You have the date, the destination, and even a mental image of the outfits you'll pack. The next step is to fill your suitcase with plans that will excite the whole family. Need some inspiring ideas? The following recommendations on what to in Tenerife with children will make your next trip to the Canary Islands unforgettable: choose the Iberostar hotel on the island that best suits you to put these plans into action and start feeling the holiday excitement now.
Activities for children in Tenerife
Ethical Marine Animal Watching
The child-friendly beaches in Tenerife are the ideal setting for ethically spotting marine animals, such as dolphins and whales. Many of these endangered species in Spain are visible throughout the year in their natural habitat, the Atlantic Ocean. Boat trips organized from Puerto Colón, Los Cristianos, or Los Gigantes will make you feel part of an oceanic expedition and learn about how these friendly creatures live and interact in the wild. This fosters an approach to the environment with love and respect.
A Walk Through the Enchanted Forest
The so-called Enchanted Forest is part of the Integral Natural Reserve of El Pijaral, a green area located in the Anaga Massif. As the name suggests, this trail runs through fairy-tale-like sceneries. Its giant prehistoric ferns resemble characters from a fairy and elf legend. Many of these guardian trees, like other lungs of the Earth, have watched over the paths since the Tertiary Period, accumulating thousands of years of history. The itinerary from one end of the reserve to the other takes about two to three hours at a leisurely pace (with stops to appreciate its beauty or take a snack). Wear comfortable shoes and be eager to explore! Keep in mind that, to enjoy this plan, you first need to request authorization from the public authority of the Cabildo de Tenerife, as it is a protected area and must be visited in a controlled manner.
Excursion to Teide
What to do with kids in Tenerife to continue discovering its nature under a sustainable tourism perspective? An excursion to the Teide National Park, with landscapes that will transport you to another planet, will reveal the fascinating world of volcanoes. From its viewpoints, located at various heights, bird watching will make you soar above the clouds. Its Astronomical Observatory is open to visitors and offers guided tours of its facilities to learn about the work of the scientists who work there, as well as astrophysics workshops for those over 8 years old. If you stay until the magical moment of sunset, you will watch as the sky fills with twinkling stars as far as the eye can see.
Their First Culinary Route
Canarian cuisine will appeal even to the most demanding palates, including theirs. With typical dishes like papas arrugadas with mojo picón or sweet or savory filled arepas, and a wide variety of fresh and healthy ingredients like seasonal fruits and vegetables, it’s a culinary culture easily adaptable for vegan families. A meaningful experience for the whole family might be organizing a culinary route to explore the guachinches, the traditional eateries of the island, while discovering new ecosystems and flavors. If a member of your family is gluten intolerant, this gluten-free travel guide will be very helpful.
Sun, Sea… and Water Sports for Everyone!
One of the best activities for kids in Tenerife is engaging in a water sport suitable for all ages, such as snorkeling or paddle surfing. Beginner courses with expert instructors will allow you to dive together into the calm, shallow waters of the south. In this area, next to Fañabé Beach, is located the Iberostar Selection Anthelia, a five-star family resort with a children's pool with slides and a pirate ship. Its facilities await you with several outdoor and covered pools, five restaurants and three bars, gardens, fitness rooms, tennis and paddle tennis courts, and a spa offering treatments like the centuries-old Mayr Kur detox therapy. Just a kilometer from the accommodation, some surf, and diving schools are concentrated.
What Is the Best Area of Tenerife to Stay with Children?
When travelling to Tenerife with children, north or south are excellent options. It all depends on your type of dream trip. The entire island will offer you the possibility to be in contact with the environment, the sea, and the natural history of its eleven volcanoes. The north is more relaxed and less crowded: its surfer energy attracts groups of friends from Generation Z and people of all ages; while the south always breathes an animated atmosphere, with restaurants, shops, shopping centres, attractions (like the Thai culture-inspired Siam Park or Aqualand), golf courses, and a wide range of leisure options that will captivate both adults and kids. Specifically, the municipality of Costa Adeje is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, accessible beaches, and (yes!) also for boasting an average of 300 sunny days a year. There, your holidays will expand in direct proportion to the brightness of the postcard you are now imagining.
Free Plans for Kids in Tenerife
A Water Park in the Hotel
What to do with kids in Tenerife for free? Opting for hotels with water parks will make it easy to combine their fun with your relaxation as part of an increasingly comprehensive all-inclusive package. While they play and slide down slides in search of a lost treasure, you'll relax by the poolside with a refreshing cocktail in hand. At Iberostar Waves Bouganville Playa, located in Costa Adeje next to the San Eugenio Promenade and just 20 meters from the central Bobo Beach, the Aquafun area resembles a colourful volcanic ecosystem. In its family rooms, you'll feel at home (but with sea views). Additionally, the accommodation offers a cycling station for renting, storing, or repairing bicycles.
A Walk or Bike Ride through a Natural Park
Activities for kids in Tenerife invite you to spend more time outdoors. The walk from La Caleta runs parallel to the ocean along Costa Adeje, adapting in some of its sections to people with reduced mobility. With names as evocative as the Path of the Senses or Mountain of the Poleos (the latter belonging to the Corona Forestal Natural Park), the beautiful landscapes of Tenerife can also be admired by bicycle. It's worth stopping in the middle of the route to identify the flora, with endangered species such as the dragon tree. On these excursions, they will begin to understand the importance of caring for animals and plants, leaving the environment better than it was found.
