My daughter’s first vacation overseas was to the Canary Islands – with virtually assured solar, a brief flight and no time distinction, the islands are at all times tempting with a child (and older youngsters!), particularly the most important of the group, with so many issues to do in Tenerife with youngsters.
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Since then, she’s visited Lanzarote twice extra in addition to Gran Canaria, whereas I’ve been to Tenerife a number of occasions myself, exploring the inexperienced north in addition to the attractive seashores of the south.
As a result of this island is so family-friendly, there’s lots past the pool – not least these 11 issues to do in Tenerife with youngsters.
Jungle Park Tenerife (Parque Las Águilas)
Greater than 400 animals and over 100 totally different species dwell in 75,000 sq. metres of jungle at Parque Las Aguilas-Jungle Park, together with two uncommon white lions – but in addition lemurs, penguins, unique birds, monkeys and extra.
You may as well uncover Tenerife’s uncommon natural world as you discover the animal park, and watch the fowl of prey present, with falcons, vultures and eagles flying free within the park, one in all a number of exhibits going down in the course of the day.
Plus there are some enjoyable jungle play areas for youths to find, with rope bridges and tunnels alongside a 300m path.
It’s straightforward to get to when you’re staying in one of many most important vacationer areas, not removed from Los Cristianos seaside, with a free bus working by way of Costa Adeje, Playa de Las Américas and Los Cristianos.
Monkey Park (Tenerife Zoo)
Stroll among the many animals, feeding monkeys, lemurs and parrots at Monkey Park, the smallest zoo on this planet – though don’t anticipate to whizz round, you’ll need to take your time amongst all of the furry inhabitants.
No bananas allowed on this breeding centre for endangered primates – you’re requested to not convey your personal meals, however you’ll be the centre of consideration when you decide up a few of the meals offered at reception.
Whereas the main target is firmly on conservation and defending the animals, you may stroll by way of the enclosures as a part of the expertise – the subsequent neatest thing to being with them of their pure habitat.
Loro Parque
One other award-winning spot, voted the number one zoo in Europe, Loro Parque has additionally picked up awards for for its safety, conservation and training programmes, with over 350 species of parrot alone, in addition to an aquarium, new lion habitat and exhibits all through the day.
Planet Penguin has its personal iceberg and over 200 penguins, whereas there’s additionally an aquarium with shark tunnel, in addition to a household of gorillas.
Extra controversially, there are common exhibits that includes orcas at Loro Parque, a few of which have been rescued and are unable to be returned to the wild.
Together with the animals, there’s a youngsters’ play space known as Kinderlandia – designed to seem like an African village among the many palm timber, with hanging bridges and snake slide among the many points of interest.
There’s a free practice from Puerto de la Cruz, in addition to buses from Los Gigantes and Costa Adeje, amongst different places within the south of Tenerife, or you may as well purchase tickets together with transportation.
If you wish to discover independently, it’s straightforward to rent a automotive in Tenerife – Zest Automobile Rental is my go-to for automotive rent, with places together with the airport and Costa Adeje, or Uncover Automobiles is an efficient various to check charges
Submarine Safari
When you’d fairly spot marine life within the wild, how about boarding an actual submarine? These submarine excursions from Submarine Safaris are appropriate for youths aged over two, so that you’ll get near the fish with out getting moist as you head 30m down into the Atlantic.
Departing from Amarilla Marina (Marina San Miguel), you may see octopus and sting rays, in addition to barracuda and parrot fish in the course of the hour-long dives, plus shipwrecks alongside the best way.
In the course of the tour, the submarine will truly sit on the ocean mattress with divers encouraging the fish nearer to your yellow submarine, so you will get some nice views of the ocean life down there, plus a dive certificates to take house with you.
Whale recognizing
The Canary Island are famend as the most effective locations in Europe to go whale watching, so when you want to remain above water, you may spy a few of the numerous whales and dolphins which make their house within the waters of the Atlantic Ocean – bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales are a few of the most typical, however you may as well spot Sperm Whales, Sei Whales, and False Killer Whales.
There’s an ideal selection of boat journeys together with choices to go well with younger kids, principally departing from Puerto Colon – attempt the shorter catamaran journeys for littler whale watchers, as a part of the large selection of licensed boats.
This two-hour cruise has huge underwater home windows so you will get a glimpse of them swimming in addition to leaping.
Or this two-hour whale-watching tour ensures a sighting otherwise you get one other ticket free – appropriate for all ages, plus you may anticipate to listen to about big squid on this boat journey in addition to a great probability of seeing pilot whales.
This three-hour whale and dolphin-watching boat tour consists of the possibility to swim and snorkel, with an opportunity of recognizing sea turtles as nicely, whereas this three-hour cruise consists of lunch and pick-up from Costa Adeje in addition to a dip and snorkel time.
Take a Viking boat journey
In addition to whale-watching and normal sightseeing boat journeys in Tenerife, youngsters will love the possibility to set sail on a Viking boat throughout their vacation.
