Spanish absolutely adore children, and the Costa del Sol is one playground of dreams. In fact, there are not only playgrounds at every turn, water parks and amusement parks, but also zoos, sports fields and swimming pools. Your kids will be thrilled!!!
IDEAL PLACE FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
Spanish absolutely adore children, and the Costa del Sol is one playground of dreams. In fact, there are not only playgrounds at every turn, water parks and amusement parks, but also zoos, sports fields and swimming pools. Your kids will be thrilled!!!
WATER PARKS
Aqualand Torremolinos, the largest water park on the Costa del Sol, offers a fantastic selection of exciting water slides and excellent facilities (restaurants, bars, sunbathing spots). Adrenaline fans must try Kamikazee, one of the highest slides in Europe.
Aquamijas – although slightly smaller than Aqualand, the Mijas Water Park (recently renamed Aquamijas) promises a fun day out for the whole family. Thanks to a wide selection of water slides for children of all ages, your children will have an unforgettable experience!
LOCAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE
We are very lucky that there are some amazing local parks, zoos and aquariums here on the Costa del Sol. Here are our favorites and the ones we know you and your kids will enjoy.
BIOPARK ZOO
Located in the town of Fuengirola, this small but very well-designed and laid-out zoo will make a great morning or afternoon. You will see tigers, silver gorillas, crocodiles, snakes and much more!
SELWO MARINA
right next to Paloma Park in the centre of Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmádena), you'll find the only dolphinarium in Andalusia, it is one of the most popular attractions on the coast. Your children will enjoy dolphins and sea lions shows, a visit to the ice-cold penguin environment, dolphin gatherings and much more.
ZOO DE CASTELLAR
is one of the best-kept secrets of the coast! It's not your typical zoo...You will meet tigers, Emu ostriches, rabbits, snakes, monkeys, eagles, vultures, Vietnamese pigs, crocodiles and even a hyena named Eddie ????. It is located a short walk from Castellar de la Frontera, about 10 minutes inland from Sotogrande. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from Benalmadena, but it's worth it ???? I was warned it wasn't a typical zoo; this became obvious the moment we walked through the main gates and saw a gorgeous lion cub (called Simba) sitting in the cool shade while brave visitors tried to get close enough to caress it and take a photo. All the animals you meet at the Zoo de Castellar have been rescued from circuses or illicit trafficking. Now they have more than 500 animals and 120 different species, allowing a very interesting and educational visit.
SELWO AVENTURA WILDLIFE PARK V ESTEPONĚ
This is the largest wild park on the Costa del Sol and a great opportunity to see some of the largest and wildest animals in Africa and Asia wandering in the wild. You might need a few hours to walk through the whole park, but it is worth it!
SEALIFE AQUARIUM
a visit to the Sealife Aquarium in Benalmadena Harbour allows for an interesting and informative morning (or afternoon) with children; sharks, jellyfish, giant turtles, sea rays, giant Pacific octopus and many other fascinating underwater creatures are waiting for you in Sealife Aquarium.
BUTTERFLY PARK
boasts a collection of more than 1,500 exotic butterflies from more than 150 different species, which is why this unique park is worth a visit. Located near Benalmadena Pueblo, this 2,000 m2 complex features butterflies flying freely in its own tropical paradise with plants, flowers and waterfalls. Don't forget your camera, because it will be a great experience for you and your kids that deserves a memento.
ENTERTAINING AND OUTDOOR PARKS
AVENTURA AMAZONIA
Enjoy an exciting adventure in the treetops. The Aventura Amazonia has 83 tree habitats and 20 zip-lines, divided into 6 adventure circuits. You'll also get a chance to hit the longest zip-line in treetops in Andalusia (240 metres long).
TIVOLI WORLD
The longest theme park on the coast, Tivoli World. With a large number of attractions, daily live music, dance performances and a rich selection of restaurants and bars, you will surely have a good time!
