The Canary Islands blend springtime weather year-round with volcanic drama and Atlantic light. Settled by the Guanches long before the Spanish crown, the archipelago became a vital Atlantic stopover; today, families come for safe beaches, wow-factor landscapes, and easy logistics. Your week focuses on Tenerife and Lanzarote—two islands with very different personalities that complement each other beautifully.

Expect soft-sand bays and playground-lined promenades for the kids, whale and dolphin watching that thrills all ages, and national parks that look like Mars. Cuisine leans Canarian: wrinkled potatoes with mojo sauce, grilled fish, papas-revuelta breakfasts, and excellent gelato and bakeries for snack breaks. Midday siestas are real; embrace a slower rhythm and plan busy activities in the morning or late afternoon.

Practical notes: Renting a car is helpful with young children, though tours can simplify big outings. Sun is strong even in winter—pack rash guards, hats, and reef-safe sunscreen. Spanish child-seat rules apply (kids under 135 cm in proper seats, rear seats preferred). Tap water is generally safe but widely tastes desalinated—many families opt for bottled water.

Tenerife

Tenerife is the archipelago’s gentle giant: home to Spain’s highest peak, Mount Teide, yet famous among families for calm south-coast beaches and stroller-friendly promenades. Base yourselves in Costa Adeje or Los Cristianos for easy access to marinas, shallow bays, and boat trips.

Top sights include Teide National Park (lava fields and alien craters), historic La Laguna (UNESCO-listed Old Town), and the golden arc of Playa de Las Teresitas near Santa Cruz. Add whale watching—resident pilot whales live offshore year-round—and, if you can, a sunset stargazing night above the clouds.

• Where to stay (family picks): - Beach resort comfort in Costa Adeje at Iberostar Selection Anthelia (check availability). - Iconic cliffside luxury at The Ritz-Carlton, Abama (see rates). - Rural calm in the hills at Hotel Rural La Correa del Almendro (details). - If you prefer the capital vibe, consider Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey (view rooms), Silken Atlántida Santa Cruz (options), Hotel Escuela Santa Cruz (families) or budget-friendly Hotel Adonis Capital (check prices).
• Search more stays: VRBO in Costa Adeje (family apartments) and Hotels.com for Costa Adeje (beach resorts).
• Getting there: Fly into TFS (South) or TFN (North). Compare Europe flights on Omio; from Spain/Portugal/UK you’ll find many nonstops. Typical fares €80–€200 one-way; transfer to Costa Adeje takes ~20–25 min by taxi.

Great for kids: Playa del Duque and Fañabé (gentle surf), the coastal path between Adeje and La Caleta (stroller-friendly), and playgrounds dotted along Los Cristianos promenade.

Day 1: Arrival in Tenerife (Costa Adeje base)

Afternoon: Arrive and settle into your hotel. Stretch little legs on the promenade between Playa Fañabé and Playa del Duque—there are playgrounds, shaded benches, and kiosks for fruit smoothies. Pick up water and snacks at a local supermercado for kid-friendly breakfasts.

Evening: Keep it simple with an early dinner. Consider Mesón Castellano (classic Spanish—croquetas, tortilla, grilled fish) or La Nonna at Plaza del Duque (pizzas/pastas, high chairs, quick service). Try a Canarian barraquito (layered coffee) for parents and fruit sorbet for the kids from a beachside heladería.

Day 2: Whale & Dolphin Watching + Beach Time

Morning: Head to Puerto Colón for a small-group eco catamaran trip—calm waters, shaded seating, and onboard snacks are ideal with children.

Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet

Resident pilot whales and playful dolphins are common year-round. Bring light layers—the trade winds can blow even on sunny days.

Afternoon: Nap/pool time back at the hotel. Then build sandcastles at Playa del Bobo, a compact cove sheltered by breakwaters—great for toddlers.

Evening: Stroll the seafront and pick an easy dinner: El Cine in Los Cristianos (no-frills, excellent grilled squid and papas), or a quick Italian at Restaurante 88’s sister spots in La Caleta if you fancy Asian-inspired plates for parents and noodles/rice for kids.

Day 3: Mount Teide by Day, Stars by Night

Morning: Drive 1–1.5 hrs into Teide National Park. Stop at Roques de García for a short loop (kids love the “rock towers”), then ride the cable car if weather allows. The landscape looks like a storybook of volcanoes—spark curiosity with tales of “fire mountains.”

Afternoon: Return to base for rest and an early dinner—grilled chicken, papas arrugadas, and mojo at a local guachinche are crowd-pleasers.

Evening (tour): Join a guided sunset-and-stargazing experience that includes a local dinner en route and telescopes under incredibly dark skies.

Teide National Park Sunset & Stargazing with Dinner (Star Safari)

Tip: Pack warm layers and a little blanket; it’s chilly at altitude even in summer.

Day 4: La Laguna Old Town and Teresitas Beach (or Optional Day Trip)

Morning: Drive 1 hr to San Cristóbal de La Laguna (UNESCO). Wander pastel-fronted mansions and arcaded courtyards. Coffee and pastries at a neighborhood bakery, then tapas lunch at Tasca La Rebotica (parents: local goat cheese and honey; kids: ham croquettes).

