Things to do with kids in the Costa del Sol

Theme Parks

Whether it’s water, adventure or amusement parks, you’re spoilt for choice in the Costa del Sol. Here are just a handful of ideas that will entertain and totally tire out your little darlings…

Aquamijas is a huge water park in Mijas with attractions for all ages, including hundreds of metres of enclosed and open tube slides, adventure rivers, water toboggans, a wave pool and a giant jacuzzi. For the little ones, there’s Lizard’s Island and the Jungle pool, and for the older thrill-seekers, the dizzying kamikaze slide will get their adrenaline pumping.

Costa Water Park, with locations in Puerto Banús, Benalmádena and Fuengirola, is an inflatable playground floating on the water, with giant slides, balance bridges, spinners, swings, and so much more for kids that love to make a splash.

Mundo Mania in Estepona is a play centre for all seasons. Indoor facilities include an interactive playframe for toddlers, slides, ball pits, trampolines and a climbing wall, and for the older kids there’s pool, air hockey and table football. For outdoor fun, there are water and trampoline parks, multi-sports pitches and a play area for toddlers.

For kids who enjoy the challenge of an escape room, Prison Island in Benalmádena will truly test their ingenuity, with 24 cells to be broken out of in a limited time. Teamwork is the name of the game here!

In the same complex as Prison Island, there’s Laser Island, where kids (and competitive parents) can show off their strategist skills to “shoot” and eliminate the rival team. State-of-the-art laser vests and guns, smoke machines, simulation lights and luminescent walls make this a thrilling immersive experience.

Boulevard San Pedro is a recreational haven for children of all ages, built over the main coastal highway through San Pedro de Alcántara. With its six differently themed playgrounds, skatepark, outdoor amphitheatre and bars and restaurants, as well as a 300 metre long undulating bridge connecting the two parts, the boulevard is a hive of activity and a hub for cultural events.

Water Sports

For kids that want to experience the adrenaline rush of travelling across or above the water at speed, they can take their pick of the multitude of water sports offered in the Costa del Sol, including jet skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding and kite surfing. If you prefer a little less speed – but just as much fun – there’s sea kayaking and paddle surfing, and of course family favourites such as the banana, doughnut and pedal boats. Or why not charter a boat to explore the coastline? For the more intrepid, discover underwater wonders with a day of scuba diving. Or for some freshwater frolics, try out canyoning in the Guadalmina river. There are many schools and rental shops along the coast that offer equipment for hire. Our Guest Experience Manager can recommend trusted providers and assist you in making reservations.

All Creatures Great and Small

Seeing animals in real life is always going to be a hit with kids and there are many ways to experience wildlife in the Costa del Sol. Explore the following parks where you’ll get the chance to see countless species of fauna and flora and to participate in animal encounters and educational talks.

Bioparc, Fuengirola. Immerse yourselves in a tropical rainforest, a recreated environment where visitors enter the animals’ world rather than peer at them through cages. There’s everything from lizards to crocodiles, chimps to orangutans, meerkats to tigers, snakes to tortoises, kingfishers to flamingos and a host of other amazing animals.

Selwo Safari Park, Estepona. Discover habitats and species from five continents, making your way through four territories which include the lakes reserve and the bird canyon. Other than observing and learning about the animals and their ecosystems, additional activities include a zipline across the lake, bungee trampolines, archery and a spectacular 65 metre long footbridge, 15 metres high!

Selwo Marina, Benalmádena. If marine animals are more your little ones’ thing, come and see these graceful mammals up close and take part in the animal interaction activities offered at Selwo. You can meet the dolphins, penguins, sea lions and exotic birds, and find out more about their conservation.

Sealife, Benalmádena. Watch the unique and majestic rays glide in Rays Island, be awed at the sharks in the Jurassic Tunnel, observe the poison dart frogs and piranhas in the tropical forest, and admire the vividly coloured inhabitants of the coral reef. Kids can get their hands wet in the rockpool, where they can handle the starfish and hermit crabs. And don’t miss Sealife’s new exhibition Sea at Night, where they can experience the first interactive bioluminescent beach in Spain!

Butterfly Park, Benalmádena. Take a walk through this tropical paradise which is home to 1,500 butterflies fluttering freely through the park. You can even visit the nursery and witness them emerge from their chrysalis and fly for the first time.

Crocodile Park, Torremolinos. Crazy for crocs and gators? Come and visit these amazing present-day dinosaurs as well as lizards, tortoises and porcupines. Don’t forget to snap a few photos…

Lobopark, Málaga. If your fascination is for wolves, make time in your schedule for this 40-hectare wolf park. There are guided tours (also in English) which will take you through beautiful protected woodland to the wolf enclosures. You may also catch a glimpse of other rescued animals, such as foxes. For something really special, the park opens its doors for regular Wolf Howl Nights, where you can hear their haunting vocalisations in real life.

Donkey Dreamland Rescue Centre, Mijas. Take a tour of the sanctuary and find out about these animals and some of their life stories. Kids can pet and groom them or go on a donkey walk through the gorgeous countryside.

Dolphin and whale watching

There’s nothing quite like beholding a pod of dolphins swimming alongside your boat or an impressive whale breaching out of the water and defying gravity as it soars into the air. A wonderful experience for adults and children alike, there are many companies along the coast offering the chance to see these beautiful marine animals in their natural environment. Ask us if you’d like to know more.

