3 Hidden Gems For Kids in Tenerife

As a mum of 2 I know how hard it can be to keep kids entertained. Whilst Tenerife is full of incredible beaches, water parks, and activities, sometimes you just want to do something a bit more chilled. Here are my top 3 picks for alternative things to do with your kids in Tenerife.

#1 - Monkey Park

Monkey park is one of, if not the hidden gem for kids staying in Los Cristianos, Las Americas, or Costa Adeje. It's a short 5 minute taxi ride outside of Los Cristianos but they don't sell tickets through excursion shops or online, so you likely won't have heard of it. 

It really excells as a place to take small children and infants, we have been taking our kids since they were aged 2 and both of them loved it from day one, and still ask to go most weekends. They simply love being that close to the animals, and getting to handle the Parrots, Monkeys and Guinea Pigs. Plus, my eldest is a Dinosaur nut, so he loves the Crocodiles and Snakes.

The best time to arrive is early morning, when it's quietest. Take the park at your own pace, you can easily kill 1-2 hours and stop for a picnic in the small cafeteria at the end. To make a day of it, head to the nearby La Peppa Food Market afterwards which has a huge soft play, an outdoor food court with incredible street food, and a large screen TV that shows most major sporting events.

#2 - Mariposa del Drago aka Butterfly Park 

The Butterfly sanctuary located in Icod de los Vinos is home to over 800 butterflies and a beautiful indoor jungle. It's a great way to kill an hour as the kids explore and learn about the lifecycle of the butterfly, they can even hold the fully grown ones. If you're super lucky you might see one of them emerge from it's chrysalis and take it's first flight. 

Mariposa del Drago is located a stones throw from the world famous "Dragon Tree" which makes an excellent secondary place to visit, and the beautiful town square directly opposite is home to quaint cafes and a decent sized kids play park. Between the three attractions and the town center you can happily spend the day in Icod.

#3 - Finca el Carreton

The Finca el Carreton is a small farm / petting-zoo situated just outside of Candelaria on the East Coast of Tenerife, a short drive away from Santa Cruz. Home to a variety of animals and fauna, you can spend a couple of hours exploring, feeding the animals, riding a Pony, and even milking a Goat! 

The on-site restaurant serves incredible BBQ food at great prices (seriously, it's such good value) and is a great way to cap off the visit. 

Aim to get there for mid-morning to give you enough time to do some exploring before the Pony rides at 11.15 and 13.15. The goat milking takes place at 12pm. On-site parking is available for free and you can purchase food to feed the animals at the park entrance.

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