3 Fun Things To Do With Kids In Murcia
Swimming with sea lions, sailing in a lagoon and visiting a Roman theatre, just 3 fun things to do with kids in Murcia.
I have visited Murcia on numerous occasions as I am fortunate to have a sister who has a house there 🙂 Most of the time we tend to laze by the pool or beach and I’m almost ashamed to say, until this year, I didn’t realise there was so many things to do with kids in Murcia! The Spanish Tourism Office in Dublin kindly helped me plan some activities this year and I am so glad they did. This is what we got up to.
Terra Natura Murcia
We spent a whole day at Terra Natura park and we had a great time. In fact my son Luke (age 9) still says it was one of his favourite places he has ever been! Why? I hear you say… He got to swim with sea lions, hand feed giraffes and lemurs, and go down a huge water slide! Yes you can do all of this in Terra Natura. Although the waterpark is small in terms of the dedicated aquatic parks you may have visited, there are ample slides for all ages, a large swimming pool with a splash zone for small children and a small lazy river too. Add this to a fact Terra Natura is also home to an animal park, and you are in a kids paradise! Terra Natura has over 50 species of animals, the usual monkeys, rhinos, giraffes etc but where they are unique is that you can get up close with many of the animals.
For a mere €5 each you can feed the giraffes or the lemurs, or both! I have no doubt a similar experience would be 10 times the price elsewhere. This was an incredible experience and not only for the kids, we loved it too. One of the zoo keepers was with us the whole time and kept us informed or what to do and the whole experience was very memorable. We also took the opportunity to swim with the sea lions, this is also an additional cost, but only €20, which I think is also very reasonable. I was surprised at how long this was, we had a group session and then an individual one where the sea lion duly jumps up at kisses you on the cheek! Luke, in particular thought this was incredible and as you can see we got some amazing photos to prove it.
Thankfully numbers are limited and there are dedicated times each day for each activity, so make sure you book the sea lion swim and the animal feeding at the entrance. There is a sea lion show a few times during the day but unless you speak Spanish I would give it a miss. While it was good to see that it was mostly educational rather than watching sea lions perform tricks, but unfortunately we couldn’t understand it. Terra Natura also has falconry displays, educational talks on bears, giraffes and otters which are all included in the admission price. We didn’t get to see them, but suffice to say there is so much to see and do in Terra Natura that you should plan to spend the day there. They also run a 2 hour night safari on a Friday and Saturday night. At €15 it is sure to get booked out early so make sure you book in advance.
I should point out that the park is a strange mix, some parts are old and look in need of repair, while restaurants and bars for instance are very modern. It was great to be able to get up close with the animals but like most zoos, I wished the bears and lions had bigger enclosures. It is however a great family day out and one that kids will love. The entrance fees are very reasonable, only €25 per adult in peak summer months and €15 in off peak, with the 2nd day offered free if booked online. I must stress however you should pay the the extra for the interactive activities, that is what made it such a great experience for us.
Visit Murica.TerraNatura.com for more details
San Pedro del Pinatar
Murcia is home to numerous beaches and most have their fair share of watersports available. San Pedro del Pinatar however, offers so much more. Located beside the tranquil waters of Mar Menor, this lagoon is ideal for kayaking, sailing or windsurfing. It’s sheltered location is ideal for novices to try something new, like ourselves 🙂 There is additional salt in the water which not only helps buoyancy but it is also known to help with rheumatism and skin complaints. We spotted people rubbing the dark mud on their bodies hoping to cure their ailments as we strolled along the peninsula. We also spotted the resident pink flamingos who, like many migratory birds choose the Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar Regional Park to nest. Walkers or strollers will love this ninety minute walk which starts at the impressive Quintín Mill and ends in the middle of the sea. The beaches are packed with cool beach bars and restaurants if you fancy a cool down after your walk.
We decided to try some of the water-sports that the region is renowned for. We went to the Centre of Nautical Activities which is an impressive building at the far end of the beach. We could have taken kayaks out for a mere €4.8 per hour (how cheap is that) but we decided to go for the relaxing option and took a sail boat with our own private skipper, which is only €60 for an hour. We sailed across to the edge of the National Park while our attentive skipper showed Alex and Luke the ropes (excuse the pun). We had a fabulous afternoon and one I would highly recommend.
Visit CanSanPedro.com for more details:
Cartagena
Dating back to 220 BC, Cartagena, is one of Spain’s most historical cities. Complete with a Roman theatre, the Navidad fort and the Concepción Castle, there is so much here to explore. Children can enjoy workshops as well as interactive play as they are encouraged to become actors for the day at each of the museums. They can be pirates, Roman soldiers or even secret agents. Click here for more details. If you venture 6km outside Cartagena you will find Tentegorra Aventura, a family adventure park. This is home to a maze, a wide selection of ziplines and a swimming pool with water slides. Why not combine some culture with some fun and visit both! Unfortunately we didn’t manage to get here on this trip but it is top of my list for my next visit to Murcia!
Sarah
*Note the Spanish Tourism Office in Dublin arranged these activities for me but all views, as always, are my own.
