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org

  The Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera National Children's Hospital was established in San José and later became the beneficiary associated with Parque de Diversiones.

A Costa Rican family amusement destination with a charitable healthcare mission supporting the national children's hospital.

• Coasters

  Roller coasters

  The park's coaster portfolio has included attractions for different age groups and intensity levels, including the children's rides Ghibli and Teletren, Bocaraca, the former Ciclón, Bumeran, and Torbellino. The lineup has changed through additions, closures, and replacements over time.

• Water rides

  Water attractions

  Parque de Diversiones has featured three named water attractions: Splash Caribe, Reventazón, and Pacuare. These rides broaden the park's offering beyond steel coasters and provide water-based experiences within its amusement-park format.

• Family entertainment

  Family and children's attractions

  Family-oriented offerings include Tren Pachuco, a train that circles the park, Electrónicos, an arcade area, and Plaza Tío Conejo, a themed zone aimed particularly at younger visitors. These attractions complement the park's larger rides and support its family positioning.

• Amusement rides

  Flat rides and viewpoints

  The documented flat-ride portfolio includes Disko, Skymaster, Torre, Tornado, Conchas Locas, adult bumper cars, and the Rueda de Chicago Ferris wheel. The Pulpo ride is separately recorded as closed in 2018.

• 2018

  Torbellino introducedProduct launch

  Background

  The park continued to update its ride mix while some older attractions were retired.

  Action taken

  Torbellino, described as a Zamperla Wild Mouse roller coaster, was associated with the 2018 attraction lineup.

  Aftermath

  The same year, the Pulpo attraction was recorded as closed.

  Source

• 2012

  Bumeran roller coaster launchProduct launch

  Background

  The park continued expanding its collection of major rides after earlier coaster additions and replacements.

  Action taken

  Bumeran, a Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster, was introduced.

  Aftermath

  Bumeran became one of the park's documented headline coaster attractions.

  Source

• 2007

  Disko replaces CiclónGeneration change

  Background

  The Ciclón roller coaster had been closed and removed in 2006, creating space for a replacement attraction.

  Action taken

  Disko was introduced in 2007 as the replacement for Ciclón.

  Aftermath

  The change formed part of the park's continuing rotation and renewal of major attractions.

  Source

1. 1Parque Diversionesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Parque de Diversiones websiteparquediversiones.com