Family holidays
Tenerife with kids: water parks, whale watching and Mount Teide
Tenerife has more for children to do than any other Canary Island. It has one of Europe's best-known water parks, boat trips out to pilot whales and a volcano you can drive up. Here is what we would prioritise, and the hotels that suit families best.
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The boat has drifted for ten minutes off the west coast when a black back breaks the surface, then another. The pilot whales glide past, and a six-year-old holds his breath as long as they do. Later he says it beat the water park.
Tenerife is the island for families who want to do more than lie by the pool. The south has reliable sun and plenty of hotels, and the rest of the island is a short drive away. We have gathered what works for children, and the hotels we would choose.
Short answer: where to stay in Tenerife with kids
Costa Adeje in the south is the best area for families, with calm beaches such as Fañabé, big family hotels and a short trip to Siam Park and the whale-watching boats. For more space and calm, the west coast around Guía de Isora is a good alternative with a hire car.
Best for school-age children: Siam Park
Best nature: whale watching
Best day trip: Teide National Park
Best beach for toddlers: Playa de Fañabé
Best family hotel: Iberostar Selection Anthelia
Iberostar Selection Anthelia
The pool area at Iberostar Selection Anthelia.
Costa Adeje: beaches, kids' clubs and a water park
Costa Adeje is the family base on Tenerife. The beaches often have calm water, and the promenade runs along the coast past playgrounds and cafés. Siam Park, the Thai-themed water park, is nearby, with slides for every age, from a toddler pool to steep chutes for teenagers.
A little further east, Los Cristianos has a sheltered town beach by the harbour and a long promenade. Ferries leave here for neighbouring La Gomera, and a day trip across the strait to green mountains and small villages makes a good break from the beach for families with older children.
The catch: Siam Park is packed during school holidays. Buy tickets in advance and arrive at opening.
Iberostar Anthelia: kids' club and a pirate ship
The hotel sits right above Fañabé beach, with children's pools, slides and a pirate ship. Its clubs cater for ages four up to the teens. It suits families who want the beach, the club and the food in one place, and some rooms can be booked with a connecting door.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Iberostar Selection Anthelia
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
The pool at Royal Hideaway Corales Suites.
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites: space and sea views
These suites sit at the southern end of Costa Adeje, where the coast grows quieter, with views of the sea and La Gomera. It is a good choice for families who want more room than a standard hotel room. The pool looks over the ocean, and the mood is calmer than at the biggest resorts.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Royal Hideaway Corales Suites
Baobab Suites
The sea-view terrace at Baobab Suites.
Baobab Suites: a kitchen and a terrace
Baobab Suites is on the slope above Costa Adeje, with large suites, kitchens and terraces facing the sea. It suits families who want to make their own breakfast and have room to spread out. The beach is a short drive away, not on the doorstep.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Baobab Suites
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama
The palm-lined pool at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama.
Whale watching and Los Gigantes
Pilot whales and dolphins live year-round between Tenerife and La Gomera, and boat trips leave from the southern harbours. Choose an operator with fewer passengers and an environmental certification, and bring a jacket even if it is warm on land.
The cliffs at Los Gigantes on the west coast are among the highest in Europe, and many boat trips combine whales with a cruise along the cliffs.
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama: a small kingdom
Abama sits on the cliffs at Guía de Isora on the west coast, with vast grounds, several pools and a funicular down to the hotel's own beach. It suits families who plan to spend much of the holiday at the hotel and have a hire car for trips. It is big and expensive.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama
Teide and the north: a day at altitude
Teide is Spain's highest mountain, and the national park around the volcano looks like a lunar landscape. The drive up is an experience in itself, and children can spot lava flows and odd rock formations from the car.
In the north, Puerto de la Cruz is home to the Loro Parque animal park, and Las Teresitas beach near Santa Cruz has pale sand and calm water.
The catch: it is cold at altitude even when the coast is warm, and the air is thin. Take it easy with younger children.
Good to know before you go
The south is sunniest: the north is greener and often cloudier.
A hire car helps most: Teide, Los Gigantes and the north coast are easiest by car.
Choose whale trips with care: pick operators that keep their distance from the animals.
February half-term is peak: flights and hotels fill quickly.
Tenerife with kids: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in Tenerife with kids?
Costa Adeje in the south has the most sun, calm beaches and the most family hotels, close to Siam Park.
What can kids do in Tenerife?
Siam Park, whale watching, Teide National Park and Loro Parque are the most popular family activities.
Can you see whales in Tenerife all year?
Yes. Pilot whales and several dolphin species live in the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera year-round.
Which Tenerife beach is best for toddlers?
Playa de Fañabé in Costa Adeje and Las Teresitas in the north have calm water and suit the youngest.