My daughter’s first vacation overseas was to the Canary Islands – with nearly assured solar, a comparatively quick 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 and Fuerteventura, whereas I’ve been to Tenerife a number of instances myself, exploring the inexperienced north in addition to the beautiful seashores of the south.
As a result of this island is so family-friendly, there’s lots past the pool – not least these 18 nice issues to do in Tenerife with youngsters.
Jungle Park Tenerife (Parque Las Águilas)
Greater than 400 animals and over 100 totally different species reside 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 also uncover Tenerife’s uncommon wildlife as you discover the animal park, and watch the chook of prey present, with falcons, vultures and eagles flying free within the park, one in all a number of reveals going down in the course of the day.
Plus there are some enjoyable jungle play areas for youths to find on the Jungle Park Zoo, with rope bridges and tunnels alongside a 300m path.
It’s simple to get to should you’re staying in one of many principal vacationer areas, not removed from Playa de Los Cristianos, 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 the earth – though don’t count on to whizz round, you’ll wish 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 deliver your individual meals, however you’ll be the centre of consideration should you decide up a number of the meals offered at reception.
Whereas the main focus is firmly on conservation and defending the animals, you may stroll by way of the enclosures as a part of the expertise – the following 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 reveals all through the day.
Planet Penguin has its personal iceberg and over 200 penguins, whereas there’s additionally an aquarium with a mixture of sea life and shark tunnel, in addition to a household of gorillas.
Extra controversially, there are common reveals 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 appear to be an African village among the many palm timber, with hanging bridges and snake slide among the many sights.
There’s a free prepare 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 also purchase tickets together with transportation.
If you wish to discover independently, it’s simple to rent a automobile in Tenerife – Zest Automobile Rental is my go-to for automobile rent, with places together with the airport and Costa Adeje, or Uncover Vehicles is an effective different to check charges
Submarine Safari
When you’d relatively 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 would 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.
Through the tour, the submarine will really sit on the ocean mattress with divers encouraging the fish nearer to your yellow submarine, so you will get some nice views of the underwater world down there, plus a dive certificates to take dwelling with you.
When you’ve acquired youngsters aged 8+, you would even select to stroll on the ocean ground close to Los Cristianos, on a Sea Trek expertise carrying a particular helmet
Whale recognizing
The Canary Island are famend as the most effective locations in Europe to go whale watching, so should you desire to remain above water, you would spy a number of the numerous whales and dolphins which make their dwelling within the waters of the Atlantic Ocean – bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales are a number of the most typical, however you may also spot Sperm Whales, Sei Whales, and False Killer Whales.
There’s an important selection of boat journeys together with choices to go well with younger youngsters, largely departing from Puerto Colon – attempt the shorter catamaran journeys for littler whale watchers, as a part of the vast 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 count on to listen to about big squid on this boat journey in addition to a great likelihood of seeing pilot whales.
This three-hour whale and dolphin-watching boat tour consists of the prospect to swim and snorkel, with an opportunity of recognizing sea turtles as properly, 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 prospect 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 properly.
Siam Park
Siam Park has repeatedly topped the checklist of the world’s finest water parks, and there’s one thing for the entire household to take pleasure in on a time out – a Lazy River and beach-side pool if you wish to relax, plus adrenaline-thrill water slides and rides should you don’t.
Try my suggestions 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 finest water park for your self
When you’re visiting with youthful youngsters, there’s a youngsters’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 light and there’s a white sand seashore 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 youngsters’s space has its personal water slides, together with a mini model of The Dragon, one of many water park’s well-liked sights, plus a toddler space.
Aqualand Costa Adeje
The second best-known water park in Tenerife, Aqualand is an effective possibility in case you have youthful youngsters.
The queues are sometimes shorter and there’s nonetheless loads of selection for little ones who could be beneath a few of Siam Park’s top restrictions, together with the lazy river and the smaller slides of the youngsters pool, in addition to some areas with heated water.
You may also 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 a number of years in the past, with a number of extra thrills geared toward youthful youngsters.
It’s price figuring out there may be additionally a dolphin present right here – whereas it’s an added attraction for some households, others will desire to keep away from anyplace with dolphins in captivity.
We additionally visited Aqualand in Gran Canaria for a take a look at what you may count on should you’re visiting the water park with youngsters
Go to a black sand seashore
Who may think about not hitting the seashore 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, should you’re visiting with youthful youngsters.
Playa Jardin on the northern coast, close to Puerto de la Cruz, is among the finest in Tenerife for households, and straightforward 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 referred to as Playa de los Gigantes) sits beneath some dramatic cliffs, with shallow waters (though there may be sturdy currents should you enterprise additional out).
Close by Blue Flag seashore Playa de la Enviornment (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 the very best seashores in Tenerife with youngsters
If you need some extra conventional golden sand, that’s not arduous to search out in Tenerife both, with some nice seashores to take pleasure in on a household vacation – even when the sand itself has been imported from the Sahara Desert.
When you’re exploring the north of the island, Playa de las Teresitas, not removed from Santa Cruz de Tenerife has some beautiful 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 seashore 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 take pleasure in.
The Blue Flag Playa Fanabe is one other good possibility should you’re in search of loads of services and enjoyable actions.
This beautiful seashore 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 the very best household seashores, known as Torviscas if you wish to seashore hop. Or not far-off, Playa del Duque is a Blue Flag seashore with a extra refined vibe, nice for teenagers.