COSTA JUMP
Although it is not an outdoor adventure, it is definitely considered a fun and adrenaline activity! The first and only trampoline park on the coast offers a huge indoor arena filled with 50 interconnected trampolines. Enjoy basketball slam dunk, dodgeball, foam pits and more!
ZIP-LINE FUENGIROLA
Right below Fuengirola’s famous Sohail Castle, you'll find adventures offering river rides! Rope slide, tirolina in Spanish, is made of a pulley that moves along a steel rope, which is installed in the air. For those who are less adventurous and prefer something a little relaxing, there are pedal boats and kayaks to rent.
KARTS
Do you like go-karts? There are several places on the coast where you can test your driving skills. You can try FunnyBeach in Marbella, karting area on the roof of Myramar shopping center in Fuengirola or go-karts at Plaza Mayor shopping center next to Malaga airport.
HORSE RIDING
There are plenty of stables along the coast, but we recommend Rancho La Paz near Fuengirola. They offer a 1 or 2 hour horseback ride in the countryside.
BUGGY OFFROAD ADVENTURE
Take a ride through the Andalusian countryside in a carriage. Our friends at Rangers Buggy Safari offer a 3-hour tour that will take you through fantastic landscapes. The scenery is spectacular as you drive past olive and orange groves, cork trees and plows across river troughs. Cameras are a must as you stop to enjoy the views and take memorable pictures.
FUN ON THE WATER
DOLPHIN AND WHALE WATCHING
Would you like to see dolphins or whales in their natural habitat? You have several options ... if you are staying near Benalmadena, there are several boat charters that offer dolphin-watching tours from Porto Marina. If you have rented a car, we recommend going down to Tarifa on the Atlantic coast and booking one of the dolphin and whale watching boat trips.
PARASAILING
If you are not afraid of heights and want to experience some of the best views of the coast, try Parasailing. Get towed behind the speedboat at the end of a 200-meter-long cable!
DIVING
Sunset Beach Club has a PADI diving center. They offer courses from beginners to advanced ones; start with lessons in the pool and then head to one of the dive sites located right next to the beach by the hotel.
TRIPS
GIBRALTAR
Visiting Gibraltar and seeing Barbara Macaque Monkeys is a fun experience for children and adults. The only wild monkeys in Europe live on top of the rock, and the visit provides the perfect opportunity to see semi-wild primates up close. But you have to be careful, because they can be dangerous. To see the monkeys, you can take the cable car to the top of the rock and take a guided tour with the local tourist company or just enjoy unforgettable panoramas on your own.
SKATE PARKS
If your kids are into skateboarding or BMX, most major cities have specialized skate parks where you can play these popular sports. One of the largest is the one located right next to the Miramar shopping mall in Fuengirola!
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND EXCURSIONS
Take your children on a fascinating journey through one of Spain's most popular and remarkable historical monuments, the Nerja Caves. This series of huge caves stretching almost 5 km underground is home to the largest stalagmite in the world, a 32-meter-high monster! Some parts of the caves also contain prehistoric cave paintings.
DONKEY SANCTUARY
"El Refugio del Burrito" is a donkey sanctuary in Fuente de Piedra, just a 45-minute drive from the coast. The traditional Spanish Cortijo serves as a home for more than 70 rescued donkeys. Visitors can meet friendly residents and learn all about their life stories from the qualified staff who will guide you around the sanctuary.
WALKWAY CAMINITO DEL REY...
Considered the world's scariest walkway, Caminito del Rey quickly became one of Andalusia’s most popular tourist attractions. You will walk along a purpose-built wooden walkway, which, in some areas, can be up to 100 meters above the river. This is an attraction for those looking for excitement and adrenaline. Children must be at least 8 years old to walk on the Caminito.
WALKING ON RIO CHILLAR
A walk along the "Rio Chillar" in Nerja has become a summer classic among locals. This fun route takes you on an exciting adventure as you walk along the river, heading up to the rock ponds where you can swim in crystal clear water. There's plenty of shade along the way as you walk through pine trees and deep grounds; however, we recommend comfortable shoes and suitable clothing for the mountains.