Tenerife’s twin parks boast high-octane water rides, an aquarium and a zoo and are made for wild family frolics
THUNDERING down a 28-metre tall chute, through a tank full of sharks, is like something from a Bear Grylls special.
But the Tower Of Power is the star attraction at Tenerife’s family-friendly Siam Park.
The Thailand-themed waterpark, and sister attraction Loro Parque zoo and aquarium, are must-visits on the Canary Island.
Siam Park is on Costa Adeje, on the south of the Spanish isle, and has something for everyone — from baby and toddler pools in The Lost City to two beaches and a lazy river for those just out to relax.
There is also a bundle of high-octane rides for adrenaline junkies — Tower Of Power being the absolute daddy.
And the park is easy to get to, thanks to its bus service which picks up visitors from Siam Park bus stops located all over Adeje, Los Cristianos and Playa de Americas. Fares are from £7pp.
Siam Park has benefited in recent years from huge investment, which has seen it nearly double in size.
The new Coco Beach has a monster wave pool with hundreds of loungers, plus rides such as Patong Rapids and the Singha water-rollercoaster, on which you can hit speeds of up to 40mph while in a dinghy.
The VIP experience has been ramped up, too. Guests can now book their own private area with Balinese beds in the Champagne Club — or a villa with jacuzzi, TV, minibar and hammocks.
No wonder so many people flock to the park every year to bask in the sun, which shines year-round. Even in October and November temperatures average around 26C.
I took my wife and three young children and the hours of wet-and-wild fun flew by.
My two daughters, aged six and nine, were absorbed by The Lost City — think kids’ TV favourite Fun House on water, mercifully with no Pat Sharp.
Meanwhile, my 11-month-old son played with the water guns and explored the minislides in the baby pool. I shared in the excite-ment of the water rides, too.
Many have a minimum rider height of 1.1 metres so four of us could go on together — like on the Naga Racer ride where we raced each other, face-first, on mats.
Don’t worry, family-friends looked after the baby.
Faster rides have a minimum rider height of 1.25 metres. If you fancy taking on the Tower of Power you need to be at least 1.4 metres, aged 14 or over and not too scared of heights.
You hit speeds of up to 50mph, while guides order you to keep your head down at all times and arms crossed across your chest.
It is so fast you barely open your eyes, so you miss the sharks in the water tank as they pass by in a flash — unlike those watching from the viewing balcony below.
GO: TENERIFE
GETTING THERE: Flights to from the UK to Tenerife are from £30.99 one way. See .
OUT & ABOUT: Twin tickets to Siam Park & Loro Parque are from £41.27 for kids and from £59.87 per adult.
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If waterparks are not your thing, head to the north of the island for the beautiful Loro Parque, on the outskirts of Puerto de la Cruz, which has been visited by more than 50million people since it opened in 1972.
Opposite steak restaurant Brunelli’s — well worth a visit to break up your day — the zoo is a real treat for nature lovers.
The 33-acre site is home to animals including chimps, lions, hippos, tigers and red pandas, while also housing an impressive number of reptiles and birds.
Making your way through an ice tunnel, you can see four species of penguin in an incredible replica of their Antarctic habitat.
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Loro Parque is also famous for its sea-life shows, with dolphins regularly soaking those sitting in the first few rows.
Whatever park you choose, you will leave sopping wet . . . but with a huge smile on your face.
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