Children are very fond of in Spain, which is why there are so many children's entertainment centers in Spain: water parks, amusement parks, zoos, dolphinariums, safaris, and so on. Children are the center of the family, therefore a significant part of the time is devoted to their education and cultural development.
Below are the most famous places for recreation and entertainment with children on the Costa del Sol (Andalusia). and not only children will enjoy rides and other entertainment, but adults will also enjoy it.
Cable car in Benalmadena (TELERIFICO)
The cable car in Benalmadena (there is also one in Madrid), which is often called the funicular by mistake (the funicular is when it rides on rails), takes you to the top of Monte Calamorro. This is a truly exciting adventure: when you see the panorama of the entire coast from a bird's eye view, and if the weather is sunny, you can see Africa and Gibraltar. In some places the route passes over the motorway and over the city.
Cabin cabins can accommodate 4 people.
But you can see not only the expanses of the coast and the surrounding area: at the top there is a small zoo with raptors (there are about twenty of them: eagles, falcons, owls, vultures, etc.). They arrange small shows 2-3 times a day. Also, kids can ride a donkey and see a real Spanish horse. These little 'goodies' are included in the ticket price!
Specifications:
The height of the upper station - 769 m
Track length - 2.646 m
Travel time - 15 min.
Elevation difference - 636 m
Lifting speed - 3 m/s
The highest tower - 27 m
Route
The lowest point from which the route starts is located in the Arroyo de la Miel area (commercial area of Benalmadena), at the entrance to the Tivoli World amusement park.
The road operates all year round, and during the season (especially July-August), the opening hours are until midnight.
And this is an unforgettable sight - to see from a bird's eye view the coast flooded with lights.
Tickets: it is most profitable to purchase tickets - 'subscriptions', because. Teleferico de Benalmadena is part of the same network as Selwo Marina and Selwo Aventura. Therefore, you can enjoy visiting three places and save money at the same time!
Adults – 7.00 - 12.50 €
Children – 5.00 - 9.00 €
Subscription (Telerifico, Selwo Marina, Selwo Aventura) - €34 for adults, €25 for children.
Cable car website: http://www.telefericobenalmadena.com/
Crocodile Park or Crocodile Farm (CROCODILE PARK)
Crocodile Farm (Crocodile Park) is located in the city of Torremolinos. It is here that the largest in Europe and the captive-bred crocodile Paco lives. Its length is 5 meters, and its weight is 600 kg! The park is a stylized African village.
In general, crocodiles of different breeds from all over the world are bred on the farm. Now there are about 300 always hungry and angry individuals in it. They can be seen at a distance of 2 meters.
Excursions are held every day 3 times - (11:30, 13:30 and 15:30) accompanied by experienced staff; live demonstrations of feeding these dangerous predators are also arranged.
In addition to crocodiles, you can also see other birds and animals here. There are souvenir shops, cafes, and even an African museum.
Cocodilla Farm is located next to the water park: just 15 minutes drive from the center of Torremolinos resort. The tour will take no more than 2 hours. Open throughout the year from 10:00 to 17:00-19:00.
Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets: adults - 10.00 €, children - 7.50 €
Park website: http://www.crocodile-park.com
Amusement park (TIVOLI WORLD)
Tivoli World is a real paradise for both children and adults. It has attractions for both small and large - it will be interesting and exciting for everyone.
Tivoli World is located in Benalmadena and is the largest and only amusement park on the Costa del Sol. The territory of the park is very large and green; there is a cafe. During the season - in summer - it is especially crowded and fun: various shows are arranged, concerts are held, etc.
Entrance to the park is free: tickets are bought for each attraction: 2 euros each.
However, it is more profitable to buy a special bracelet for 14 euros - Supertivolino, which makes it possible to ride almost all the rides. The only exceptions are the autodrome, karting and a few other places: for example, the most unusual attraction 'Pasaje del Terror'. Its essence is as follows: all tourists in single file in the dark move along narrow corridors, where they are 'attacked' from around the corner by maniacs with a saw, and other 'kings' of horrors (of course, these are actors). They are scared in every way. And the effect is unexpected. All this is broadcast on the big screen in the street.
Tivoli World is located in Arroyo de la Miel, next to the Telerifico cable car boarding station. The park has free parking. There are bus and train stops nearby.
The park is open all year, but only on Sundays in winter. In summer, the park is open from morning until late at night every day.
