family travel guide
Imagine: you've planned a holiday with the kids in Tenerife and decide to trace your travel itinerary on a map. You're pointing your finger at the countries of Europe, skirting the northwest coast of Africa and stopping at the southern borders of Morocco. Tiny dots in the Atlantic Ocean are the most exotic and the southernmost Spanish resort, the Canary Islands.
Tenerife's resorts can surprise even sophisticated tourists. Eternal spring instead of changing seasons, ocean instead of sea, black sand instead of golden sand — as they say, find ten differences. To save you the hassle, Kidpassage has already seen the critical differences between family holidays in Tenerife: find out when it's warmest and how to spend your time in Tenerife in a fun and enjoyable way.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 500km off the northwest coast of Africa and 1,300km from the Spanish mainland. The island's capital is Santa Cruz de Tenerife (more commonly called Santa Cruz for short).
Hot weather is customary in Tenerife's latitudes. But this doesn't apply to the Canary Islands. Tenerife has no seasons other than spring. When it's freezing in Europe in winter, the temperature in the Canaries is +20°C. And instead of the typical summer heat in southern Europe, the islands are pleasantly warm: +25°C to 27°C.
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Tenerife's exoticism is appealing, but it's not the island's only advantage.
Tenerife's weather is reminiscent of a warm late spring, perfect for those who can't stand the heat. It is ideal for those who can't stand the heat.
Tenerife has a long beach season, peaking in September and October, which is another plus for children. However, the water in the Atlantic Ocean is rather chilly until autumn, so staying in resorts on the Spanish mainland during the summer is better.
And here is another feature of Tenerife that can seem both advantage and disadvantage. It's a boring place to stay with your child, travelling around the island to gain some experience. But if you do, you'll discover something new and enjoyable.
As for a holiday with an infant or toddler, all you need to do is find a family-run hotel and enjoy the comfort and peace of mind. The journey to Tenerife takes at least 7-10 hours. One of the island's few drawbacks is its remoteness.
There are two answers to the question of when it's best to go to Tenerife, and both are correct. The timing depends on your goals. The first answer is between June and October. It is the warmest season in Tenerife when you can sunbathe and swim. That being said, summer and autumn are not so hot on the island that you have to give up on excursions.
Tenerife's open season starts in September, and the warming time of the ocean is in June or August.
The downside of this period is the huge amount of holidaymakers. You'll need to book your hotel accommodation a few months before and be prepared for a lack of beach space.
The answer to the second question is anytime. As it never gets cold and lousy weather, you can climb Mount Teide in winter and visit the mountain villages, where cave houses are still being built and kept according to the traditions of past centuries. Carnival takes place in winter, and the fun lasts almost a month in every town of Tenerife. Children take part in a mini carnival.
The scientific classification of Tenerife's climate is less eloquent than its poetic description: the Canaries have been called the islands of eternal spring. The average temperature is +21°C, slightly warmer in summer and autumn and somewhat cooler in winter. The island's area is relatively small, but the climate in the north and south is markedly different.
The northern coast is a little cooler, and it rains more often. Mountains protect the south coast from cold winds and rain, so it's warm and sunny.
Eternal Spring resembles summer in June when temperatures rise to +23-24°C. During July and August, thermometers reach +25-27°C, occasionally a little hotter. If you plan a summer holiday in Tenerife, choose June and July, as heavy downpours occur in August.
The sun is at its softest in September. During this time, you can spend considerably more time on the beach than during the summer: the air temperature stays between +23-25°C, and the sea is even warmer than in July and August. That's why September is considered the best holiday in Tenerife for children.
October is still quite warm, but the rains do come and go. Usually, the rain doesn't last for a few days but pours heavily for an hour or two before giving way again to clear weather.
From November to May, the island again enters 'spring' mode. Temperatures drop from +20°C to +16°C during the winter months, then rise again: the air warms to +17-18°C in March, +19°C in April and +20-21°C in May.
Rainfall is a rare occurrence in winter and spring. It's not a wrong time to be in Tenerife with a baby, although sunbathing and swimming in the sea is unlikely.
Warm days at any time of year are followed by relatively cool nights. Once it gets dark in Tenerife, temperatures drop to +13-14°C in winter and +17-20°C in summer. Clothes for the evenings, evening walks, excursions to the north and climbing Mount Teide are other things you'll need if you're travelling with your child.