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 have to journey miles to search out the right seashore!
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 automobile, or Teleferico de Teide, for the ultimate stretch to three,555m for fabulous views out to La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera.
Whilst you can hike up, it’s a really difficult one even with older youngsters – that is the best peak in Spain in spite of everything, so not splendid for anybody planning enjoyable household holidays.
There’s a enjoyable new exhibition giving some historical past and background on the Unesco World Heritage website: Teide Legend shares a number of the myths in addition to how Spain’s highest mountain was created.
You’ll be able to discover independently, guide a tour alongside along with your entrance ticket, in addition to a day journey guided tour should you don’t wish to drive to the volcano your self – don’t neglect to decorate for mountain climate when you’re away from the seashore! When you do wish to go to the best level, you might want to apply for a allow upfront; that is an energetic volcano, though the final eruption was in 1909 and it’s consistently monitored.
A go to can be improbable 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 dwelling 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 outdoor in Tenerife with youngsters. When you fancy heading off the crushed monitor, away from the massive vacationer resorts, this actually is among the loveliest and most dramatic locations on the island.
The mountains listed here are lined with laurel timber, and one of many best locations to discover them is the Vueltas de Taganana pathway, however there are strolling trails galore by way of the slopes and valleys together with a number of others ranging from the customer centre at Cruz del Carmen, plus guided routes.
It’s one of many oldest components of Tenerife, shaped thousands and thousands of years in the past earlier than the island’s unique inhabitants, the Guanches, lived right here.
You may also discover a number 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 also 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).
You may also be a part of guided excursions of Anaga Rural Park for youths aged 8+ together with a go to to the Enchanted Forest
Forestal Park Journey Park
If a stroll within the timber doesn’t minimize it on 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-top actions, together with excessive altitude trails and zip traces, a climbing wall, rope bridges and plenty extra, there are totally different circuits appropriate for various ages and health ranges.
Not appropriate for youths aged beneath 5, the minimal top is 1.1m, with youngsters beneath 11 needing to be supervised at altitude on all of the circuits. Kids aged 11-12 can climb alone on the simple and medium circuits (inexperienced and blue), supervised by an grownup on the bottom should you don’t fancy becoming a member of in.
Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park
There’s one other likelihood to be taught 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 dwelling to 6 stepped pyramids.
All constructed to mark the route of the solstices, no-one fairly is aware of why the pyramids of Guimar have been constructed – though there are many theories!
There are additionally routes which can even 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 be taught extra about different indigenous cultures from around the globe.
The park even has its personal poison backyard, with a number of the most harmful crops 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 arms on on the Museum of Science and the Cosmos. Actually, 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 displays 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 price taking into account should you’re visiting Tenerife with youngsters in the course of the winter: the islands are well-known for his or her year-round solar nevertheless it’s nonetheless attainable to come across the occasional wet day in Tenerife so that is the right place if the climate’s unhealthy.
Castillo de San Miguel
When you’re considering an previous fortress received’t maintain your youngsters entertained, the Fortress of San Miguel is relatively totally different than the typical medieval fort. As a substitute, it’s designed to recreate what a night could be like with the Knights of the Spherical Desk.
From the skin, it seems correctly historic, with 16m stone towers, and loads of armour, swords, scrolls and different historic paraphernalia dotted round. When you’ve been welcomed by the Rely and Countess, it’s time for the video games to start within the Event Corridor.
Whilst you tuck into the medieval-style banquet, you’ll see six knights on horseback arriving, with every desk cheering for its personal knight as they joust, combat and try to show who’s worthiest. Plus there’s dancing to complete, with some acrobatics to look at on the aspect.
Yow will discover tickets together with transport to Castillo de San Miguel or there’s additionally free parking should you’re acquired your individual rental automobile. It’s near Golf Del Sur and round quarter-hour’ drive from Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje
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 should you’re visiting Puerto de la Cruz, within the north of the island.
With older youngsters, you may uncover a number of the collections of tropical and subtropical plans, in addition to the backyard devoted to flowers and crops from the Canary Islands.
Or just spot lizards, picnic beneath the shady timber or simply wander the plush shady plant-lined paths of the botanical backyard.
Tenerife Carnival
The Tenerife Carnival is the second largest on the earth after the glitzy samba-fuelled occasion in Rio de Janeiro, so should you’re in search of an unforgettable expertise on Tenerife with teenagers, it’s undoubtedly one to think about.
Evidently, the island is massively busy over the Carnival interval which usually takes place throughout February (the dates transfer every year, relying when Easter falls) and lasts for a few weeks.
There are two components, with the Official Carnival that includes over 100 teams of dancers, musicians, singers and different performers, whereas the Road Carnival is open to anybody who desires to decorate up and dance.
All the pieces kicks off correctly with the election of the Carnival Queen, on the Wednesday of the primary week, adopted by the beginning Parade on Friday. The ultimate parade comes on Carnival Tuesday, held on Shrove Tuesday, earlier than the festivities finish on Ash Wednesday with the ‘Burial of the Sardine’, the place the fish is carried by way of the streets earlier than being set on hearth.
For extra concepts, take a look at my information to the Canary Islands with youngsters
*first revealed 2018, up to date 2025*
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Disclosure: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions on the very best issues to do in Tenerife with youngsters are my very own.
Photographs courtesy of Depositphotos
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