Park website: http://www.tivoli.es
The largest safari park in Europe (SELWO AVENTURA)
Safari Park Selwo Aventura is the largest in Europe and is located in the mountains: its area is 100 hectares and is located near the town of Estepona. 13.5 million euros were spent on its arrangement. More than 2 thousand animals live in this territory: bison, elephants, zebras, camels, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, rhinos, ostriches, bears, monkeys and other exotics. And they do not crowd into cages, as in zoos (although there are cages where you need to eat), but live quietly in open space in nature. It's almost a natural habitat (certainly tigers don't hunt kangaroos and hippos don't swim in the sea) It's a safari! But with safety for tourists.
The park consists of three sectors. You can move around the territory both on foot and in special trucks (they are painted like a zebra). In general, on wheels is much more interesting and less tiring: the territory is quite large! A whole day is not enough for a 'walking' tour of the park.
The first sector is a botanical garden with various birds, animals and snakes. There is also a large lake with black swans.
In the second sector, after crossing the canyon with birds, you can take a walk or drive a truck past wild animals (ostriches, zebras, buffaloes, rhinos, mountain goats, etc.). You can also walk to the elephants, giraffes, camel. You can even ride a camel. Pleasure costs 10 euros. You can also shoot at the shooting range with a real bow.
There is a large wooden bridge here.
In the third sector, you can only move in closed cars, because. it is the most 'wild' and predators and dangerous animals (lions, tigers, cheetahs, etc.) live in it.
From there, you can walk back along the suspension bridges.
Another distinctive feature of the park is that from its highest point, Mirador de Africa, a breathtaking view of Mount Gibraltar and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco (Africa) opens up.
The park is closed during winter. Starting from mid-February. From July to October it is open from 10:00 to 18:00 - 20:00.
On the territory there are places where you can eat (cafes and restaurants), but they are crowded at lunchtime - 14:00. so it's best to schedule your lunch break for another time.
Feeding animals is, of course, prohibited!
Tickets: for children - 16.00 €, for adults - 23.50 €
If you get to the park without a car, then there is a special bus that leaves from the bus station in Malaga at 8:45 and arrives at the park at 11:15, making stops in all the main cities of the coast along the way. For those who travel by car, there is paid parking - 2.50 €.
Safari park website: http://www.selwo.es/
Dolphinarium and Theme Park (SELWO MARINA)
The Selwo Marina Dolphinarium and Theme Park is located in Benalmadena and is also part of the same network as the Telerifico cable car (in Benalmadena) and the Selwo Aventura safari park. It presents mainly the fauna of South America.
The park consists of four sectors.
The first sector is the Antilles (Las Antillas). It houses a huge glass dolphinarium, in which, in addition to dolphins, a family of sea lions also lives. You can swim with them for a fee. Pleasure will cost 54 €. Wonderful performances with dolphins called 'Do you know that dolphins talk?' are arranged here. They start at 12:00.
In another sector of La Hondonada, exotic birds live - natives of the Amazonian lowland (pelicans, flamingos, parrots, etc.). With them - usually with parrots - shows are also arranged - at 11:00. There is a playground here.
The third sector is Amazonia. It presents the inhabitants of the Amazon River: fish, reptiles and amphibians.
The fourth sector is Isla de Hielo. Here, in a large refrigerator, penguins feel great, and there is also a 3D cinema. Their feeding can be observed at 13.00 and 15.00.
In addition, at Selwo Marina, for 120€, you can have fun to get access 'behind the scenes' of the park and feel like a VIP visitor for 4 hours (this service is called 'Cuidador por un dia'): for example, try yourself in the role sea lion trainer, feed the piranhas, play with the penguins...
Selwo Marina ticket offices also sell 'subscriptions' to three places (plus Telerifico (in Benalmadena) and the Selwo Aventura safari park) with a good discount.
The park is closed during winter. And just like Selwo Aventura, it opens from mid-February.
Selwo Marina is located next to La Paloma Park in central Benalmadena. There are stops of the local local bus L2 - Selwo Marina or Molinos Viento, or the stop of the local bus L1 - Parque de la Paloma. As an alternative, you can come by train or buses of the 110th and 120th routes (if you are coming from another resort) e
Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00–24:00
Tickets: adults - 16.50 €, children - 12.20 €
Park website: http://www.selwomarina.com
Aquapark in Torremolinos (AQUALAND)
There are only 2 water parks on the Costa del Sol. One of them - Aqualand is located in the resort town of Torremolinos on its very outskirts. The other one is Parque Acuatico Mijas located in Fuengirola.
