(CNN) When you think of the Caribbean, you probably think of water. The crystal clear sea of course. Luxury resort pools. And spectacular water parks. You probably don’t think of modern land-based theme parks.
But one park takes a big step outside of the usual H2O-oriented offerings in the Caribbean with a park inspired by a high-altitude, landlocked city on the other side of the world in Nepal.
Katmandu Park Punta Cana opened this week in the Dominican Republic. It is the second installment of “The Hidden Realms of Katmandu” franchise.
The DR Park is a larger sister park to the smaller Katmandu Park Mallorca, which is located on the popular Mediterranean island off the coast of Spain.
What you will do in Kathmandu
While this park is primarily focused on indoor rides that keep you dry, Katmandu isn’t about space-guzzling rollercoasters hanging out for a mile or more.
Instead, the park offers what it calls a “big experience/small footprint” concept, with compact immersive and dark rides on a smaller piece of land, which is costly in the Caribbean.
Four of the park’s major attractions, with heavy Himalayan themes, are:
Challenge of the Mad Mage is one of the great attractions in Katmandu Punta Cana.
• Challenge of the Mad Mage: This ON!X Theater attraction features a character who challenges guests to a blaster duel. The park said the ride gives each player the chance “to direct the outcome of the action and even influence the story that unfolds before them on the huge cinema-like screen.”
Electrically moving seats provide guests with sensory feedback “in the form of stinging, tickling, vibration, wind, blasts of air, water spray, odor, localized speakers in headrests, and more.”
• EtherQuest: This is an interactive walk-through attraction in which guests try to defeat a powerful enemy using various interactive props.
The park said the “guests are truly the protagonists of their own adventure.”
• Legend of the Desirata: This is a 4D dark ride attraction that “tells the story of Katmandu’s origins”.
Guests follow an explorer in “a dynamic moving vehicle”, and the attraction features multiple projection screens, lighting effects, wind effects and “stunning scenic elements”.
• Journey of the Fathom Wanderer: This is a ‘suspended theater’ attraction, where guests take part in an underwater mission to fend off a sea monster.
The park said visitors are “quickly but elegantly lifted through the air” and placed in front of a “giant, composite curved screen, which takes them into the story.” The park promises that the attraction “delivers the unique feeling of flying in a whole new way”.
What else is in store
Miniature golf fans will find a new challenge at Expedition Golf, a 36-hole course spanning a mountain setting and caves.
There is also an outdoor ropes course and something called “The Quadagon” which has four indoor climbing courses for kids and adults.
The Wheel of Infinite Wonder, a Katmandu-themed carousel with custom figures, is the centerpiece of the park’s plaza.
Get ready to spend some money for these high-tech experiences. The least expensive tickets are $85 for children and come in three package options.
Falcon’s Beyond, a global entertainment company that operates Katmandu, told CNN Travel that an adjacent shopping, dining and entertainment complex is planned to open in early 2025.
Located on the far east coast of the island, the park is just minutes from the ocean for those who still want an aquatic adventure.