Lanzarote with kids: 14 fun activities in a row!
A vacation to Lanzarote with kids is a bit different from the other Canary Islands such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The island is less focused on mass tourism and you will not find tourist towns with only high-rise buildings, but mostly low white houses. Lanzarote is a 4.5-hour flight from the Netherlands and the island is of volcanic origin. This ensures that there is also plenty of beautiful nature on the island. In addition, there is plenty of entertainment for kids. We list all the fun activities in Lanzarote with kids for you below.
How do I get to Lanzarote with kids?
Lanzarote is a Spanish island and the majority of Dutch families fly to the island. You fly to Lanzarote from Amsterdam in about four and a half hours. You have several airlines that fly to Lanzarote from the Netherlands. Of course, it is smart to check carefully in advance which airline has the best prices and times.
For a list of all flights to Lanzarote, take a look here.
Lanzarote with kids: package trip
Most families who book a vacation to Lanzarote do so with a package tour. A package tour means that the hotel and flight are included in a package and occasionally the food and drink at the hotel. You have plenty of family-friendly hotels in Lanzarote where you can have a wonderful vacation with the family. A big advantage of a package tour is that there are often several families at the same hotel, so your kids will have plenty of kids to play with. We list the most popular options among families on the island.
RIU Paraiso Lanzarote: This hotel is one of the most popular hotels among Dutch families in Lanzarote. This hotel has the all-inclusive formula, where food and drinks are already included in the price, and the hotel has no less than four different pools, including two different pools especially for kids.
This hotel has a playground for kids and also a RIU land kids club for ages four to seven and eight to 12. Both daytime and evening entertainment is available, and kids can also go to the disco here in the evening.
For more information about RIU Paraiso Lanzarote, take a look here.
TIME TO SMILE Guinate Club: this is a somewhat smaller hotel located 600 meters from a large beach. Here they also have a pool, which is heated in winter, and there is also a pool for kids. Six days a week, a Dutch host is present to be the point of contact during your vacation.
For more information about TIME TO SMILE Guinate Club, take a look here.
TUI BLUE Flamingo Beach: this hotel is located right on the beach and guests here stay in white cottages, making it seem like an entire Spanish village. The hotel has no less than three outdoor pools, one of which is heated in the winter months.
Also, at this Lanzarote hotel you can take kids to a water spray park for kids and you have no less than four different clubs for different age groups, where kids can get together and be entertained. In addition, the hotel has a playground and you can take kids to the mini disco at this Lanzarote hotel.
For more information about TUI BLUE FLAMINGO BEACH hotel, take a look here.
Lanzarote with kids #1 Timanfaya National Park
Of course, most families with kids visit Lanzarote for the sun and beaches, but there really is some nature to see in addition. One of the best visited attractions of the island is the Timanfaya National Park. The rugged volcanic landscape is impressive and have often been used as a backdrop in films such as Lord of the Rings, for example.
You will drive your car to the park’s visitor center and there you will take the bus to take a route through the park. Due to safety concerns, you are not allowed to drive your own car through the park, nor are you allowed to get off the bus along the way. This is a bit tricky for the photos, since you have to take them behind the glass of the bus. The bus ride takes about half an hour and is beautiful. For the national park you pay an entrance fee and a ride on the bus is included in the entrance fee.
Afterwards, you can have a meal prepared by geothermal energy at El Diablo restaurant. For example, they roast chickens here over a deep hole and with a hot air flow of as much as 350°C. By the way, near the restaurant there are men from the park showing how hot it really is under the earth.
For example, they use a bunch of straw to show how quickly it catches fire in a pit. Within seconds the bush begins to smoke and not much later it is on fire. They also do this by throwing water into the holes, which then creates a geyser. For kids, of course, an interesting sight. In addition, the men give the audience pieces of gravel that are tremendously hot and you can barely hold onto. You can also take a half-hour ride on a camel with the family in this national park.
Lanzarote with kids #2 beaches
Most families visit Lanzarote with kids because of the island’s beaches. Lanzarote is a volcanic island, so you have many black beaches on the island, which are not always immediately suitable for kids. We list below the beaches most suitable for families with kids.