It started operating in 1984 and it was the very first water park in all of Spain.
Now it is part of the Aspro Ocio group of companies, which has the largest network of water parks and other entertainment places for children throughout Europe.
Aqualand in Torremolinos is more interesting than Parque Acuatico Mijas. It features 14 attractions that will cause a storm of emotions not only in children, but also in adults (who have a need for adrenaline!). For example, speaking for itself, the waterslide 'Kamikaze' is the highest in Europe - 22 m.
At the entrance, buying a ticket, you are given the opportunity to use all the rides without any restrictions. But the 'equipment' - sunbeds, inflatable circles, a wardrobe - is already for a fee.
There are several cafes in the park, as well as free parking.
The water park is located very close to the crocodile farm, just a few minutes from the center of the resort.. In the summer season it is always open, and since 2008 it has been operating from May 17 to September 14.
On the website of the water park you can buy tickets with a good discount, and it is more profitable to take 'two-day' tickets.
Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 18:00–19:00
Tickets: for adults - 20.50€, for children - 14.50€
Aquapark website: http://www.aqualand.es/torremolinos/en/
Aquapark in Fuengirola (PARQUE AQUATICO MIJAS)
Parque Acuatico Mijas is the second water park on the Costa del Sol and is located in Fuengirola. This park positions itself as 'family friendly'. It appeared later than Aqualand. There are fewer attractions here, and they are not so interesting. To a greater extent, they will be of interest to children. However, if you are vacationing in Fuengirola, then it hardly makes sense to go to Toremolinos. But it’s not worth coming to this water park from another resort area on purpose: it’s better to go straight to Aqualand. But there is one exception when you can specially visit Parque Acuatico Mijas: it opens the season earlier and closes later. And the price of tickets is much lower.
Attractions and entertainment are quite traditional. There is also a restaurant, but you can bring food with you (only if it is not in a glass container!).
There are also souvenir shops, a left-luggage office, a shower, sun loungers and inflatable circles.
View map of the water park (.jpeg)
The water park is located in the western part of Fuengirola, closer to Mijas. Nearby there is a bus station and a train stop, from where every 30 minutes a bus runs to the water park.
The water park is open from late April to early October.
By the way, there are also 'Skmeynye subscriptions', as well as 'reusable' tickets, which are sold at a good discount.
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00–19:00
Tickets: for adults - 15.50 €, for children - 10.50 €
Water park website: http://www.aquamijas.com
Aquarium in Benalmadena (SEA LIFE)
Sea Life is the largest network of educational and entertaining aquariums throughout Europe, with most of them in Germany and the UK. In Spain, it is the only one, and alas, not the most impressive.
The idea of the creators was originally as follows: in addition to pleasant emotions from the contemplation of cute fish and other waterfowl, these aquariums should also fulfill an educational and propaganda task. Visitors are not only told about the life of marine life, but they are also encouraged to take care of nature and the universe, including the inhabitants of the sea depths.
2 places deserve special attention in the aquarium.
The first is an open reservoir in which stingrays live. They can even be stroked and touched: they do not bite and allow guests to do so.
The second is a glass tunnel with ... sharks. Recently, sea turtles have also appeared in it.
There is another corner worth a look - the habitat of a striped snake, whose poison is 40 times stronger than that of a cobra.
The rest that can be seen is the fauna traditional for such establishments.
Sea Life has a convenient location - in the very port of Benalmadena. It is impossible to pass by it: a large sign immediately gives out the location.
Nearby there is a bus stop - located in the complex of the port of Benalmadena. The sign is big and hard to miss. The nearest bus stop is Benalmar (only 5 minutes). The train station is located a little further: it is better to use the bus.
The aquarium is open all year round. It has a mini golf course for children, which is decorated in a 'pirate' style.
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to the evening.
Tickets: for adults - 11.95 €, for children - 8.95 €.
Website: http://www.visitsealife.com/Benalmadena/
Zoo in Fuengirola (BIOPARK FUENGIROLA)
Biopark in Fuengirola is not very big, but quite cozy and cute. It appeared relatively recently - in June 2001. In the same place, there was an old city menagerie, which by that time no longer aroused any interest among either tourists or local residents.
