The western Costa del Sol has ten theme parks or themed areas that are especially good fun in summer. Many of them also offer the opportunity to enjoy learning something about the animal world.
The most exciting of these, especially in the summer, are the water parks. There are two similar installations in Torremolinos and Mijas, Aqualand and Aquamijas, respectively. The fun is in the water, slides, artifical lakes, pools with waves and jacuzzis. In both these parks there are other leisure activities to enjoy that include minigolf, restaurantes, picnic areas and even shops.
In Marbella, barely 500 metres from the beach, Aventura Amazonia awaits visitors to offer them more than eighty games to play among the trees plus twenty ziplines in 6 different circuits.
Tivoli World in Benalmadena is the oldest funfair and amusement park in Andalusia. Since it opened in 1972, thousands of visitors of all ages have had fun on its rides or attended the shows and fiestas held periodically.
Exotic and rare fauna can be seen in the heart of the Costa del Sol thanks to a network of animal theme parks. From Torremolinos to Estepona there are half a dozen areas where uncommon animals are the stars: crocodiles, penguins or even sharks.
Torremolinos boasts Crocodile Park, home to 400 specimens from 14 different species of crocodile and here visitors can learn about the life of these impressive reptiles.
Benalmadena offers two important areas devoted to marine fauna. The first of these is Sea Life in Puerto Marina. This huge aquarium holds nearly two thousand examples of sea life, from sharks to sea horses and dragonets.
Nearby Selwo Marina invites visitors to meet the dolphins, penguins or sea lions that live there at close quarters, feeding them or even swimming with them. This park also has exotic birds.
Don’t miss the Butterfly House in the village of Benalmadena Pueblo where 1.500 exotic butterflies from all over world, housed in a spectacular Thai temple, fly at liberty among flowers and waterfalls.
Fuengirola offers its important theme park, Bioparc. This park is pledged to the new concept in zoos to preserve the world’s ecosystems. Gorillas, tigers, crocodiles or cockatoos are in residence there.
Lastly, in Estepona at Selwo Aventura, children can be in close contact with the wild life in a unique park where hundreds of species live in conditions similar to their natural habitat. It also includes an Orchid Garden, considered one of the finest botanical centres in Andalusia.
