Lava Pools and Water Parks in the Canary Islands

I will tell you not only about the largest water parks in the Canary Islands and the coolest water park in Tenerife, but also about lava pools and their features. You’ll learn about the differences, where it’s worth visiting, and where it will be quite boring. It’s not accurate to call the Canary Islands a beach country; there are no endless sandy beaches here. Instead, about 90% of the coastline consists of solidified lava and rocks. That’s why numerous water parks and lava pools have emerged on the islands for tourists.

Water Parks in the Canaries: General Information for Tourists

Since the islands, especially during the season, attract a large number of tourists and the coastline is heavily indented with not so many beaches, over the past decade, there has been active construction of water parks and other aquatic leisure areas in the Canary Islands.

It’s important to understand:

The Canaries are a volcanic archipelago. Even today, there are active volcanoes here, and about 90% of the coastline looks like the photo below. You can’t just go swimming in the ocean wherever you want, even at an infrastructural resort. Full-fledged long sandy beaches are only found on the island of Fuerteventura. Read all about volcanoes and mountains on the islands here.

Today, almost all the islands have several water parks. And on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, there are probably about ten of them in total. If there’s a water park near your resort where you’re staying, read reviews before visiting. Water parks in the Canaries are not always what you expect from a water park. Sometimes it can just be a relaxation area with loungers by the pools. Here are some nuances:

• Not all, but many water parks have saltwater pools.
• There are either no slides or they are very low and few. Mostly these are slides for children; adults will be bored in most water parks.
• In winter, water parks in the Canary Islands are closed. Only a couple of the largest ones are open. The water park season starts in May, although tourists are here year-round. Read all about the weather and the season in the Canaries, when it’s best to visit.

Useful to know:

A water park can simply be called an area with pools of saltwater, lazy rivers, and sunbeds. There may be a couple of children’s slides.

• There’s a café on the premises of any water park where you can have lunch. But the assortment is usually limited, and prices are high. Bringing your own food to water parks is not prohibited. So always bring snacks, especially if you’re with children.

About vacationing in the Canaries with children, nuances, features, and the dangers that children may encounter.

Siam Park on Tenerife

I’ll tell you separately about Siam Park. And I’ll list all the other water parks. They don’t come close to Siam Park. There’s no better water park anywhere in the Canaries, in Spain, possibly in Europe, and in the world.

Siam Park on Tenerife:

This is a real water park for both children and adults, of huge size, with plenty of slides and different zones. I could write many epithets, but here’s a fact: Siam Park has been the best water park in the world for 9 consecutive years! What else do you need to understand that this is a mega-cool attraction?

Information to help:

• Open year-round
• Plan to spend the entire day here. Huge territory.
• Official website, where you can also buy tickets: https://siampark.net/
• The ticket price for adults is 42 euros. But good water parks around the world are not cheap.
• The water park is outdoors (like all in the Canaries), so it might be chilly in winter months.
• Coordinates of Siam Park (in the south of Tenerife): 28.072098842324497, -16.725611078173152

Tip:

The founder of Siam Park also has a mega-cool zoo in Tenerife called Loro Park, which is very interesting even for adults. And this zoo also has many international awards. There’s an opportunity to buy tickets (on different days) to Siam Park and Loro Park at a discount. You can save about 10 euros. Check the list of the coolest attractions in Tenerife; you’ll find a description of the zoo there.

List of other water parks in the Canary Islands

Next, here’s a list of good water parks in the Canary Islands. I’ll also provide coordinates and a link to the map to make it easier to navigate. And I’ll indicate websites; be sure to check current prices and operating hours before visiting. Some water parks only operate in the summer. At some, you may need to pay extra for a sunbed, etc.

Everything you need to know about lava pools and recreation areas

I’ll also tell you about very interesting recreation areas on the ocean shore. You can find them on almost any island, except for Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

Where there is no beach, where the coastline is rocky, and there are always strong waves, people have built pools right in the solidified lava. It always looks different, and the sizes vary, from small to huge.

Most of these lava pools are absolutely free, but there are large complexes where entry is paid. Since it’s just a pool with ocean water, the prices are low. Where it’s paid, the ticket costs around 5 euros for the whole day.

Advantages of lava pools: no waves, the water is warmer than in the ocean, no rip currents, no sea urchins or sharp rocks at the bottom, shallow. In some resorts, such pools are the only option for swimming in the ocean.

Below will be a table of the best and most interesting lava pools in the Canaries, in my opinion. But in reality, there are more. In the header, in the menu of this guide, there are separate overview articles for each island. Read about the one you’re going to; there’s more information about such places there.

This is far from a complete list. But these are the most equipped and best lava pools or just pools by the ocean. There are many more wild and unequipped ones, very small; if you travel a lot around the islands, you’ll definitely find such pools. And the list of the best beaches in the Canary Islands can be found in the article via the link. There are many black beaches with volcanic sand.

In conclusion: I hope you’ve learned about lava pools and water parks in the Canary Islands. I absolutely recommend everyone not to pass by Siam Park; it’s truly one of the best water parks in the world. And for those who rent a car, there’s a huge list of free lava pools. Bring flip-flops, a towel, and go swimming with mega-cool views of the ocean and the islands.

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

• Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.
• Accommodation:
  • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.
  • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.
• Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.
• Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.
• eSIM and internet: Airalo.
• Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.
• Travel Insurance: EKTA.