Waterparks
PARQUE ACUATICO MIJAS
Fuengirola (on the by-pass)
One of the best water fun-parks around, located on the outskirts of Fuengirola. Wave pool, kamikaze slide, water chutes, adventure river with winding raft slides and a mini aqua park for the kids. The park also has a full entertainment program including shows for children, water aerobics (displays and free classes), regional dances and beach volleyball competitions.
Open 10.30 - 1.30 (until May 31),
1.00 - 18.00 (June)
Tickets: 12 euro adults, 7 euro children 4-12 years, pensioners over 65, 4 euro.
Free admittance for second child (4-12) of a family.
Discount of 40% after 15.00, or 16.00 in August.
Tel. 952 460 404, 952 460 409
AQUAPARK TORREMOLINOS
Carretera Circunvalacion 10, Torremolinos
Numerous water rides and slides, also sea lion shows.
Open: 10.00 - 18.00
Adults 14.50 euro, children 10.25 euro, Pensioners 15.50 euro.
Tel. 952 38 88 88
AQUA VELIS
Torre de Mar
One of the largest, splashiest water-parks in the province with 21 different rides to choose from including some super-fast slides, dingy river ride and paddling pool for young children (and parents!).
Adults 11 euro, children 8 euro.
Tel: 952 54 27 62
CABLE SKI
San Pedro, Marbella (Málaga)
Urb. Las Medranas, San Pedro, Marbella.
Open from 11am to 9pm closed Mondays.
This attraction is either for those wanting to learn or improve their water skiing, or just for those who want a fun day out.
The cable system pulls skiers around the lake. Each trip around the lake lasts about one minute but the cable can be set at a speed to suit your ability. Slow for children and beginners and faster for the expert skier.
Tel: 952 785 579
Marine Life
Sea Life Centre
Benalmadena's Sea Life Centre is the first interactive underwater park in Costa del Sol, which takes you on an amazing walk along bottom of the sea. You see hundreds of thousands of aquatic species from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Red Sea. It is a fascinating voyage of discovery for the whole family. From Starfish to Stingrays and Sharks, and many more exotic species, you can study this fascinating clandestine marine life close up. With over 30 tanks over 9 different rooms, you see creatures living in a reproduced natural habitat, from above, below and alongside you, the journey is unforgettable. See turtles, sharks and moray eels, as well as colourful tropical fish and seahorses. There are also crabs, jellyfish and octopuses, and much more.
Sick and injured sea creatures are nursed back to health and a new exhibition features marine creatures, which are renowned for their potential to maim and kill humans. There are feeding demonstrations, special presentations and other entertainment, as well as a terrace bar with excellent views of the port. A recent addition to all this is a themed mini golf area where the obstacles include seahorses and sharks.
Sea Life is fascinating, fun for all the family and educational.
The centre has baby changing facilities and toilets for the disabled.
Open All Year from 10:00 a.m.
Adults: 9.5 Euros Children: 7 Euros
Children under 4 - free. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information phone: (+34) 952 560 150
Marine Science Centre
The Marine Science Centre, or the "Aula del Mar" is situated in Malaga at the main port on the Avienda Manuel Agustin Heredia. The center is effectively an aquarium museum that works actively in the conservation and protection of marine life. It is divided into two parts: firstly the aquarium which is a reproduction of the natural habitat of over 500 marine animals, divided into some 100 species which visitors can observe and enjoy. The second part is the museum which clearly shows the huge diversity of different types of flora and fauna marine life which currently live along the coastline of Malaga.
The center offers three different programmes of activities which visitors can choose to partake in. The first is an audiovisual presentation on all types of marine life in Malaga and a guided tour of the museum, the aquarium and the turtle sanctuary, and lasts for approximately one and a half hours. The second programme offers the same as the first but with an added tour of the bay of Malaga in a boat and fish spotting. The full programme lasts for roughly 5 hours. The final programme again offers the same as the first but also offers the opportunity to carry out various experiments in an oceanic laboratory and to feed and care for the turtles in the turtle sanctuary. It lasts around 4 hours.
The center is open October - March every day from 10am - 2pm, April - September from 10am - 2pm and then from 5 - 8pm, and July and August from 11am - 2pm and then 6 - 10pm. The admission price for adults is 4 euros and for children and pensioners 3 euros (2003).