Tenerife's climate is characterised by an occasional "hello from Africa" in the form of dust, sand and rising temperatures. This phenomenon, caused by the proximity of the Sahara Desert, can be a nuisance to tourists. But it only happens a few times a year, lasts 2-4 days and is far from uncomfortable.
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Tenerife's water temperature changes very little throughout the year, as do the air temperatures. Unfortunately, the water is too cold for children most of the time due to the Canary Current.
During July and August, the water gets as warm as +22-23°C, and it's not until September that the sea reaches its maximum temperature of +24°C. The sea is still warm in October, with temperatures of 23°C for most of the month. The rest of the time, the water temperature on the island does not exceed 20°C.
And here's something else important: of all the resorts in Spain, the warmest sea in October is in the Canaries. When the beach season is closed almost everywhere else, it's still in full swing in Tenerife.
Hotels in Tenerife use all dining concepts from breakfast only to all-inclusive. If you're going to eat in a hotel, ask about children's or dietary menus - it's not uncommon.
Still, most tourists prefer to eat in the restaurants outside the hotels. You'll find something to suit every palate in Tenerife, from Spanish to local.
Be sure to offer your child some Canarian fries, among other things. The ingenuous jacket potatoes, once cooked in seawater and now just very salty, are coated in salt crystals and therefore gain an unspeakable fascination in children's eyes. There are supermarkets and hypermarkets in all the popular resorts. Mostly Spanish chain Mercadona and SuperDino/HiperDino shops are only present in the Canaries.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, and cheeses can be bought at farmers' markets. They are open once or twice a week: in Costa Adeje — on Thursdays and Saturdays and in Los Cristianos — on Sundays. The best fish market on the south coast is in Los Cristianos. Puerto de la Cruz has a food market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
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Titsa buses, also known as 'guagua', are Tenerife's only form of public transport. Around 200 routes are around the island, so that you can get almost anywhere.
The most popular routes for tourists are the 110 and 111, connecting Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje with Santa Cruz, and the 101-104 going to the capital from Puerto de la Cruz.
The fare depends on the distance. For example, a ticket from Costa Adeje to Los Cristianos will cost €2, and from Costa Adeje to Santa Cruz €9.50. Tickets for children cost the same as for adults.
The Bono-Via card is worth buying if you plan to take frequent transport to Tenerife. Every trip with a BonoVi card is considerably cheaper than buying single tickets. For example, a journey from Costa Adeje to Santa Cruz with Bono-Via would cost 6.25 Euros.
The Bono-Via card is also valid for the Santa Cruz tram. Single tickets can be bought from the driver, but the card can only be purchased at bus stations or special retail outlets. Buses generally run from 5:30-6:00 to 21:30-22:00. You can find exact timetables, intervals, ticket prices and other helpful information on the bus companies' websites.
Renting a car to get around Tenerife is a smart decision: it's easier to reach the untouristy and stunningly beautiful places by car than by bus. The average fare is about €1 per kilometre, and a further €2-2.50 to be paid for boarding. Taxis — white cars with a green fare display — can be found at taxi stands or by phone.
The roads in the countryside are less congested than those in the city. In the resorts, traffic problems and finding parking spaces can occur. The island has few free parking areas, mainly near tourist attractions. Paid parking on the streets is marked with a blue line. Underground car parks can also be used.
Tenerife is a godsend for families who like to travel and see beach holidays as an excellent complement to excursions. The list of fun things to do with the kids stretches to a few pages. The list of the best places for families in Tenerife opens with the famous water park Siam-Park.
There's an incredible waterslide, kids' adventure park, windsurfing area and a pool filled with sea lions, which makes it easy to enjoy all the fun in the water without being affected by ocean temperatures. "Siam-Park is located near Costa Adeje.
Fresh ideas for things to do in Tenerife with a child can be found at Aqualand. It's not small and modest: there is four playgrounds total, and Aqualand has an award-winning dolphin show. In addition, Aqualand has an award-winning dolphin show, one of the best in the world. An equally impressive marine animal show is staged at Loro Park. Dolphins, killer whales and sea lions take part. But the main attraction of the park is the parrots.
The world's most extensive collection of these birds is about 4 thousand species. It is one of the attractions in Puerto de la Cruz, north of Tenerife.
