Things to do in the RGV - Aqua Planet Waterpark

For your next family weekend adventure, check out Aqua Planet Waterpark in Pharr, Texas.

This waterpark offers a kids' playground, a large pool with three water slides, and a swim-up bar. They also have private areas like a two-story deck with a pool available for rent if you're planning a celebration like a birthday or graduation party.

The pools were very clean during our visit and there were numerous attentive lifeguards on duty looking over different areas. We enjoyed the large pool area right in front of the main water slides under the canopy of one of their palapas. These palapas are available for rent for $25 and come with numerous chairs. You can move their lounge chaises available throughout the park if you need additional seats.

If you'd like to check this place out with your friends and family, here are some important tips to help you make the most of your experience:

No outdoor drinks are allowed, but visitors can bring outside food and meat to grill in their BBQ pits throughout the parks
To really enjoy your experience, consider booking a palapa so you can have shade for breaks throughout the day. You'll definitely need one of these if you plan to grill. We were lucky to get their last palapa available during our visit, so get there early or call ahead to reserve yours.
Their snack bar is cash only and has a limited selection of munchies and drinks like water, beer, and some cocktails. They also accept payments via Cash App.
Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children. Cash, debit, and credit cards accepted. We took advantage of this offer and got a free entry during our visit.

As part of our efforts to share honest and transparent reviews of our experiences, here are some of our thoughts. Some road signage to mark the park would be great. Since this was our first time visiting, we missed the entrance when we first arrived and had to do a U-turn to find it. Although during our visit Aqua Planet Waterpark didn't have their swim-up bar open, we hope this is something they will offer in the coming weeks and especially in the summer as they start hiring more staff for the season. Additionally, it would be great if waterparks like this and others in the area we have visited allowed visitors to bring their own water. With the high temperatures in the RGV, it's important to stay hydrated - especially for families with small children. In our experience with seven of us, $2.50 per water bottle every couple of hours quickly added up. We understand and completely respect that businesses need to make money, but drinking plenty of water is a necessity for health and safety with the 100+ degree temperatures we frequently get in South Texas.

Overall, we really enjoyed refreshing ourselves from the Rio Grande Valley heat by spending a day with our family at this waterpark. If you're looking for some fun in the sun without driving to South Padre Island or for something more affordable than Beach Park at Isla Blanca (formerly known as Schlitterbahn), then definitely consider adding this spot to your bucket list.

Know of a place we should visit in the Rio Grande Valley? Let us know lifeinthe956@gmail.com