Playa Grande: This is the beautiful sandy beach in Puerto del Carmen and this beach is up to three kilometers long. Most facilities do exist on this beach and you can rent sunbeds with umbrellas. Along the beach runs the boulevard Avenida de Playa, where there are plenty of nice joints for a bite to eat and a drink. You can also do great snorkeling in the sea here, as the water is very clear. Near Playa Grande is also Playa Chica, which is very popular among families because of its calm waters.
Playa Blanca: this place including beach is located at the very south of the island and this beach also has the most amenities. This place and beach are about a half-hour drive from Playa Grande. From this beach you can also take the water cab to the secluded beaches of Papagayo. These are a number of beautiful little beaches separated from each other by cliffs.
You can also go here by car, but the route to it is partly unpaved and not ideal. Take the water cab to these little beaches in the morning and you can still have the beach largely to yourself. Boat times are below.
Playa Blanca to Marina Rubicón 10:00, 11:30, 13:30 & 15:30
Marina Rubicón to Papagayo 10:10, 11:40, 13:40 & 15:40
Papagayo to Marina Rubicón 10:45, 12:15, 14:15 & 16:15
Marina Rubicón to Playa Blanca 11:00, 12:30, 14:30 & 16:30
Lanzarote with kids: water parks / play parks
You can also visit some great parks in Lanzarote with kids. We list the best parks below.
#3 Aqualava Water Park: this water park is located in the south of the island in the town of Playa Blanca. It has both a section for young and older kids. In Corsario Bay, you have a water area for smaller kids with a large water playground and several smaller slides. The water here is shallow and most of the slides kids can slide off on their own.
In the Timan Fire section, you have some spectacular slides, for which you have to be at least 1.20 meters tall. Some of these slides require you to go down the slide with a tire. You also have a beach (Aqualava Beach) where artificial waves are produced in the water section. This water park also has a lazy river, where you take a lap in a tire on a flowing river.
#4 Rancho Texas: You can also go to see different animal shows in Lanzarote with kids. In fact, Rancho Texas is a combination of a zoo and a water park. Animal shows include shows featuring birds, birds of prey, sea lions, dolphins and white tigers. In addition, kids can search for gold in the park, go boating, ride a pony and slide down various slides.
#5 Aquapark Costa Teguise: this water park is just over a ten-minute drive away from Lanzarote’s capital city (Recife). This water park also has several slides for both young and older kids. You have several spectacular slides that you go down with a belt, mat or without aids. There are also several children’s slides for younger children, as well as a water area for smaller children.
#6 Pardelas Park: this petting zoo with playground is located in the north of the island, and kids here can feed the farm animals and play in the playground. There is also an opportunity for kids to clay, but it’s not a big deal. Kids can also take a ride on a pony here.
Since the playground is not super large either, you won’t need more than an hour for this park. You don’t have to get in the car especially for that, but if you’re taking a tour of the island, then stopping here is an option. There is also a restaurant at the park.
Lanzarote with kids #7 little road trip around the island
If you want to see a little more of the island of Lanzarote with kids, you can take a small tour by car 15 minutes from the town of Playa Blanca and visit some of the island’s sights. You can then start at Salinas de Janubio which is a kind of salt flat.
From this salt flats, you drive to the island’s green lake (el Lago Verde) in just over 15 minutes. The flooded crater has turned green in color due to algae and it is one of the island’s most visited free attractions. You walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint and here you can take pictures of the lake. You can then walk down the path and past the green lake. Swimming is prohibited here, by the way. Near this green lake is the seaside village of El Golfo, where you can have a great lunch by the water.
From here it is a few minutes’ drive to Los Hervideros. These are rock formations formed by lava flows that stopped by the sea. Between the rocks you can walk and in some places you have a viewing plateau. Seawater is pushed with a force through the cracks and holes of the rocks. This can be very spectacular with lots of noise. For kids, of course, a beautiful spectacle.
Lanzarote with kids: other activities
Of course, there are plenty of other activities you can do with kids in Lanzarote. We briefly name them below.