The animals at Jungle Park (close to Las Americas) are ready to amaze visitors with their skills and charm. There are monkeys, predatory cats, and many species of birds in the zoo. There are shows featuring eagles, parrots, and sea lions. Kids will love the rope park courses.
While vacationing in Los Cristianos, visit the small Monkey Park. It is not as dazzling as Loro Park or Jungle Park, but you can play with lemurs.
The Castle of San Miguel on the southern resort coast invites everyone to theatrical jousting, before which the heroes willingly take pictures with everyone. The castle also offers medieval food, which you are supposed to eat with your hands. Finally, children can take part in a jousting tournament, even if only as a spectator.
Tenerife is also famous for its natural beauty. The most unusual and visible of these is Mount Teide. As the cable car rises to its summit, it's easy to believe that the landscape around it is not terrestrial but alien.
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Here's a list of other natural wonders to see on holiday with your child in Tenerife:
Of course, a trip to a volcano or a descent into a cave sounds like a challenging walk. For a simple walk with your child, it's better to head to the botanical garden of Puerto de la Cruz. One of the garden's curiosities is the ravenala or traveller's tree. The ravenala's recesses in its leaves collect rainwater: imagine what a valuable find for a traveller away from civilisation.
The best beaches (free of charge, as elsewhere in Spain) are south of the island. In Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos, the beaches are covered with light-coloured sand imported from Africa. The sand can be unusually dark, almost black. It is because the coastline is covered in volcanic lava, and the ocean waves have turned into grains of sand. The southern coast is sheltered from the waves, making it an ideal place for children to swim.
The beaches in the south and west have been awarded the blue flag for their cleanliness and complete facilities.
Sun loungers, umbrellas for hire (a paid service), showers, toilets, rescue, and medical facilities are available on all beaches. Playa La Pinta is considered the most kid-friendly beach in Las Americas, with inflatable water slides on the beach and kids splashing about in the shallow waters like a paddling pool.
Playa de Los Cristianos is suitable for holidays with children of all ages. There is a playground, a volleyball court, and water activities. The beaches of Playa San Eugenio also ensure quiet in the centre of the resort and Playa de Fañabé, 3 km from the centre. Playa Las Vistas, which stretches from Los Cristianos to Las Américas, is considered a youth centre. During the day, however, the whole family can have a great time there.
Playa Torviscas is considered the best beach for children in Costa Adeje, and Playa del Duque is the most luxurious beach in the south. Another southern beach, El Medano, is flooded with windsurfers. The constant wind and waves are just what you need to ride a board. There are surf centres on the beach where instructors teach children and adults.
The island's northern part is unsuitable for swimming — the rocky shores and high waves are dangerous even for experienced swimmers. But there are some blue flag sandy beaches here too.
Playa de San Telmo in Puerto de la Cruz is a small, shallow, black sandy beach with thick blue water. El Socorro in Las Realejas is similar, only with more space on the beach. A special feature of the northern resorts is the open-air pools. Sometimes they have artificially created lakes with rocky islands, fountains and shallow waters for babies to swim in.
Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz have such pools. But more often, the collection is an enclosed part of the sea, with nature creating the fence. A disadvantage of seaside holidays in Tenerife's northern part is the often overcast skies. It's always slightly colder here than in the south.
The list of places to enjoy a beach holiday in Tenerife must be completed. The city's tourist website lists several dozen beaches. Some are unsuitable for swimming due to the high waves but can be a good places for secluded activities or a photo shoot. Others are good for windsurfing and sapsurfing. Several beaches on the south shore are considered nudist beaches.
It's impossible to pinpoint Tenerife's main attraction. Some would say Teide volcano and relict forests; some would say the ancient buildings in Guimar; others would say the old towns. It is hardly worth joining the ranks of the disputants, but to get an impression of the island is a must.
Tenerife's attractions are scattered all around the island. If you don't want to spend your whole holiday constantly moving, you can see essential beauties in miniature. The Pyramids of Guimar is one of the fun places for school-age children. First, it's a mystery: scientists still need to figure out who built the pyramids and when.
The second is the Ethnographic Museum, which tells the story of the Guanches' lives (the Canaries' original inhabitants). Thirdly, the Mysterious Garden is home to some of the Earth's most poisonous plants.
What else is there to see in Tenerife? There are several diverse museums on the island, and some of them are truly amazing.