There’s a selection of two totally different journeys departing from Los Cristianos harbour – a two-hour Viking boat cruise aboard Ragnarok, in addition to a three-hour Viking ship cruise with drinks (and meals out there to buy on board).
There’s an opportunity you’ll spot dolphins and whales on each journeys, whereas Vikings will chat to you about life as a warrior and present you some conventional Viking tools in between. On the longer tour, there’s additionally an opportunity to swim and snorkel as nicely.
Siam Park
Siam Park has repeatedly topped the listing of the world’s greatest water parks, and there’s one thing for the entire household to get pleasure from on a day trip – a Lazy River and beach-side pool if you wish to relax, plus adrenaline-thrill water slides and rides when you don’t.
Take a look at my ideas for getting essentially the most out of your day at Siam Park with youngsters or purchase skip-the-line tickets right here to find the world’s greatest water park for your self
When you’re visiting with youthful youngsters, there’s a kids’s space with child pool, The Misplaced Metropolis, which is sort of a waterpark inside a waterpark, in addition to Coco Seashore with its wave pool – the waves are mild and there’s a white sand seaside to loosen up on for some household pleasant enjoyable.
For older thrill-seekers, the vertical drop Tower of Energy is 28m excessive – you’ll shoot down at as much as 50mph and zoom by way of a tank of rays and sharks.
Or the Sawasdee kids’s space has its personal water slides, together with a mini model of The Dragon, one of many water park’s standard points of interest, plus a toddler space.
Aqualand Costa Adeje
The island’s second best-known water park, Aqualand is an efficient possibility when you have youthful youngsters.
The queues are sometimes shorter and there’s nonetheless loads of selection for little ones who is perhaps below a few of Siam Park’s peak restrictions, together with the lazy river and the smaller slides of the children pool, in addition to some areas with heated water.
You may as well uncover Pirates Port and Journey Land with extra water enjoyable that’s nice when you’re past the preschool years, and Mega Journey Land, new just a few years in the past, with just a few extra thrills geared toward youthful youngsters.
It’s value realizing there’s additionally a dolphin present right here – whereas it’s an added attraction for some households, others will want to keep away from wherever with dolphins in captivity.
We additionally visited Aqualand in Gran Canaria for a have a look at what you may anticipate when you’re visiting the water park with youngsters
Go to a black sand seaside
Who might think about not hitting the seaside when you’re visiting Tenerife with youngsters? However sitting on the pure black sand seashores is much more memorable than on a regular basis gold, with the color a legacy of the island’s volcanic previous, a few of it eroded over centuries from lava flows and volcanic rock.
Do keep in mind that black sand may be hotter than golden, when you’re visiting with youthful youngsters.
Playa Jardin within the north, close to Puerto de la Cruz, is likely one of the greatest in Tenerife for households, and simple to mix with a go to to Loro Parque – formally it’s divided into Playa del Castillo, Playa Chica and Playa Maria Jiménez.
Within the south and west, Playa de los Guios close to Los Gigantes (also called Playa de los Gigantes) sits below some dramatic cliffs, with shallow waters (though there may be sturdy currents when you enterprise additional out).
Close by Blue Flag seaside Playa de la Area (to not be confused with Playa de las Arenas on the east coat close to Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is one other beautiful possibility.
Extra of one of the best seashores in Tenerife with youngsters
If you’d like some extra conventional golden sand, that’s not exhausting to search out in Tenerife both, with some nice seashores to get pleasure from on a household vacation – even when the sand itself has been imported from the Sahara.
When you’re exploring the north of the island, Playa de las Teresitas, not removed from Santa Cruz de Tenerife has some attractive nice, golden sand and calm waters due to the breakwater. There’s even a bouncy fort within the sea.
Or Playa Las Vistas, close to Los Cristianos within the south of Tenerife, has its personal calm waters and loads of services – there are showers in addition to sunbeds, lifeguards and water sports activities to get pleasure from.
The Blue Flag Playa Fanabe is one other good possibility when you’re on the lookout for loads of services and enjoyable actions. This beautiful seaside at Costa Adeje within the south of the island has altering rooms in addition to nice sand and calm waters, and a promenade hyperlinks it to a different of one of the best household seashores, known as Torviscas if you wish to seaside hop.
There’s an enormous selection although, so wherever you’re staying you’ll discover lovely seashores close by to benefit from the island’s heat temperatures – no must journey mile to search out the proper seaside!
Mount Teide Nationwide Park
Exploring the height of the world’s third largest volcano, Mount Teide, is an unmissable expertise. Take the Mount Teide cable automotive, or Teleferico de Teide, for the ultimate stretch to three,555m for fabulous views out to La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera.
When you can hike up, it’s a really difficult one even with older kids – that is the best peak in Spain in any case, so not best for anybody planning stress-free household holidays.
There’s a enjoyable new exhibition giving some historical past and background on the Unesco World Heritage web site: Teide Legend shares a few of the myths in addition to how Spain’s highest mountain was created.
