Where else in the dry south of the island can you walk through a bat cave, cross a rope bridge and have an eagle fly just over your head, all before lunch?
Jungle Park Tenerife is a zoo and botanical park on the hills above Los Cristianos, and one of the easiest family days out in the south of the island. Its official name is Las Águilas Jungle Park, or Parque Las Águilas, and you’ll see both names on maps and road signs. Instead of wide open enclosures, the park hides its animals among waterfalls, lagoons, caves and dense tropical plants, so every bend in the path feels like a small discovery.
The park is compact enough to see in around five hours, which is why we’ve built this guide as a simple plan for the day. You’ll find out what to see in which order, when the shows start, which animals you’ll meet, how the free bus and parking work and where to stay nearby. If you’re still putting your trip together, our guide to Tenerife covers the rest of the island.
💰 Hotel Reverón Plaza - a small, good-value hotel with a rooftop pool in Los Cristianos.
🏨 Paradise Park Fun Lifestyle Hotel - a four-star family hotel with five pools and a kids’ club.
💎 Europe Villa Cortés GL - an upmarket seafront hotel with a waterfall pool in Playa de las Américas.
Where is Jungle Park in Tenerife?
Jungle Park is in the Las Águilas del Teide area of Arona, around 3 km uphill from the centre of Los Cristianos. From Los Cristianos the drive takes about ten minutes, from Playa de las Américas around fifteen, and from Costa Adeje about twenty. Tenerife South airport is also only around twenty minutes away, so you could even visit on your arrival or departure day.
If you’re staying in the north, for example in Puerto de la Cruz, allow more than an hour each way on the motorway. In that case a hire car is the easiest option, and you can combine the park with a beach afternoon in the south.
What is Jungle Park Tenerife?
The park covers around 75,000 square metres of hillside and calls itself Europe’s only jungle. It’s home to more than 400 animals from over 100 species, from orangutans and lemurs to penguins, crocodiles and birds of prey. The name Las Águilas means “the eagles”, and birds have always been at the heart of the park.
Jungle Park is run by Aspro Parks, the group behind the Aqualand water parks, and there’s a combined ticket for Jungle Park and Aqualand Costa Adeje. The paths wind up and down through wild vegetation, with suspension bridges, tunnels, ponds and waterfalls between the animal areas. It feels very different from a classic zoo, and children love the sense of exploring.
Jungle Park tickets, prices and opening hours
Jungle Park is open every day from 10am to 5.30pm. The bat cave and the orchid garden stay open all day, while the lemur walk and the aviary run from 11am to 4pm. If you arrive after lunch, you’ll still see the animals, but you’ll miss the midday shows and have less time on the trails.
Tickets are sold at adult, child and mini rates, and the mini rate is for the youngest visitors. Buying online is usually a little cheaper than paying at the entrance, and online-only family and friends packs lower the price for groups of four. The 2 Parks Ticket adds Aqualand Costa Adeje and is valid for 90 days, so you don’t have to visit both parks on the same day. Residents of the Canary Islands get cheaper tickets too.
Prices change from season to season, so check the current rates before you purchase. Your entry ticket covers the animals, the shows, the bat cave and the Jungle Raid. The BOB ride, photos with eagles or sea lions, the sea lion interaction and the food dispensers for feeding some of the animals cost extra.
Jungle Park Tenerife in 5 hours - the plan
With the main shows around the middle of the day, the plan is simple: explore in the morning, watch the shows and have lunch, then spend the afternoon on the adventure trails. Times can change, so check the show board at the entrance when you arrive.
10am to 11am - the bat cave and the primates
Arrive at opening time, when it’s cooler and the paths are quiet. Start with the Cave of the Bats, which is open all day, and then head to the primates. The orangutans live in a climate-controlled enclosure with vegetation, waterfalls, a river and lakes designed to recall the forests of Borneo and Sumatra. You’ll also see gibbons, capuchins, marmosets and other monkeys along the way.
11am to 12.15pm - lemurs and the aviary
From 11am you can walk among the lemurs, and it’s one of the highlights for kids. The lemurs move freely around you, so stay calm, keep your hands still and let them come closer. Nearby, the free-flying aviary is open at the same time, with exotic birds, parrots and macaws all around you.
12.15pm to 2pm - penguins, the birds of prey show and sea lions
This is the busiest part of the day. The penguins are fed at around 12.15pm, the birds of prey show starts at around 12.30pm and the sea lion show at around 1.30pm. In the birds of prey show, eagles, hawks and other hunting birds fly low over the audience, so keep your head down when the trainer says so. The sea lion show can also be watched from the restaurant, which makes it a good time for lunch.