You can also visit the old towns north of Tenerife with your child. For example, many houses in Buenavista del Norte and Garachico were built in the 16th century and remain unchanged. The historic centre of Icod de los Vinos was built in the 15th century, and one of the local attractions is an old Dracaena, believed to be 800 years old.
The choice of where to stay in Tenerife is more extensive than anywhere else: from luxury hotels to modest guest houses, oceanfront villas to rustic (sometimes truly luxurious) cottages far from the coast. Hotels and apartments are the most common accommodation options. The most common hotel category in Tenerife is four stars, but regardless of the stars, the standard of service is high.
When looking for a hotel that is better for children, look at the list of facilities and the location. Hotel grounds tend to be small, but space for a playground and toddler's pool is usually available. Some hotels cater for families with mini-clubs, children's animation and services for parents with babies.
In most cases, there is a pedestrian zone between the beaches and the hotels; since the flat stretches of the coast alternate with cliffs, the hotel may be located right on the ocean but quite far from the well-appointed beach.
Another feature of resorts on the island — hotels can be located on the hill, and you have to go down the stairs to the beach.
For an independent holiday in Tenerife with children, you can rent apartments. In the Canary Islands, apartment complexes usually have a pool and often — and another for children. There are also often children's playgrounds within the complexes.
Tenerife's most popular area for holidays with children is the southwestern part of the island. It's warmer here than in the north, the beaches are spacious, the sea is always calm, and the entertainment is mainly concentrated in the south.
The unofficial capital of Tenerife's south coast and the most popular choice for staying in Tenerife with kids. Adjacent to Las Americas are the resorts of Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. Long stretches of sandy beaches, many hotels and apartments, convenience stores, and a lot of entertainment for children - all these advantages of the resort determine its main drawback: it is always crowded and noisy.
Los Cristianos is known as the top resort for families. The resort is adjacent to Las Americas in the south. There are two beaches in the town. Both are covered with fine golden sand and protected from waves.
The northern neighbour of Las Américas, a quiet town for holidays with children. Costa Adeje is renowned for its chic five-star hotels and luxury villas. The resort's main attractions are the cleanliness of the coast and the two large water parks nearby. The resort has two Blue Flag beaches. Playa de Fanabe with its dark sand and Playa del Duque with its golden sand from the Sahara desert.
A resort on the north coast of Tenerife. A resort on Tenerife's northern coast, Puerto de la Cruz, is an excellent choice if you plan to travel rather than swim. However, tourists are not left without bathing: seawater pools on the promenade. There are seawater pools on the waterfront.
On other islands in the Canary archipelago, Tenerife is also home to many hotels and apartments: the modest ones on Palma, Gomera and Revere Palma, Gomera, and Restinga, and a costly option on Gran Canaria.
The good news about the small islands is fewer tourists; the minus is the lack of comfortable beaches for children. Resorts around Tenerife can be reached by air or by ferry.
Tenerife has two airports. Aeropuerto de Tenerife Sur on the south coast receives flights from various countries, including charter flights. On the north coast, Aeropuerto de Tenerife Norte (second name Los Rodeos airport) receives flights from mainland Spain and the other Canary Islands.
The flight time is at least 7 hours, and in the case of a transfer, 10-12 hours. Direct flights to Tenerife are few and far between, with connections to Mallorca, Madrid or a European city. Despite the long transfer time, flying is the best way to get to Tenerife.
Bus no. 343 runs between airports. Bus lines 111, 343 and 450 run from the South airport to Las Americas. Buses Nos. 102, 107 and 108 connect the northern airport with the island's capital, Santa Cruz. Buses run every half hour during the day and have a few night flights. Airport websites have flight schedules and information on how to get to the resorts.
It is a convenient way to travel between resorts and for excursions. Buses Nos. 110 and 111 go from the south coast resorts to Santa Cruz. Bus tickets are sold at the bus stations. You can also use the free buses to Jungle park, Siam Park, Aqualand Costa Adeje, and Loro Parque Tenerife.
Car hire is available at Tenerife's airports. Driving to Tenerife to the south and west coast resorts is via TF-1 and to the north coast towns via TF-5. An interactive traffic congestion map can be found on the official website of Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife.
Ferries run between the islands of the Canary archipelago. There is also a ferry departing from Cadiz that takes about a day to Tenerife.
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