familia · 9 min read
Tenerife with kids · rural north in El Tanque
Rural cottage in a quiet village, no traffic at the door, beaches 15 minutes away, short trails from the house itself. This is what brings families back.
Families are the guests who best understand why La Paredita works — and the ones who teach us most about doing it right. This guide is what you don’t find on generic “Tenerife with kids” blogs, written from the experience of guests with babies, children and teenagers.
Why the north (and not the south)
Tenerife’s south — Adeje, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas — is where the big resort-cities sit with pools and water parks. It works if you want everything in one place.
The north works if you want something else: living villages, raw nature, food that isn’t from the kids’ menu. The trade-off is less “kid infrastructure” and more real experience. Most families that come to the north come back; those that pick the south often don’t.
Houses by family type
- Casa Taoro (85 m², 4 guests) — best for families of 4. Double- height living room, large kitchen, main bedroom + kids’ bedroom. The one we recommend without hesitation for parents with two kids.
- Casa Güimar (45 m², 4 guests) — loft with mezzanine. Works for family with one child + teenager. Private rooftop (low railing: careful with very young children).
- Casa Abona / Casa Acentejo (35 m², 2 guests) — small, best for 2 adults + baby that doesn’t need much own space.
When you book, tell us the ages. We have cot, high chair and toilet seat adapter available on request at no extra cost. If you need something specific (vaporiser, baby monitor, bottle warmer), ask — usually we have it or borrow it.
The five family activities that are worth it
1. El Caletón natural pools · Garachico (15 min drive)
Volcanic saltwater pools, result of the Trevejo 1706 eruption. Three pools: the central one is deeper (better for adult swimming), the side ones are shallow and perfect for kids 4-10. Lifeguard in high season. Ladder access. Shower at the end.
Bring: neoprene shoes or jellies (rocks pinch), hat, water, fruit. Parking at Garachico harbour.
2. Millennial Dragon Tree of Icod (15 min drive)
Tenerife’s iconic tree — 18 metres tall, estimated age 800+ years. The Dragon Park has gardens, summer fountains, stuffed guacharos (extinct bird) in the museum and Guanche pottery exhibition. Entry €5 adults, free for kids under 10.
10 minutes walking away: La Pila square with traditional playground and the best artisan ice cream in the north.
3. Cueva del Viento · Icod de los Vinos (30 min drive)
18 km volcanic tube — the longest in the European Union. 90-minute guided tour with helmet, torch and boots. Suitable from age 5 (younger only in carrier). Real adventure feel, not Disney. Booking essential: cuevadelviento.net.
For parents with 8+ kids who love Indiana Jones: top experience.
4. Millennial Dragon Tree of Garachico (walking from La Paredita or 5 min drive)
Less touristy than Icod’s, equally impressive. It’s in El Tanque, 15 minutes walking from the house via gentle path. The “easy” afternoon plan that needs no car and kids walk without complaining.
5. Lomo Molino viewpoint · El Tanque (3 min walking from the house)
The first plan, on arrival day. Stone bench, Teide view, almost always empty. For kids 2-8: a picnic with afternoon snack and back to the house before bathtime. Zero effort, 100 % landscape.
Eating with kids without suffering
- Pizzería La Albahaca (3 min walking, Fri-Sun): sourdough, wood-fired oven, thin base. Order capricciosa and margherita. Kids happy. Book.
- Restaurante El Caletón (Garachico, next to the pools): catch of the day, sea view. Kids’ menu with croquettes and chips. Booking essential at weekends.
- Plaza bar (5 min walking): steak sandwich + beer + kid plays with village kids in the square. Authentic Canarian plan.
- Casa Egon (Icod, 15 min): chocolate with churros and ice cream. The patisserie opened in 1920 and kids get it immediately.
What we don’t recommend with kids under 8
- Climbing Teide (3,715 m): cable car reaches 3,555 m, low oxygen, real altitude-sickness risk in small children. Better wait until 8+. And it’s very cold up there even in August.
- Long hiking in the national park: distances of 5+ km aren’t realistic with under-8s. The landscape impresses but the effort leaves bad memories.
- Whale watching with rough sea: if you have kids prone to seasickness, skip this. The sea south of Tenerife can swell.
The 4-day “rural north with kids” plan
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 (arrival) | Lomo Molino at sunset + dinner at La Albahaca |
| 2 | Caletón pools morning + Icod Dragon Tree afternoon |
| 3 | Cueva del Viento (morning) + Casa Egon ice cream (afternoon) + dinner at home |
| 4 (departure) | Relaxed breakfast + quick pool swim + airport |
If you stay 7 nights, you add Loro Parque + La Laguna old town + a full rest day at the house with an inflatable pool in the garden (we can lend one if you ask).
The important part nobody says
Kids remember from Tenerife two or three very specific images, not the entire list. Your job isn’t to maximise activities, it’s to let those moments happen. Leave the car parked, walk barefoot in the garden, look at stars three minutes before sleep, watch dad cooking with Garachico fish.
That’s what we offer.
Book one of our five cottages — four operational today. For families, we recommend Casa Taoro or Güimar.
Photo essay
Visual gallery
Images of the places described in this guide. For guests who'd rather see before they read.
Frequently asked
FAQ
Is Casa La Paredita good for small children?
Yes, with caveats. The complex is in a quiet village with no nighttime traffic. The houses aren't baby-proofed by default (stairs in some, traditional floors), but all have cots available on request and a high chair. Casa Taoro and Casa Güimar are the most comfortable for families of 3-4.
Is there a pool in the house?
No private pool in the complex. But 15 minutes by car are the El Caletón natural pools in Garachico — saltwater, volcanic ponds, with ladder access and lifeguards in high season. For many guests with kids they beat any hotel pool.
Are the northern beaches safe for kids?
Garachico's volcanic pools are the best — very calm water when there's no swell. El Bollullo beach (45 min by car) is the nearest natural sand. Puerto de la Cruz beaches (45 min) have permanent lifeguards and are wider.
What to do in El Tanque with kids on a grey day?
Icod's Millennial Dragon Tree (15 min), Cueva del Viento (30 min, family-friendly cave), Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz (45 min, expensive but kids love it), and the Science and Cosmos Museum in La Laguna (60 min). And you can always stay in the house with the fireplace on — that counts too.
Is there a supermarket and pharmacy nearby?
Yes. Supermarket in El Tanque, 3 min walking from the houses. Pharmacy open Mon-Sat in the village. Paediatrician in Icod de los Vinos (15 min by car). General hospital in La Laguna (50 min).
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