Holiday in Lanzarote with a five-year-old

Duffryman

Am off to Lanzarote for a few days during the February mid-term break with my wife and our five-year-old son. It’ll be our first holiday of this type and the young lad’s first time on a plane, so all looking forward to it. Will be staying in Costa Teguise and will be renting a car.

Just looking for some ideas/advice from people as regards what we might do for activities/excursions?

I’ve searched back through this forum, but there’s nothing recent as regards what I’m asking. As regards Google, a few things keep coming up:

Rancho Texas Park - https://ranchotexaslanzarote.com/en/ - looks good but seems expensive at €30 per adult and €22 for a child, so €82 for all of us – is it worth it at all?

The Pirate Museum - http://museodelapirateria.com/en/ - the young lad likes pirates all right, but this looks maybe a bit too much like a ‘proper’ museum, if you know what I mean? i.e. maybe a 5-year-old would get bored very quickly?

Waterparks – one of them (Aqualava) is closed until April. There’s one called Aquapark in Costa Teguise, where many reviews are very poor. Another one shows up on Google, called Dino Park, but looks like it’s just within a hotel/apartment complex - https://en.hotel-paradiseisland.com/water-park-dino-park/ - not clear if it’s open to visitors as well. Anybody any advice?

Other suggestions gratefully accepted too! Many thanks.

gerrybbadd

Duffryman wrote: »

Am off to Lanzarote for a few days during the February mid-term break with my wife and our five-year-old son. It’ll be our first holiday of this type and the young lad’s first time on a plane, so all looking forward to it. Will be staying in Costa Teguise and will be renting a car.

Just looking for some ideas/advice from people as regards what we might do for activities/excursions?

I’ve searched back through this forum, but there’s nothing recent as regards what I’m asking. As regards Google, a few things keep coming up:

Rancho Texas Park - https://ranchotexaslanzarote.com/en/ - looks good but seems expensive at €30 per adult and €22 for a child, so €82 for all of us – is it worth it at all?

The Pirate Museum - http://museodelapirateria.com/en/ - the young lad likes pirates all right, but this looks maybe a bit too much like a ‘proper’ museum, if you know what I mean? i.e. maybe a 5-year-old would get bored very quickly?

Waterparks – one of them (Aqualava) is closed until April. There’s one called Aquapark in Costa Teguise, where many reviews are very poor. Another one shows up on Google, called Dino Park, but looks like it’s just within a hotel/apartment complex - https://en.hotel-paradiseisland.com/water-park-dino-park/ - not clear if it’s open to visitors as well. Anybody any advice?

Other suggestions gratefully accepted too! Many thanks.

The Rancho park is very overpriced. It's merely "alright". The Birds Flying bit was the best of it really. Food is not great there at all.

naughtysmurf

Haven't been to Lanzarote since 2015 & even then struggled for stuff to do that would suit my lot, we did go to the waterpark in Teguise which I remember being ok, the 5yr old should enjoy it though, here's a link that may help

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attractions-g187477-Activities-Lanzarote_Canary_Islands.html

He'd probably enjoy a camel ride, we did Rancho Texas when the kids were young, don't have terrible memories of it so maybe it's an option

tink2

We got to Lanzarote with our almost 4 year old and he loves it. We haven't bothered with the parks, rent pedalo on the beach, quadricycle so you can cycle around as a family, outdoor cinema in biosfere in Puerto del Carmen great jurassic park themed mini golf. Hang out on the beach and at the pool and eat ice cream! There is a super playground in Arreciefe also overlooking the coast. Though to be honest I just enjoy the sun and sea I wouldn't overthink it too much!! You can also go and tour the volcanos if renting a car and get the ferry to Puerto Calero from PDC we feed fish in the harbour there and have our lunch

Padraig Mor

He might enjoy Cactus Park? Pretty close to Costa Teguise. My then 6 year old liked it last year. Does he like planes? There's a path at the far end of the promenade in Matagorda which brings you right to the end of the runway at the airport where planes will land over your head, and take off practically next to you.

Duffryman

Thanks for all the replies. Think we’ll definitely give the Rancho thing a miss, at those prices. We’ve had the young lad in Dublin Zoo (once) and Fota Wildlife Park (twice), and he’s never been too interested in actually looking at animals – far more interested in where the playground is. I’m sure there’ll be cheaper ways of getting him to a playground in Lanzarote too!

Some of those other things sound good. Not looking for anything too active or strenuous – just ideas for where to head to as we’re out and about each day. Thanks again for all.

PCros

Was there last summer and actually heading over again during the mid term with our 3 and 6 year old.

I see you are renting a car so you could take a drive down to Puerto del Carmen. There are a few things to do on the cheap such as the Mini Golf Aquarium which is a small amusement park that will keep him entertained for an hour or so.