2pm to 3pm - Jungle Raid, orchids and the BOB slide
After lunch, let the kids burn off energy on the Jungle Raid, then slow down in the Great Orchid Garden. End the visit with a ride on the BOB track if your children are old enough. If you still have energy, go back to the areas you missed in the morning, as it’s easy to skip a path or two in the jungle.
What animals are at Jungle Park Tenerife?
All the animals live among thick, wild vegetation, so you’ll often have to look carefully to spot them. Pick up the free map at the entrance and tick off each species as you go. Children love it, and it stops you missing whole sections of the park.
Primates and the orangutans
The primates are among the most popular animals at Jungle Park Tenerife. Next to the orangutans and gibbons, you’ll find siamangs, guenons, capuchins, marmosets and squirrel monkeys, and of course the lemurs. If your children ask whether there’s a monkey park in Tenerife, this is a very good answer.
Exotic birds and birds of prey
Birds are everywhere: eagles, falcons, vultures and other birds of prey, plus cranes, ibises, flamingos, swans, storks, toucans and cassowaries. The tropical birds in the aviary are the most colourful, while the eagles and hawks are the stars of the show.
Penguins, sea lions and other exotic animals
The Humboldt penguins have their own cool enclosure, and the sea lions live next to the show pool. Elsewhere you’ll find crocodiles, meerkats, servals, wallabies, emus, coatis and raccoons, and you’ll probably spot peacocks too.
Jungle Raid and the BOB bobsleigh ride
The Jungle Raid is an elevated adventure trail of around 300 metres, with rope bridges, dark tunnels and narrow passages high among the trees. It’s included in your entry ticket and suits most children who are happy with heights. Younger kids will need a hand on the wobblier bridges.
BOB is a bobsleigh ride where you control your own small sled down a winding metal track of more than 800 metres. It’s a fun way to end the day, and it’s the only ride that costs extra. Ask the staff whether your youngest can ride before they get their hopes up.
Restaurants, drinks and bringing your own food
The park has the Palapa restaurant with table service, the El Canario pizzeria and the Águilas snack bar, plus a souvenir shop. Lunch at the Palapa fits neatly between the midday shows.
You can usually bring your own food and drinks, and a picnic is a sensible option for families. Bring plenty of water, especially in summer. The shows take place in open seating areas with little shade, so a hat and sun cream are a must for the whole family.
Free bus, free parking and how to get there
The park runs a free bus from Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos. In recent seasons there have been two morning departures from Aqualand Costa Adeje, at around 9.30am and 10.55am, with stops at hotels and shopping centres along the coast on the way to Los Cristianos. The buses head back from the park at around 4.15pm and 5.30pm. Seats are limited and can’t be booked, so get to your stop early and ask at your hotel reception for the current timetable.
If you’re driving, follow the signs for Las Águilas from Los Cristianos and the TF-1 motorway. There’s a private car park by the entrance, which charges a fee, and free parking spaces a little further along the road. Taxis from Los Cristianos are also quick and easy.
Tips for the whole family at Jungle Park
The park sits on a steep hillside, and some paths go sharply up and down, especially near the entrance and the sea lion area. Wear comfortable shoes with a good grip, and leave the flip-flops in the hotel.
Buy your entry ticket online before you go, so you can walk straight in. Go on a weekday if you can, as weekends and school holidays are busier. Finally, take a small bag only, because you’ll be climbing, ducking through tunnels and crossing bridges all day.
Is Jungle Park accessible with a wheelchair or pushchair?
Jungle Park isn’t easy to get around in a wheelchair. The paths climb and drop steeply across the hillside, and several ticket sellers list the park as unsuitable for visitors with reduced mobility. A sturdy pushchair can manage the main paths with some effort, but the Jungle Raid, with its rope bridges and tunnels, isn’t designed for wheels. If anyone in your group has limited mobility, call the park before your visit and ask which areas are easiest to reach.
Is Jungle Park worth visiting, and what about animal welfare?
For most families staying in the south, Jungle Park is worth a half day. It suits children aged around 4 to 12 best, as the mix of animals, shows and adventure trails keeps them busy without the crowds of the bigger parks. The shady gardens are also a welcome change from the dry landscape around Los Cristianos. Teenagers looking for thrills will probably have more fun at a water park, and if you’re hoping for large open enclosures, the park may feel small.
