What to Do in Tenerife with Kids: Plans for the Whole Family
Travelling to Tenerife with kids is easy, and that is one of the best things you can tell a family. The island is big but manageable, the weather is almost always kind, and in half an hour by car you go from a calm-water beach to a cool forest or a volcano with a cable car. The challenge is not finding things to do, but choosing, because with little ones the day runs differently: you get up early, you stop to eat and to nap, and you are grateful for shade. This is a guide for building well-rounded days, without stress and with room for the unexpected.
Did you know? Tropical pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins live in the waters off southwestern Tenerife all year round. You do not need luck to see them: it is one of the few areas in Europe with resident cetaceans, and a child's whole face changes when the first fin appears.
Animal and water parks
They are the safe bet for any family. The Loro Parque, in Puerto de la Cruz, is much more than parrots: penguins, orcas, a huge aquarium and enormous gardens that fill a whole day. In the south, Siam Park, in Costa Adeje, is considered one of the best water parks in the world, with wave zones and gentle pools designed for the youngest, not just vertigo-inducing slides.
If you are after something calmer, Jungle Park blends a walk through nature with birds-of-prey shows, and Monkey Park, near Los Cristianos, is a small, close-up zoo where children get near lemurs, monkeys and tortoises. In Costa Adeje, Aqualand adds gentle slides and a dolphin show, another way to cool off the morning. And if you fancy an outdoor plan in the north that costs nothing, Parque El Montillo, in La Matanza de Acentejo, is a free-access gem with one of the best children's play areas on the island; or a stroll among the gardens and waterfalls of Parque Taoro, in Puerto de la Cruz. A local tip: buy your tickets online, it is almost always cheaper and saves you the queue, and go first thing, when the animals are more active and the heat has not yet set in.
Nature and adventure
Tenerife offers far more than parks. Going up the Teide on the cable car is an experience children never forget: in eight minutes you reach 3,555 metres and the landscape looks like another planet. That said, there is an important safety rule worth knowing before you go: because of the risk the altitude poses, the cable car does not allow children under 3 or pregnant women to go up. Take a coat even if it is hot down below, book the ride in advance and, with slightly older children, take it slowly, because the change in altitude can make you dizzy.
To burn off energy, Forestal Park, on the mountain of La Esperanza, is a circuit of ziplines and bridges among the pines, ideal for children from a certain age. And for the smallest ones, in the Anaga forest the Sendero de los Sentidos is a short, flat and very easy walk through laurel forest, perfect for a first contact with nature without tiring them out. And if you love the sea, a whale- and dolphin-watching excursion from Costa Adeje or Los Gigantes is one of the plans that spark the most excitement. Always choose a boat with the Barco Azul mark, the flag that guarantees respectful watching for the animals.
Beaches to go to with children
Not all beaches are the same with little ones. The best are the ones with calm water and services nearby. In the south, Playa de las Vistas, in Los Cristianos, has soft sand, gentle waves and lifeguards; Playa del Duque, in Costa Adeje, is quiet and very well kept. In the capital, Playa de las Teresitas has a breakwater that cuts the waves and creates a natural pool, perfect for those just learning to swim.
Always bring an umbrella, because shade is scarce on many beaches, and remember that the black volcanic sand heats up enormously in the sun: a pair of flip-flops prevents more than one nasty surprise. You have every option, cove by cove, in our guide to The Best Beaches in Tenerife.
If you fancy trying the island's famous rock pools, avoid the wild, unsupervised ones, which can be dangerous with children because of sudden swells. Better to go for the prepared natural pools of the northeast, like those in Bajamar or Punta del Hidalgo: they have calm-water zones, services and lifeguards, and are perfect for feeling the Atlantic safely.
Plans for a grey day
Although Tenerife is proud of its good weather, some days can dawn cloudy, especially in the north. No problem: there are indoor plans that children love. The Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos, in La Laguna, is pure play, made for touching and experimenting, and the Pirámides de Güímar mix mystery, nature and a nod to the history of navigation that hooks the most curious. If you want more ideas for those days, we have gathered them separately in our guide to what to do in Tenerife when it rains.
Practical tips for travelling with kids
Get up early and rest at midday. Tenerife's sun is fierce from 12 to 16; make the most of the morning and the afternoon, and save the middle hours for lunch and a nap.
Take sun protection seriously, even on cloudy days: the radiation here is high all year round.
A car makes life much easier with kids (car seats, buggies, bags), though the bus connects the southern tourist areas well.
Eat without worry with little ones: Canarian cooking is simple and they usually like it; in What to See in Tenerife you have the essentials for combining sightseeing and food.
And do not try to see it all: with kids, fewer plans and more time at each one always works out better.
In the end, what children remember about Tenerife is usually not the most expensive park, but the first time they saw a dolphin, the strange cold of the summit in high summer, or the afternoon a wave knocked them off their feet and they laughed without stopping. The island makes it easy. You just have to leave room for wonder.
Plan your family route with all these places, their location and how to get there at islas24.info.