You’ll be able to discover independently, e book a tour alongside along with your entrance ticket, in addition to a day journey guided tour when you don’t need to drive to the volcano your self – don’t overlook to decorate for mountain climate when you’re away from the seaside! When you do need to go to the best level, you’ll want to apply for a allow prematurely.
A go to can be unbelievable for astronomers of all sizes, with day journeys to the observatory plus sundown and stargazing excursions for older youngsters.
When you can’t get sufficient of volcanoes, the island can be house to the second highest mountain in Spain, Pico Viejo, round 3,135m above sea degree, a part of the Teide volcano complicated
Anaga Rural Park
Mount Teide isn’t the one good spot to get open air in Tenerife with youngsters. When you fancy heading off the crushed monitor, away from the massive vacationer resorts, this actually is likely one of the loveliest and most dramatic locations on the island.
The mountains listed below are coated with laurel timber, and one of many best locations to discover them is the Vueltas de Taganana pathway, however there are strolling tales galore by way of the slopes and valleys together with a number of others ranging from the customer centre at Cruz del Carmen.
It’s one of many oldest elements of Tenerife, fashioned tens of millions of years in the past earlier than the island’s authentic inhabitants, the Guanches, lived right here.
You may as well discover a few of the little villages, together with historic Taganana, San Andres and Igueste de San Andres, to step again in time and get a sense of what life was like on the island within the days earlier than tourism.
The entire space is a Unesco World Heritage Biosphere Reserve and solely round an hour from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the place you may as well see the most effective preserved Guanche mummies – the Mummy of San Andres – within the Museum of Nature and Man (Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre).
Forestal Park Journey Park
If a stroll within the timber doesn’t reduce it to your youngsters, there’s extra of an journey to be discovered at Forestal Park Tenerife, within the pine forests of Las Lagunetas within the coronary heart of the island.
With greater than 90 tree high actions, together with excessive altitude trails and zip strains, a climbing wall, rope bridges and much extra, there are totally different circuits appropriate for various ages and health ranges.
Not appropriate for youths aged below 5, the minimal peak is 1.1m, with kids below 11 needing to be supervised at altitude on all of the circuits. Kids aged 11-12 can climb alone on the straightforward and medium circuits (inexperienced and blue), supervised by an grownup on the bottom when you don’t fancy becoming a member of in.
Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park
There’s one other probability to study extra about Tenerife’s historical past with a go to to the Pirámides de Güímar Ethnographic Park and Botanical Backyard, an open-air museum in Santa Cruz de Tenerife that’s house to 6 stepped pyramids.
All constructed to mark the course of the solstices, no-one fairly is aware of why the pyramids of Guimar had been constructed – though there are many theories!
There are additionally routes which may also take you thru the unusual lava rock formations and the museum’s botanical gardens (one in all 5 on the island), plus an opportunity to study extra about different indigenous cultures from world wide.
The park even has its personal poison backyard, with a few of the most harmful vegetation on the planet amongst its 70 toxic plant species – not one for toddlers!
Museum of Science and the Cosmos
Theme park meets museum at this child-friendly spot, with loads of possibilities to get palms on on the Museum of Science and the Cosmos. The truth is, it’s not a lot a museum as a succession of museums, with exhibitions on the earth, solar and the universe in addition to a planetarium and loads of interactive reveals for youths of all ages.
Contact a meteorite, uncover optical illusions, tackle a string of challenges or uncover extra about black holes, when you’re there – there’s even a mannequin of the Mount Teide observatory.
The museum in San Cristóbal de La Laguna can be value taking into consideration when you’re visiting Tenerife with youngsters in the course of the winter: the islands are well-known for his or her year-round solar however it’s nonetheless attainable to come across the occasional wet day in Tenerife so that is the proper place if the climate’s unhealthy.
Mild Park Tenerife
When you’re on the lookout for theme parks on Tenerife, that is about as shut as you will get (apart from water parks and animal parks) – no rides, however there are over 800 themed mild installations at Mild Park Tenerife.
Head there for sundown or early night and stroll by way of dazzling mild shows like a 40m dragon and flamingo gardens, see silk lantern sculptures and study extra about Chinese language legends alongside the best way.
Based mostly close to Fanabe and Adeje, lower than 10 minutes by automotive from Playa de las Americas, there’s additionally a restaurant with performers within the evenings.
Botanical Gardens, Puerto de la Cruz
Based in 1788 on the orders of Carlos III, the Jardin Botanico is a relaxed and shady spot that’s good to discover with youngsters when you’re visiting Puerto de la Cruz, within the north of the island.
With older youngsters, you may uncover a few of the collections of tropical and subtropical plans, in addition to the backyard devoted to flowers and vegetation from the Canary Islands. Or just spot lizards, picnic below the shady timber or simply wander the plush shady plant-lined paths of the botanical backyard.
For extra concepts, try my information to the Canary Islands with youngsters
*first printed 2018, up to date 2023*
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Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions on one of the best issues to do in Tenerife with youngsters are my very own.
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