Take a Hike

Although many youngsters may not be hugely enthusiastic about using their own two feet to get around, they might be tempted to make an exception on their holidays in the Costa del Sol. The offer of splashing in rock pools during their hike might persuade them, and there are many beautiful river trails in Benahavís where they can do just that. You can take your pick from easier routes of just a few kilometres, such as the “Dragonfly route” along the banks and dam of the Guadalmina river or go for moderately challenging treks to sites like the Guadalmina canyon and the ruins of the Castillo de Montemayor. Go on, take a walk on the wild side!

2 wheels or 4?

Fancy a wheely fun alternative to walking? Channel your speed demon with some karting, try a more leisurely segway tour or go off-road in a dune buggy and explore the beautifully rugged landscape.

Funny Hill Karting Marbella has a track with a sea view and offers adult, children and tandem karting as well as bumper cars and bungee trampolines. For the little ones there’s a playground, ball pit and jungle train, and for the tweens and teens there are super cool virtual reality simulators.

Marbella Buggys. Strap yourself into your 2-seater buggy and follow your expert guide through the stunning Andalucian landscape. Trips last 2 or 3 hours or you can request your own personalised tour.

Back in the Saddle

If you prefer hooves to wheels, the Costa del Sol has you covered, with many excellent riding schools and centres offering lessons and horseback tours for all levels.

Marbella Horses. Located in Gualdalmansa (20 km from Marbella centre) and just a stone’s throw away from the beach, this riding school is well placed for offering treks along the shore. Choose a Shetland pony (5-12 year-olds) or one of their larger breeds for a walk, or canter for the more experienced, by the sea. You can opt for a private lesson or participate in gymkhanas and other equestrian activities.

Centro Hípico El Repique, Marbella. Whether your children are novices or expert riders, the centre organises lessons and treks according to ability and age, with rides through the picturesque foothills above Marbella ranging from one to three hours.

Contact us for more information or for suggestions close to your villa.

Anyone for Tennis…?

If your child aces it on the court, or just loves racquet sports, there are many excellent clubs to choose from along the Costa del Sol. It will definitely be game, set and match!

Royal Tennis Club Marbella holds summer camps for children of all ages and abilities, with multilingual trainers providing one-to-one sessions or group lessons. Padel and table tennis are also available, as well as a host of other kid-friendly activities.

Tennis Brothers Marbella Club offers individual and group tennis lessons for kids, weekend classes for pre-schoolers to teens, and one-day mini tournaments. Their ethos is that tennis should be fun!

A Head for Heights

Teleférico Benalmádena. Want unrivalled views of the Mediterranean and surrounding countryside? Step into this cable car and let yourself be whisked the three kilometres from Benalmádena coast up to Monte Calamorro in just 15 minutes. At 800 metres above sea level, nothing gets in the way of the stunning panorama. If the vistas are not impressive enough, once you’re at the top there are equestrian and bird of prey shows, as well as several kilometres of hiking and biking trails.

Culture Vultures

For a change of scenery and a chance to recover from all that high-adrenaline activity, we suggest a few of the many options on offer to entertain, inspire and educate the kids on their holidays.

Pompidou Centre, Málaga. Easily recognisable by its iconic glass cube structure, the centre showcases selections of 20^th and 21^st Century modern artwork and installations from the Pompidou Museum in Paris. Its small scale makes it an ideal museum for kids, who also get the chance to give full expression to their inner artist with the painting and drawing activities on offer.

Interactive Music Museum (MIMMA), Málaga. With over one thousand musical instruments and objects, this interactive museum is a great place for kids to learn about the origins of music across the world. In the “Please Play” rooms, children get the opportunity to play and experiment with instruments with the aid of a virtual teacher.  Music to their ears!

Automobile and Fashion Museum, Málaga. Housing one of the biggest private collections of vintage cars in the world, with 80 automobiles organised across ten different themes and eras, this museum presents the car as a work of art. There’s something here for every preference, from functional to bling, classic to super cool. And for the retro fashionistas among you, check out the memorabilia spanning from the twenties to the fifties, including vintage fashion and travel items.

Picasso Museum, Málaga. If your kids have an artistic streak, why not introduce them to the innovative, influential and prolific Picasso at this museum dedicated to the artist’s work. There are just under 400 of his artworks on display here, including paintings, drawings, graphic art, sculptures and ceramics, as well as lots of information about the artist and his life. It’s free for under 16s with complementary audio guides in several languages.

Finger-licking Fun

The foodies and budding mini-chefs can try their hand at making Michelin star worthy creations – obviously they can eat them afterwards!

Mayan Monkey Mijas chocolate factory. Ready to get choco-loco? Forget Willy Wonka, this is the place to be! Take a guided tour of the museum, during which you’ll learn all about the origins of cacao and the world of chocolate, whilst you sample their delicious ethically sourced artisan chocolates. Workshops run seven days a week, from a 15-minute introduction to a full 90 minutes where your kids will make chocolate bars, bonbons and other choccy treats and learn all about the art of the chocolatier. They can take away their own creations (if there are any left…). Come in and get stuck in!

Food Room Marbella, Guadalmina. For those MasterChef wannabes, the Food Room offers regular cooking courses and workshops for adults and children, as well as tailor-made events and experiences. Move over Gordon Ramsay…!

Marbella Mountain Resorts would be very happy to organise any trips, tours, events and experiences for you during your stay at one of our villas. Please contact our team and we will be delighted to help.