Kayaks in Tenerife

Wondering what are the attractions in Tenerife with children? Kayaking is a great option for anyone as young as 6 years old. We went kayaking in Tenerife with our toddlers and today I’ll share our experience with you.

What are kayaks like in Tenerife?

You can take the whole family on kayaks, even children as young as 6 years old. You don’t even need to know how to swim. You’ll be supervised by a guide at all times and you’ll be wearing a life jacket, so no worries.

Our adventure started in the morning. We decided to sail at 10 o’clock and it was a great decision. Especially with my kids, who have more energy in the morning. We arrived at the gathering place about 25 minutes early – the perfect time to get ready. We parked in Los Cristianos along the main street in a free parking lot and it took us about 5 min to get to the point(here’s a link to a map with parking spots).

At the site we were given vests, shoes and, for those willing, foam. A wetsuit isn’t necessary, but it does a good job of protecting you from both the sun and cool water, so I recommend it. We then received a brief training on how to paddle, where we would be going, and how to get in and out of the kayak. We paddled with a group of 6 kayaks, with a guide at the front who accompanied us throughout.

Well, and off we went! We had a choice between a 2-person kayak or a 4-person kayak. We decided on the larger one.

First, we swam to the area of the fish farm, where we were able to admire dolphins, a turtle and even a hammerhead shark (no worries, all under the watchful eye of a guide). We were surprised at how close the dolphins swim and how eagerly they interact. The children were thrilled to see the dolphins and turtle so close.

We then swam under a beautiful rock, where we had about 15 minutes to snorkel and admire the underwater world. The guide gave us masks and tubes and we jumped into the water. After this break, we returned to Los Cristianos.

My tips

What to bring with you?

• water to drink – if you forget water (as we did), there is a kiosk right next to the collection point
• swimsuit
• hat
• sunglasses – I recommend taking cheap sunglasses, because you know can fall into the water 🙂
• Sunscreen – even if it’s cloudy, be sure to get lubricated
• if you decide to take your phone or camcorder, be sure to get a waterproof case. I also recommend strapping it to a small buoy to make sure it doesn’t drown

Plan your excursion

• arrive at the site early – min. 25 – 30 min.
• Which hour of the trip to choose? It depends on your preference, but if you don’t want to cruise in full sun I recommend the morning hour. Believe that morning clouds are very pleasant

Is it worth it and who are kayaks in Tenerife for?

For us, it was a great trip. The opportunity to be surrounded by mammals at our fingertips is an amazing attraction for children, but let’s be honest … for us as well 🙂 However, keep in mind that this is a sport, so you will have to put some effort into it. We enjoyed it very much and came back satisfied. Of course, after such a dose of exercise … we went for ice cream. There are plenty of ice cream shops in the area with delicious treats (we went to Panna Cioccolato).

If you fancy kayaks in Tenerife you can book them here. The price for an adult is 45 euros, for a child 6 – 10 years 22,50 euros.