Fun Things to do in Tenerife with Babies, Toddlers and Pre-school Kids…

Jungle Park

Jungle Park in the South of Tenerife is a popular zoo which kids of all ages will love. The park is an authentic jungle with more than 300 animals and 100 species that delight their visitors every day of the year. The shows are the main attraction of the park, with the birds flying freely and connecting with the public. There are vultures, eagles and penguins on display along with big cats and monkeys and a host of other animals.

Siam Park

Siam Park is a sprawling, Thai-themed water park in southern Tenerife and one of the very best days out the Canary Islands have to offer for families. There are temples, oversized dragons and giant masks which help create a little piece of Thailand on a hillside above the Costa Adeje. Lost City is specially designed for smaller children. There are also lots of larger rides for older kids and adults. Younger kids and toddlers will enjoy floating down the Mai Thai river or basking on the white sands of Siam beach and there are loads of special water rides designed especially for toddlers and younger children.

Loro Park

The Loro Parque in Santa Cruz is also worth a visit and it is filled with nature and wildlife including, 350 species of parrot, chimpanzees, tigers, gorillas and penguins (with real snow). There are also Dolphin and Orca shows and a HD cinema.

Take a Submarine Ride

The yellow submarine ride is sure to excite toddlers and younger kids, particularly fans of the Octonauts! The submarines are spacious, safe and comfortable and the cabin is maintained at normal atmospheric conditions, so pregnant women will not be affected in any way and ears will not pop.

Logo Martinianez

Designed by famous Lanzarote architect Cesár Manrique, Logo Martiniane, located in Santa Cruz is a series of lagoons, plunge pools, channels and fountains set in sub-tropical surroundings. The complex is an open air museum and you can swim in it! Saltwater from the ocean is filtered into a large water park which consists of lakes, cascading waterfalls, beautiful landscaped gardens, sunbathing areas, restaurants, bars and cafés. It is a great day for families and younger children will love it.

Whale and Dolphin Watching

There are around 21 different species of dolphin that frequent the waters around Tenerife with bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales being most common. Rarer sightings include sperm whales and orcas. There are whale and dolphin watching trips on a catamaran from Playa de la Americas. Check with your tour operator to ensure the boat is suitable for babies and toddlers. The tours are generally suitable for babies however, toddlers may get restless as the trip can take a few hours. Tours vary in length so check with the operator in advance.

Museum of Science and Cosmos

The Museum of Science and the Cosmos in La Laguna is filled with interactive exhibits that kids will love. There are over seventy ‘experiments’, as the museum likes to call them. If you go on a Sunday, entrance is free.

Visit a Butterfly Farm

Located in Santa Cruz, the Mariposeria del Drago is a haven for more than 800 different species of butterfly that flutter around the indoor park, creating a vibrantly colourful wonderland with indoor woodland, bridges, flowers and trees. Kids that love butterflies will love this.

Carnival

The Carnival which takes place in Santa Cruz in February is a feast for the senses incorporating music, dancing and colour and will delight older toddlers.

Visit a Market

The markets on the Canary Islands offer a host different items such as jewellery, clothes and electrical goods. You can also find some beautiful authentic leather goods but there are also plenty of fake designer goods. Remember to haggle when thinking of buying something. Santa Cruz is the capital of Tenerife and has a big market by the station on Sunday mornings. Playa de la Americas has a market on Thursdays and Saturdays and Los Cristianos on Sundays

Other

You can also visit the beautiful old towns of La Orotava and La Laguna, the latter being a UNESCO World Heritage Site or visit the world class botanical garden just above Puerto de la Cruz. Teide National Park is another option where a cable car can take you up part of the tallest mountain on the island. Be aware however, that may be unsuitable for younger infants due to the change in oxygen levels higher up the mountain. This is quite feasible with a younger baby but may be more difficult with older, more restless toddlers.