Also you have the Waverider in the old town too which is fun and also there is a inflatable play area which is set up out in the water in front of the beach - not sure if this will be up during off peak but sure fingers crossed.

Duffryman

Thanks. We intend to have a good look around Puerto del Carmen all right, with a view to considering it if or when we go to Lanzarote again.

Had a quick look at the website for the Waverider you mention. Wouldn’t mind it myself – I used to do a bit of scuba diving, so I’m well used to being on a RIB boat. But there’s no way in hell that the good lady wife would go on something like that!

Padraig Mor

There's a playground on the promenade in Matagorda (car park nearby), and also a paid one in the shopping centre. In the same location at the centre they also have an inflatable ball yoke kids can go into and roll around in a little pool of water. Not sure if either will be open in Feb though.

It's about six or seven years since i went to the Rancho park, but I thought it was quite good. It is a lot more than a zoo and has plenty of things for kids to play on. We spent an entire day there and really enjoyed it, as did our 8 year old.

in total, we have stayed in CT about five times, twice in a villa and three time sin hotels and we have loved it every time. If you get the right hotel, the kids won't want to go anywhere for the day. Mine just loved being in the pool all day and going to the hotel run kids clubs.

In the evenings, the main square is a nice place to go. There is often live music and it is very safe and chilled. nearly all the restaurants are child friendly as well.

Duffryman

Hi folks, back here again.

Have just been having a look at Google Maps & Streetview to get some idea of what Costa Teguise is actually like. Does it have an actual sort of "downtown" central area at all, along the lines of what we'd normally be used to in this part of the world? Or is everything quite spaced out everywhere - i.e. buildings back from the road a bit on one side, frequently large car parks at the other side, like just about everywhere I’ve randomly dropped the little Streetview man (person?) onto the map?

Duffryman

Duffryman wrote: »

Hi folks, back here again.

Have just been having a look at Google Maps & Streetview to get some idea of what Costa Teguise is actually like. Does it have an actual sort of "downtown" central area at all, along the lines of what we'd normally be used to in this part of the world? Or is everything quite spaced out everywhere - i.e. buildings back from the road a bit on one side, frequently large car parks at the other side, like just about everywhere I’ve randomly dropped the little Streetview man (person?) onto the map?

the main bit is behind Las Cucharas Beach up to Av De Las Isles Canarias, or that is where most of the restaurants are.

Have you booked a hotel?

Duffryman

Aegir wrote: »

Have you booked a hotel?

Yup. We're pretty open and loose about many aspects of this holiday, but thought it would be a good idea to at least have a place to stay.

We'll be in the Sands Beach Resort, to the north-east of the town and along that road anyway. According to Google Maps, we're probably looking at a 10 to 15 minute walk to get to where you mention. But I'm not sure if those times are based on an adult's walking pace or a five-year-old's walking pace....!

Thanks for the info.

RFOLEY1990

I found Rancho Texas to be good value for the whole day to be honest,

Duffryman

Duffryman wrote: »

Yup. We're pretty open and loose about many aspects of this holiday, but thought it would be a good idea to at least have a place to stay.

We'll be in the Sands Beach Resort, to the north-east of the town and along that road anyway. According to Google Maps, we're probably looking at a 10 to 15 minute walk to get to where you mention. But I'm not sure if those times are based on an adult's walking pace or a five-year-old's walking pace....!

Thanks for the info.

I have stayed in the HD hotel next door and it isn't that far at all. Not that you would want to rush anyway, it is a nice stroll. Ten minutes tops for an adult.

Between those car parks you mentioned and the beach, are lots of little streets you can walk through. Some are residential, others have little shops, some have restaurants.

When you get past the Malia Hotel, you can turn left and walk down to the beach and stroll along the prom, which is great for kids. At the far end of the beach is the Plaza Tenerife which is where the main nightlife is (we're not talking Magaluf here though, it is very low key and family orientated) and there are some decent restaurants with live singers and the like. Very good for an evening. I'd highly recommend La Vaca Loca. It's an Argentinian steak restaurant that is great for people who don't eat salads, cous cous, veg or anything not cow derived!

Don't wory about finding the littleun things to do, the Sands is very family orientated and Costa Teguise itself is a lovely little spot.

Duffryman

Thanks again. Some more useful info there.

@RFOLEY1990 - yup, the Rancho place looks like it would be a good day out for many people all right, but as I said above, our lad doesn't have any real interest in looking at animals. Tried him yesterday with a hypothetical 'would you like to go to the zoo when we're on holiday?' and the answer was a very definite no. A swimming pool, beach, and ice cream are all that's on his agenda!

I know the Rancho Texas has got stuff other than the animal displays as well (splash park, playground, etc.), but again, just think it'd be an expensive trip for all three of us (€82) if all he'd end up doing there is spending time in the playground and splashing around a bit.