A certain philanthropist-investor transformed an old zoo into a modern biopark by investing 5,000,000 euros in it. And now this is a great place to relax, where instead of cages with animals, tropical flora and fauna are recreated - the natural habitat of animals from Equatorial Africa, Madagascar and Southeast Asia.
Gorillas, Sheepmanzee, orangutans, hippos, crocodiles, tigers, leopards, meerkats, as well as more than 140 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish feel great in the zoo.
The design of the park is thought out to the smallest detail, a wonderful landscape: visitors get the illusion that the territory of the zoo is much larger than the actual one - 2 hectares.
Several times a day (3 times in the summer, 2 times the rest of the time) shows are organized with the participation of the inhabitants of the biopark.
For visiting tourists with children - a great place. Recommended to visit.
Near the zoo there is a bus station and a train stop. Just a few minutes. Open all year round.
Opening hours in July-August, when the peak season, from 10:00 to midnight. But you can see such animals in which the peak of activity occurs at night.
Tickets: for adults - 14.90 € for children - 10.20 €.
Park website: http://www.zoofuengirola.com
Butterfly Park in Benalmadena
Butterfly Park in Benalmadena appeared not so long ago. However, it is one of the largest in all of Europe. Its entire territory covers more than 2000 square meters. This site was donated by the Benalmadena City Hall. And the location of the temple (next to the Buddhist temple 'Stupa') influenced the overall design and style.
The main building, which is a glassed-in tropical garden of 900 square meters, is home to more than 1,500 different exotic beauties (150 varieties of butterflies from Australia, Africa and South America; the rare South American bright blue butterfly, Morpho peleides, also lives here).
The park immediately fell in love with locals and tourists, so it quickly became a landmark not only of the resort of Benalmadena, but of the entire Costa del Sol.
This is an ideal place for the whole family to relax: here you can feel the beauty and harmony of nature, watch butterflies in free flight, see all the biological cycles through which the transformation of a butterfly goes. The life of butterflies is no more than two to three weeks. And only here in the park you can personally observe her birth, the opening of the wings and the first flight! Every day a new individual is born.
About 70% of the individuals appeared inside the park by breeding, and the remaining 30% were specially imported from their countries of origin.
The park maintains a constant temperature of 24 to 29 degrees and humidity of 80%. Diurnal butterflies cannot fly without light, but there are individuals that fly only at night.
One of the tasks of the center is selection work. Here you can learn insect care skills and buy butterflies to develop your own business.
Butterfly Park is not just an attraction. Behind it is the huge work of many charitable and environmental organizations, in particular the fight against deforestation and the jungle of the Amazon and Africa in search of new sources of oil that create jobs for the inhabitants of Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, South America, where rare species of butterflies are found. Such butterflies are the property of all mankind. After visiting Mariposapio, a magical and quivering feeling of happiness remains not only in children, but also in adults!
It is allowed to take photos in the park even with a flash.
Tickets: for adults - 7.50 € (disabled and pensioners 6.50 €), for children 4 €.
Butterfly Park website: http://www.mariposariodebenalmadena.com/English/index.html
Riding School in Estepona (ESCUELA DE ARTE ECUESTRE)
The riding school located in Estepona (Costa del Sol) is one of the largest in all of Spain. The school has been approved by the British Horse Riding Society (BHS), under the latest legislation on Health and Safety in Riding, as meeting all standards and requirements. It has also been officially recognized by the Andalusian Horse Riding Federation (FAH). The school has several top honors; it provides the best European equipment and equipment
The Riding School has a great location - absolute harmony with nature in the suburbs of Estepona, between the Sierra Bermeja mountains and the Mediterranean coast.
Getting to the school is very easy due to the well-developed road infrastructure of Spain and Europe, the proximity of Gibraltar and Malaga airport.
Regardless of your ability level, experienced and qualified staff will help you satisfy your desires, deepen your knowledge and improve your riding skills.
The training courses are designed with professionals and beginners in mind: you will learn more about horses, learn how to work with them, take care of them and enjoy endless riding pleasure.
Children from all over the world come here to learn training skills and jumping techniques. There are also special courses for adults, taking into account individual characteristics, needs and desires. The school prepares professional equestrians for competitions. You can ride just for fun.
There are more than 30 well-trained horses and ponies in the school's stables. And the friendly highly qualified and certified staff is always ready to help all lovers of horses and riding.