Like any zoo, Jungle Park divides opinion. The park presents itself as a zoological centre with an educational department, which runs programmes for school groups, and many visitor reviews say the animals look well cared for. Animal welfare groups, on the other hand, criticise shows and close-contact experiences with captive wild animals, such as photos with birds of prey or sea lions. If that matters to you, enjoy the gardens, the bat cave and the enclosures, and simply skip the paid extras.
Which is better, Jungle Park or Loro Parque?
Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz is bigger, more polished and more famous, with orcas, dolphins, gorillas and a huge penguin enclosure. It needs a full day and a longer drive if you’re staying in the south. Jungle Park is smaller and wilder, closer to the southern resorts and easy to fit into half a day. Many families do both during their holiday, and Jungle Park is the more relaxed choice with young children.
If your kids would rather spend a day on slides, Siam Park in Costa Adeje is only a short drive away, and our guide to the best water parks in Spain compares it with the rest. For a change of scene, Teide National Park and the cliffs of Los Gigantes are both easy day trips from the south. Visiting Fuerteventura too? Oasis Park Fuerteventura is the island’s big animal park.
Practical information
- Jungle Park Tenerife tickets are best bought in advance. You’ll skip the ticket queue at the entrance and avoid the risk of the park selling out on busy days.
- Address: Urbanización Las Águilas del Teide, s/n, 38640 Arona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Buy tickets on GetYourGuide
Hotels near Jungle Park in Los Cristianos
Los Cristianos is the closest town to Jungle Park, with a sandy beach, a lively harbour and plenty of hotels only a ten-minute drive from the park. Playa de las Américas is just next door. These three are good bases for a family holiday in the south.
💰 Hotel Reverón Plaza
A small, good-value hotel in the heart of Los Cristianos and the first hotel ever built in the town. It has a rooftop pool and bar, a gym and a restaurant with a terrace, and a buffet breakfast is served every morning. It suits couples and small families who want to walk to the beach, the shops and the restaurants.
🏨 Paradise Park Fun Lifestyle Hotel
A four-star family hotel in Los Cristianos, around 1 km from the beach, with a daily courtesy bus. It has five pools, including a large lagoon pool, a mini club for children aged 4 to 12, a teen club and evening shows. It’s a great choice for families who want plenty of entertainment and a short drive to Jungle Park.
💎 Europe Villa Cortés GL
An upmarket seafront hotel in Playa de las Américas with direct beach access and a beach club. It has a large outdoor pool with a waterfall, a heated pool and a children’s pool, as well as a spa with a sauna, steam room and treatments. It’s the pick for families who want a stylish base by the sea, with family rooms and a kids’ area.
Jungle Park Tenerife FAQ
Is Jungle Park Tenerife worth it?
Yes, Jungle Park Tenerife is worth it, especially for families staying in the south. It’s compact, easy to reach on the free bus and full of things children love, from the lemur walk to the Jungle Raid. Expect a hilly half day rather than a huge zoo, and you’ll enjoy it.
How long do you need at Jungle Park Tenerife?
Most visitors need four to five hours at Jungle Park Tenerife. That’s enough time to see the animals, watch the midday shows and try the Jungle Raid and the BOB track. Arrive at opening time so you’re not rushed before the shows.
What time are the shows at Jungle Park Tenerife?
The penguins are fed at 12.15pm, the birds of prey show starts at 12.30pm and the sea lion show follows at 1.30pm. The lemur walk and the aviary are open from 11am to 4pm. Times can change, so check the show board at the entrance when you arrive.
Is there a free bus to Jungle Park, Tenerife?
Yes, Jungle Park runs a free bus from Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas and Los Cristianos. In recent seasons there have been two morning departures to the park and two afternoon buses back, at around 4.15pm and 5.30pm. Seats are limited, so ask at your hotel reception for the current times and the nearest stop.
What animals are at Jungle Park Tenerife?
Jungle Park Tenerife has more than 400 animals from over 100 species. They include orangutans, gibbons, lemurs and other primates, Humboldt penguins, sea lions, crocodiles and meerkats. There are also many exotic birds and birds of prey, including eagles, falcons and vultures.
Is there an orangutan at Jungle Park Tenerife?
Yes, Jungle Park Tenerife has orangutans. They live in a climate-controlled enclosure with plants, waterfalls, a river and lakes inspired by the forests of Borneo and Sumatra. It’s one of the best places in the park to spend a quiet few minutes watching the animals.
