As the world begins to re-open to travel, now is the perfect time to start planning your next trip with the kids! From beautiful long beaches and glistening shallow water to theme parks and watersports, the Canary Islands has something for even the most demanding mini traveler. Read on to find out more…
Siam Park, Tenerife – The World’s Top Artificial Waves
Tenerife’s Siam Park is one of the most popular parks in the world, according to TripAdvisor, and it’s easy to see why! Siam Park has a huge variety of pools, fun aquatic rides as well as a wave pool with some of the world’s best artificial waves. Siam Park also offers thrilling daredevil rides such as the Mekong Rapids, a fast-paced water slide ridden on a rubber boat, or the Dragon, a vertical funnel for up to four persons boasting a vertical zero gravity experience – perfect for keeping the bigger kids entertained! Wind down after your action-packed day on the white sand of Siam Beach, home to beautiful clear turquoise waters.
One day tickets for Siam Park begin at €25 for a child and from €37 for adults. Find more information at www.siampark.net.
Leap around like Tarzan in the Forestal Park, Tenerife
Leap off Tarzan Swings or fly down ziplines at the gates of Teide National Park. Forestal Park, Tenerife, offers a truly unique adventure for kids, both big and small! The park is surrounded by canary pines as well as a landscape full of biodiversity in the protected area of Las Lagunetas. Forestal Park consists of three different modules ranging in difficulty to suit all ages. Find out more information at www.forestalparktenerife.es.
Camel Rides in Fuerteventura
Oasis Park Fuerteventura is one of the biggest animal parks in the Canary Islands and is also the largest camel reserve in Europe. It differs from a classical zoo by allowing visitors to view the beautiful fauna from the top of a camel! Visitors sit on a saddle perfectly adapted to the camel, which arrived in the Canary Islands from Africa in the fifteenth century. With an option to take a short or long trip, inside and outside the park, this is one experience not to be missed! Visit www.oasiswildlifefuerteventura.com for more details.
Lanzarote – Dolphin and Whale Spotting
Dolphins, whales, and turtles are all species which can be seen in the waters of the Canary Islands, on a number of different environmentally friendly tours offered around the islands. Kids will enjoy it as much as adults, and there’s no better way to learn about marine animals and how to respect them than seeing them in their natural habitats. In Lanzarote, there are even submarine trips to the seabed!
Discover the Volcanos in the Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote
There’s no better way to introduce the kids to mother nature and the world of volcanoes than visiting the Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote. The little ones are sure to enjoy the unique Martian-looking landscape – broken land and rusted, iron-red earth, as well as learning about the history of the park, which is centred around the volcanoes active during the island’s six-year Timanfaya eruption from 1730-1736. These eruptions covered a quarter of Lanzarote in lava, burying 11 villages and forcing the entire population to flee. To this day the heat of the ground and the sulphurous chemicals render it almost devoid of life; there are small bushes and lichens, but even three centuries later there are no grasses or forests.
Palmitos Park, Gran Canaria
Get a joint ticket to this zoo and dolphinarium with Aqualand, home to the biggest butterfly venue in Europe, as well as other animals, such as orangutans and Komodo dragons! The park’s dolphinarium boasts three pools of around 3,000m squared, over four million litres of water, and five friendly dolphins! Individual tickets are also available. Find out more information here.
Explore a prehistorical jungle in La Gomera
Let the kids become explorers in the Garajonay National Park, La Gomera. More than two-thirds of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is covered by a rare type of thick laurel forest found only in North Africa and southern Europe, where it thrived during the Tertiary period. The lush landscape is fed by the forests’ beautiful springs and streams and nurtured by the islands’ rich volcanic soils.
The Charco Azul, La Palma – Natural Emerald Water Pools
The Charco Azul in La Palma offers visitors a different, unique way to enjoy the sea. This bathing zone is home to natural pools formed in the lava rocks by the sea and has become one of the best swimming spots in the Canaries. The spot allows bathers to unwind while enjoying the beautiful sight of the crashing waves. The Charco Azul also offers a children’s pool which has a flat bottom, a tiny waterfall, steps, and railings! This area is perfect for families offering a sunbathing zone, showers and changing rooms, security measures, green areas and parking.
Try Out Scuba Diving in El Hierro
La Restinga, El Hierro, is one of the world’s top scuba diving spots and the perfect place for the kids to try their first dive. There are several operators which offer environmentally friendly tours which can be personalized to the family needs. Don’t fancy scuba diving? Snorkelling is the perfect alternative for kids and adults alike to enjoy the wonderful marine fauna and volcanic seabed of El Hierro.
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For more information on the Canary Islands please contact Niamh Waters – niamh@travelmedia.ie.