Fun things for children in Benalmadena!

Everyone that is looking to buy a property on the Costa del Sol asks for what to do with children! Benalmadena is a haven for adults and children alike when it comes to entertainment. There are so many options, no matter if it is a hot summer’s day or one of the cooler days in the winter. Here is a list of fun things for children in Benalmadena!

SELWO MARINA

Most likely the best place to visit with the smaller ones in the summer is the Selwo Marina aquarium close to Paloma Park.  Here one can explore everything from amazing dolphin shows, swimming with sea lions, or meeting with penguins in a manmade igloo. There are a variety of species in the park, including reptiles, frogs, exotic fish and various plants. The park organises educational talks to the visiting children, so this becomes a fun day out as a great learning experience. The park has two restaurants and several kiosks for refreshments.

SEALIFE

Another place to visit, also with a marine theme is Sealife  aquarium in Benalmadena Marina 

It is a shorter visit than the one above, and will combine well with a lunch or dinner in one of the great restaurants in the harbour. In the park the children can enjoy a “Jurassic tunnel”, walking under the swimming sharks and sting-rays. There is an interactive area where there are sea stars and other interesting underwater creatures that can be touched. For adults the best part is that it is nice and cool inside.

CABLE CARS

The “Teleferico” cable car experience is fantastic, but best done during the cooler time of the year. The cable car takes you from the centre of Arroyo de la Miel to the top of the mountain of Calamorro. Apart from the fun ride up the mountain, the reward is amazing when you get up there. The view is something out of the ordinary, 360 degrees the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Malaga, the Atlas Mountains and Gibraltar. At certain hours there are shows with birds of prey, a truly amazing experience, both exciting and educational. The mountain top offers walking trails with viewpoints where great family photographs can be taken. There is also a snack bar/restaurant up here, unless you want to take a picnic to enjoy in the stunning scenery.

Just bear in mind that the tickets for the cable cars are one way tickets – best to buy a return trip as the way down is very long. 

Paloma Park

Paloma Park “Parque de La Paloma”.  This is one of the largest parks on the Costa del Sol with over 200.000 square meters of land. It is such a beautiful gem situated within walking distance from either Benalmadena Costa or Arroyo de La Miel. In this amazing park there are friendly small animals running freely about – rabbits, chickens, ducks and tortoises. There is also an enclosure for goats and a large manmade lake. At the entrance of the park there is a trendy café/bar with nice chill out music. This adventure is free, no cost at all and perfect for a Sunday stroll before heading off to lunch in one of the great restaurants in and around Bonanza square. As you can see there are lots of fun things for children in Benalmadena! Keep reading!

BUTTERFLY PARK

The Butterfly park  is another exciting place to visit and can be done in combination with a visit to the “Stupa”, although the latter is more for adults. Both attractions are located within a 20 minutes’ walk from Benalmadena Pueblo, or 15 minutes from the Reserva de Higueron complex. The Butterfly Park offers a great hour or two amongst 1500 exotic butterflies from all over the world, flying freely in an enclosure full of waterfalls and amazing plants. An interesting fact is that the creatures only have a lifespan of 2-3 weeks so you will be able to see new species on each visit, if you come regularly. New butterflies are born every day and it is fascinating for the children, and the adults to be able to watch the process from egg to caterpillar to their first attempt to fly.

AQUAPARK

Aqualand is technically located in Torremolinos but can easily be reached from Benalmadena Costa or Benalmadena Pueblo by public transport. The park is well planned into four different sections apt for different age groups of families. There is “the adrenaline fun area”, which speaks for itself – not for the faint-hearted! It entails about 10 different attractions which some of the braver kids would love. The kids’ zone is for the little one, a safe place with shallow waters and lots of slides and hanging bridges, designed in a child friendly theme. The “family fun area” is the area with a 1.400 m2 swimming pool with a beach entrance and this is where they put on surf waves every so often though out the day. Least but not last there is a relaxation area with a hydro massage pool and Jacuzzi, as well as a chill out area underneath well needed shade. The park has several food and drink outlets.

FUENGIROLA ZOO

Least but not last one has to mention the BioPark, situated in Fuengirola centre, a mere bus or train trip away, depending on where you are in Benalmadena. The BioPark  is a haven right in the centre on town, where over 200 species of endangered animals are cared for to avoid their extinction. Here the children can enjoy watching the Sumatra tiger, orang-utans, and crocodiles to name a few, in a natural and safe habitat. There are a few food outlets and a souvenir shop in the park – do not get carried away in the shop, there are too many cute items to take away.

BEACH, BEACH, BEACH

Least but not last the beaches. Coming from colder countries, any child will enjoy a beach holiday. (Just be careful with the sun!). The nice place with Benalmadena Costa is that nearly all beaches have a shallow entrance to the water so children and adults alike can wade out together. There is a great beach with a pier for activities such as canoeing or wakeboarding, just on the east side of the casino hotel Torrequebrada, leading towards SunSet beach. Along the stretch of beach there is a boardwalk where one can stop for a drink or a bite to eat at any of the nice “chiringuitos” along Playa de Torrequebrada.

If you liked our list of “Fun things for children in Benalmadena!” you should read our article about Benalmadena to get more info on why Benalmadena is a great place to buy a property on the Costa del Sol!