#8 Arrecife: this place is the capital of the island and is located in the west of the island. Arrecife’s main (car-free) shopping street is Calle León y Castillo and on this street you will also find plenty of cafes and restaurants. You can also visit the city beach (Playa Reducto) from the city and lie on the beach for a few hours. The capital also has two old forts (Castillo de San Gabriel and Castillo de San José) that you can visit during your Lanzarote vacation with kids.
#9 Mirador del Rio: if you want to have a drink (and some food) somewhere with a beautiful view in Lanzarote with kids, Mirador del Rio is a great option. Indeed, this is a viewpoint 400 meters above sea level, overlooking Graciosa Island in the north of the island. The viewing platform you have here is designed with lava rocks so that it blends into the surroundings. You pay a few euros entrance fee to see the viewpoint.
#10 Jardin de Cactus: You can also check out a botanical garden in Lanzarote with kids. Located in the northeastern part of the island, this botanical garden specializes in cacti. In fact, the botanical garden has more than a thousand different species. These cacti are very photogenic in the black landscape. Just be sure to keep an eye on your kids so they don’t hurt themselves on the spines of most cacti. Near the garden is also a cafeteria where you can have a drink with the family.
#11 Submarine Safari: you can also go to thirty meters depth in a submarine with kids in Lanzarote and see the underwater world here. You will also pass two different shipwrecks during this cruise. However, this is quite a pricey undertaking with the family. However, it is of course a unique experience to sail in a submarine for once. The trip underwater takes a little over half an hour. Upon completion, you will receive a diving certificate. The dive boat is located in the port of Puerto Calero.
#12 Whale and dolphin spotting: you can book an excursion from the port of Puerto del Carmen on the fast boat Biosfera Jet. Of course, they are still wild animals and there is a chance that during the excursion you may be unlucky and not see them. March through June are listed as the best months to spot the animals.
#13 Jameos del aqua: you can visit these caves in the north of Lanzarote with kids and it is an underground lake that is part of a whole cave system. At the lake there is also a landscaped lagoon and here you also have several seating areas. It is one of the island’s most famous attractions. You also have a volcano museum located here. You can also visit the Cueva de los Verdos Caves near here, but keep in mind that it can be crowded.
#14 Glassbottom boat: this boat also leaves from the port of Puerto del Carmen and the trip takes about an hour. The boat sails west of Puerto del Carmen and through the glass you can spot wildlife in the sea. You can spot turtles and various fish here. The boat also stops along the way for swimming and snorkeling (with your own snorkeling equipment).
Lanzarote with kids: rental car
If you are going to do the activities described above on Lanzarote with kids, then a car will come in very handy. Basically, there is public transportation in the city, but we still really like having our own car. We actually find the cars from Sunny Cars are always top notch!
You actually have all costs included in the price here and are insured for most things (including your deductible). We have had problems with this in the past, because all kinds of costs are added at the destination. With Sunny Cars, you know that’s not the case and that’s a nice feeling. You can additionally cancel the car 1 hour before your reservation free of charge. You can also rent a car in Lanzarote with kids from Sunny Cars.
Check out the different rental cars here.
Where to stay in Lanzarote with kids?
Of course, you can also book your air travel and hotel separately. You have plenty of accommodations in Lanzarote with kids where you can stay during your vacation. You have some tourist places where most tourists stay, and in these three places we have listed the best options in each price range.
Costa Teguise
Budget hotel: Apartamentos El Guarapo
Mid-range hotel: Beatriz Costa & Spa
Luxury hotel: HD Beach Resort
For a list of all accommodations in the place Costa Teguise look here.
Puerto del Carmen
Budget hotel: Hotel THB Flora
Mid-range hotel: Hotel Suite Montana Club
Luxury hotel: Seaside Los Jameos
For a list of all accommodations in the place Puerto del Carmen look here.
Playa Blanca
Budget hotel: THB Tropical Island
Mid-range hotel: THB Royal
Luxury hotel: Relaxia Lanzasur Club – Aqualava Water Park
For a list of all accommodations in the place Playa Blanca look here.