Selwo Marina
Selwo Marina is one of Spain's newest themed attractions and is devoted to many exotic creatures. This new concept in family entertainment brings sea life and birds of South America together. It is a complement to the successful Selwo Adventure wildlife park in Estepona and a visit to Selwo Marina helps you to understand the ecosystems of South American continent. Visit the Dolphinarium, and see the dolphins and sea lions. The Papagayo Club is where you can watch a large variety of exotic birds in flight and see demonstrations to understand their way of life. One of the highlights of Selwo Marina is Ice Island, where you can see the resident penguins. In this specially cooled, the animals live in similar conditions to those of their homeland in Antarctica.
Adults: 12.90 Euros
Children and Senior Citizens: 8.90 Euros
Special rates for schools and groups
Phone: 902 190 482
Open from 10:00 to 20:00 in summer (till 18:00 from 1st Jan to 14th June)
Closed on Mondays from November to January
Zoos
Selwo
Ctra. N-340 Km 162.5, Estepona.
Selwo is a fascinating adventure in contact with nature. The park covers 100 hectares and is home to more than 2.000 animals from the five continents. The animals live in liberty recreating the animal's natural habitat. Visitors are taken on a four-hour tour, on foot and in four-wheel drive trucks.
Open daily 10.00 - 19.00. Direct bus service from Málaga bus station at 9.00, and from Algeciras on Sundays only.
Tickets 15 euros adults, 11 euros children up to four years old and seniors.
Tel: 952 79 21 50
Crocodile Park
Torremolinos, Málaga
Imagine an African Adventure at Your Feet, but fenced off! Europe's only crocodile park with 200 crocodiles, from babies right up to the huge five-metre long adults approx weighing in at almost 500 kilos. The park has now set up a mini zoo especially for the children with mouflons, Nan dues, deer and miniature ponies Crocodile Park is home to more than 300 crocs, including the massive Giant of the Nile and 'Big Nose', an old age pensioner of 77, measuring nearly 5 metres. The park's 'nursery', always busy thanks to the park's successful breeding program, thanks to which each female has 30-50 eggs. There is also a museum where you can swot up on croc facts, a video presentation, restaurant and souvenir shop.
Open daily 10.00-18.00.
Adults: 7.50 euros Kids: 5.25 euros +65: 5,25 euros. Children under 4 years: Free. An adult must accompany children under 12 years.
Tel: 952 051 782
Jardin de Las Aguilas (Garden of Eagles)
The Jardin de las Aguilas is a wonderful Birds of Prey Centre clearly signposted from Benalmadena pueblo. Majestic birds of prey spread their wings under the supervision of expert handlers at the Jardin de las Aguilas. There are displays throughout the day giving all 152 birds a turn. Among the stars is Yaku, a rare Condor.
In this fabulous zoological garden overlooking the Mediterranean at 250 above sea level, there are daily demonstrations of magnificent birds of prey in flight. The centre is dedicated to raising and protecting many different types of birds. You can see eagles, falcons and vultures flying freely. The experience of seeing the majestic flight of these great birds at close hand is enhanced by the medieval atmosphere of the nearby Castillo de Colomares (Colomares Castle), which is a must to visit in the same day and an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
To get there, take the road down towards the coast from Benalmadena Pueblo. Next door there is a miniature castle to visit Castillo de Colomares with beautiful grounds to walk around, breathtaking views and Snake City, an impressive reptile sanctuary that will be sure to make your skin crawl.
Shows are normally between 13.00 and 17.00 and between 13.00 - 18.00 in the summer months.
Price ranges from around 6 Euros for adults and 5 Euros for children
Tel: (+34) 952 568 239
Fuengirola Zoo
Avda. Camilo José Cela, Fuengirola. 5 minutes from the bus station and train station.
Zoos aren't what they used to be, fortunately. You won't find miserable animals pacing up and down shoe box cages, clinging to solitary branches or paddling around in sad puddles at Fuengirola's new, visitor and animal-friendly zoo.
Tickets available at the zoo box office, hotels, travel agencies, and the Portillo bus terminals.
Open daily from 10.00 hours.
Closing time: depends on season, consult Zoo.
Entry: 12.30 euros, children from 3 to 9: 8.60 euros, Retired: 8.90 euros.
1 euro discount for passengers arriving on the Malaga local train.
Tel: 952 666 301
Web: www.zoofuengirola.com