A Different Kind of Camp
Imagine a camp where girls and boys play, learn, and have fun while becoming aware of the protection of the planet and all the beings that inhabit it. And all this without leaving the resort! At Iberostar family-oriented hotels, the Star Camp agenda, based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, proposes challenges designed for each age group with a sustainable vocation. From four to seven years old, they will be cared for and attended with the Monkey program; from eight to twelve, with Dolphin; and from thirteen to seventeen, with Eagle. Registration is free for guests! Additionally, in some complexes, children under six stay for free. Knowing that you are leaving them in good hands, you'll want to take advantage of their moments of socialization to connect with yourself in the spa, treating yourself to the beauty or wellness treatment you deserve.
Tenerife Carnival with the Family
There is so much to do with kids in Tenerife that any time you choose to visit this destination linked to the power of the ocean will offer you an infinite universe of possibilities beyond its beaches. The good weather typical of the Canary Islands accompanies travellers throughout the year. Over several weeks in January and February, the colours of the Carnival of Tenerife fill the streets and neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz, the capital, with children's parades, costume contests, parades to crown the adult and child Queens, free performances, and lots of dancing and live music. Some of its joyful traditions are reminiscent of the international carnivals of Veracruz or Rio de Janeiro. Its daytime plans are suitable for all ages!
The Best Beaches for Kids in Tenerife
Playa de las Americas
Beach in Tenerife with kids: north or south? At any point along the outline of this volcanic land, with more than 67 kilometres of coastline, you will find corners to your liking. In some of them, the wind blows, creating big waves in the style of neighboring Fuerteventura and attracting surfers and practitioners of other maritime sports, such as sailing. Others are ideal for resting and playing with the family, such as Playa de las Americas, located near Arona, in the southern sector. This half-kilometer-long enclave is characterized by its golden sand with small pebbles and gentle waves. Additionally, it has all the necessary services to spend the day with the family.
Playa de Fañabé
Its comforts and accessibility, even with baby strollers, make Fañabé one of the most welcoming beaches for children in Tenerife in Costa Adeje. Its sand is fine (ideal for building castles and forts) and its waters, calm and crystal clear. There are sun loungers and umbrellas, changing rooms with showers and bathrooms, and a team of lifeguards watches over the safety of bathers. Its seaside promenade with direct beach access, where numerous shops, beach clubs, and restaurants are located, separates the swimming area from the hotel area where some exclusive accommodations are located.
Playa del Bobo
The dark sand of Playa del Bobo will remind you that you are in volcanic territory; in a unique destination whose language is expressed through innate natural richness. It is believed that the term "bobo" refers to a plant native to America, introduced to the Canary Islands centuries ago. This coast is urban, comfortable, accessible, safe for swimming, and very frequented by family groups. There, Iberostar Waves Las Dalias, an all-inclusive hotel located just ten minutes' walk from the shore, will welcome you. In addition to having spacious rooms specially designed for large families, Star Camp, and a children's pool with an Aquafun area with slides, this resort will offer you a varied gastronomic offer that includes snacks, afternoon tea, and ice cream in bulk.
Playa de Benijo
If anything distinguishes Benijo, located in Taganana, in the north of Tenerife's geography, it is the sensation of freedom and life that surrounds it. In its domains, the Roques de La Rapadura and Benijo, two majestic black rock islets of the same colour as the sand, rise. Together with the beach, they form a wild ensemble, as this area is not very crowded. Many travellers come to it seeking calm. A recommendation? Visit it when the tide is low. In the evening, it is worth taking a walk through the neighbouring village of Taganana, which still retains the traditional charm of the island villages of another era.
Playa de las Teresitas
Northeast of the island and two kilometres away from the centre of Santa Cruz, the capital, Playa de las Teresitas offers numerous activities for children in Tenerife, such as renting pedal boats or canoes. In this paradisiacal location, assigned to the municipality of San Andrés, the sand is fine, soft, and golden. Its clean waters, surrounded by palm trees, with continuous surveillance, invite swimming and snorkelling. It is a kilometre and a half in length. Its wide and spacious sandy area allows sunbathing and practising other beach sports such as volleyball. It can be accessed by public transport from several points, the most sustainable option for getting from one place to another. Nearby the beach, a beautiful lake extends, rivalling the natural pools of Lanzarote.
La Montaña Amarilla
It is not exactly a beach, but a small pebble cove delimited by an ancestral cliff, whose hue is due to the colour of the lava from an eruption. Over time and due to erosion, the Natural Monument of Montaña Amarilla has acquired curious rounded shapes, often compared to the bones of a dinosaur. At its feet, under the turquoise reflections of the waves, a peculiar volcanic reef settles where you can swim and practice snorkelling or (in the case of more experienced adults) diving among parrot and trumpet fish, sea sponges, cuttlefish, octopuses, and other deep-sea creatures.
As you may have guessed, this destination is much more than sun and sea. Its unique nature, combined with a varied repertoire of leisure for all ages, gives you the opportunity to focus your family vacations from an endless number of different viewpoints. All you need is to find a combination of plans and hotel tailored to you and get ready for the trip, filling it with interesting things to do with kids in Tenerife.
