The best water parks in Spain: a guide to choosing
Thrilling slides, wave pools, lazy rivers and splash areas for the little ones: water parks are the star summer day out. We look at the best known in Spain, from the Canary Islands to the mainland.
Siam Park (Costa Adeje, Tenerife)
Themed on the ancient kingdom of Siam, present-day Thailand. Its most famous rides are Tower of Power, an almost vertical 28-metre slide, and Dragon, with a zero-gravity effect. It also has a lazy river, a surf school and a floating market.
Ideal for: combining with a holiday in Tenerife, also outside the summer (check its calendar).
Aqualand Costa Adeje (Tenerife)
As well as slides such as Hurakán and Twister Racer, it has a dolphinarium and a children’s area, Kidzworld, with Pelican Bay, Splash Tower and Pirates Island.
Ideal for: families with children of different ages in the south of Tenerife.
Aqualand Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)
In the south of Gran Canaria, with rides such as Hurakan, Tukakame and Misol-ha and the Kidzworld children’s area.
Ideal for: a different day out during a beach holiday in Gran Canaria.
Aqualand El Arenal (Mallorca)
In S’Arenal, it is, according to the park itself, the largest in Mallorca. Highlights include Kukulcán, King Cobra, Banzai and Tsunami, and a children’s area with a dozen slides.
Ideal for: families holidaying on the Bay of Palma.
Western Park (Magaluf, Mallorca)
A Wild West-themed water park, with rides such as Boomerang, Gran Cañón, La Bestia and Tornado and the Kidzworld children’s area.
Ideal for: a different themed day out in the south-west of Mallorca.
Aqualandia (Benidorm, Alicante)
Next to the Serra Gelada Natural Park. Its star ride is Verti-Go, which the park presents as the tallest capsule slide in the world; other well-known ones are Big-Bang, Black Hole and Cyclón, and it has a children’s area.
Ideal for: thrill-seekers on the Costa Blanca.
PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park (Tarragona)
Inside PortAventura World, between Salou and Vila-seca, with a Caribbean and pirate theme. Its signature ride is King Khajuna, a 31-metre free fall, and it has several children’s areas and an indoor area.
Ideal for: rounding off a break at PortAventura World.
Aquopolis Costa Dorada (La Pineda, Tarragona)
In La Pineda (Vila-seca), with rides such as Boomerang, Splash, Kamikaze and Black Hole and children’s areas.
Ideal for: families holidaying on the Costa Daurada.
Aquópolis Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid)
One of the big inland water parks, on the outskirts of Madrid, with rides such as Kilauea, Kangaroa and Waikiki Jungle.
Ideal for: escaping the Madrid heat without going to the coast.
Aqualand Torremolinos (Málaga)
On the Costa del Sol, with rides such as Kukulcán, Speed Racer, Namaka and Huari and an area of high-intensity slides.
Ideal for: a day of slides during a holiday in Málaga.
Tips for your visit
Check the calendar before you go: on the mainland and in the Balearic Islands most parks close outside the summer. In the Canary Islands some parks also open the rest of the year, but check on their website.
Check the minimum height for each slide: every ride has its own, and some let shorter children on only when accompanied by an adult.
Take only what you need and use the lockers: the big parks have individual and family lockers. And don’t forget water-resistant sun cream and flip-flops.