Afternoon: Continue to Santa Cruz’s Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África for fruit, juices, and a stroll, then finish at Playa de Las Teresitas—a broad golden bay with lifeguards and gentle entry, ideal for ages 3 and 6.

Evening: If you stayed north, consider dinner at La Hierbita (traditional Canarian) in Santa Cruz, then return south for packing and an early night.

Optional tours if you prefer a guided day:

• Mt. Teide and Masca Valley Tour in Tenerife

  

• Full Day Guided Tour to La Gomera from Tenerife (bring passports; ferry included)

  

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is a sculpture of wind and fire: lava seas, whitewashed villages, and low-slung architecture shaped by the island’s artist-guardian, César Manrique. It’s wildly photogenic yet easygoing—perfect for short drives and half-day adventures with young children.

Base yourselves in Playa Blanca (calm coves, water taxis to Papagayo beaches) or Puerto del Carmen (playgrounds along Avenida de las Playas). Don’t miss Timanfaya National Park’s “Montañas del Fuego” and the magical lava-tube wonders of Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua.

• Where to stay: Search family apartments near Playa Blanca marina on VRBO (VRBO Playa Blanca) or seaside hotels on Hotels.com (Playa Blanca stays). For Puerto del Carmen, compare VRBO and Hotels.com.
• Getting there from Tenerife (Day 5): Morning flight TFS/TFN → ACE takes ~50–55 minutes, usually €40–€90 per person one-way. Compare on Omio. Ferries exist via Gran Canaria but take 5–7 hrs total—usually not ideal with small kids.

Kid highlights: Timanfaya’s geyser demos, Papagayo’s protected bays, and short vineyard stops in La Geria (grapevines grow in little lava craters—kids love seeing “moon” gardens).

Day 5: Fly to Lanzarote, Settle by the Sea

Morning: Fly Tenerife → Lanzarote (ACE). Pick up a car with pre-reserved child seats, or arrange a hotel transfer. Drive 30 min to Playa Blanca or 15–20 min to Puerto del Carmen.

Afternoon: Easy beach time. In Playa Blanca, the sheltered sands of Playa Dorada are ideal; in Puerto del Carmen, head for the central stretch near small playgrounds and pedal-boat rentals.

Evening: Dinner on the marina: La Casa Roja in Marina Rubicón (paella, kid-friendly portions) or Lani’s Café in Puerto del Carmen (pizzas, grilled fish, coloring sheets). Early night.

Day 6: Timanfaya, Caves, and César Manrique

Full-day guided tour—no need to break the day. Sit-back bus logistics are great with kids and minimize driving/parking in busy sites.

Tour to Timanfaya, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verdes and viewpoint from the cliff

You’ll see the “Mountains of Fire,” watch guides use geothermal heat for fun demos, walk a gentle subterranean path in Cueva de los Verdes, and end at dreamy Jameos del Agua—an artful lava tube-turned-lagoon space created by César Manrique.

Budget/pace alternatives:

• Timanfaya, Jameos Agua & Cueva Verdes - Highlights Lanzarote

  

• Private tour from Lanzarote: Timanfaya, El Golfo & Los Hervideros (customizable pace)

  

Food tips today: Picnic supplies near Timanfaya; later, parents might enjoy a quick glass at a La Geria winery (El Chupadero is a rustic classic) while kids nibble cheese and bread.

Day 7: Papagayo Coves or Rancho Texas, Fly Home

Morning: For a calm finale, take the water taxi from Marina Rubicón to the Papagayo coves (bring snorkels and sun tents). If you prefer animals and splash pads, Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park near Puerto del Carmen makes for an easy half-day with shows and shallow pools.

Afternoon: Lunch by the sea—grilled fish, papas, and salads—then head to ACE airport. Most car rentals allow child seats to be dropped at the terminal; arrive 2 hours early.

Evening: Fly out. If you have a late departure, stroll along Arrecife’s Charco de San Ginés lagoon for ice cream and a last sunset.

Practical Eating and Coffee Stops

• Breakfast/coffee: Panaria (multiple locations) for reliable pastries and fresh juice; hotel buffets are convenient with toddlers. In La Laguna, grab a pastry and cortado at a local pastelería near the cathedral.
• Lunch ideas: Market tastings at Santa Cruz’s Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África; simple grilled-fish plates at El Cine (Los Cristianos); beachside sandwiches and fruit at Playa Dorada (Playa Blanca).
• Dinner picks: Mesón Castellano (Playa de las Américas), La Nonna (Plaza del Duque), La Casa Roja (Marina Rubicón), Lani’s Café/Restaurant (Puerto del Carmen). Dishes to try: vieja (parrotfish), lapas (limpets) with green mojo, gofio desserts.

Transport Between Islands and Around Town

• Flights: Inter-island flights are quick and frequent. Compare fares/schedules on Omio (Tenerife ↔ Lanzarote ~55 min; €40–€90 one-way).
• Ferries: For shorter hops (e.g., Tenerife ↔ La Gomera), check Omio ferries (60–80 min), though for our plan flying to Lanzarote is easiest with kids.
• Local movement: Promenades are stroller-friendly; taxis are plentiful and can provide car seats if requested ahead. Buses (guaguas) are budget-friendly, but a compact rental simplifies nap-time returns.

Optional Tenerife Activities (if you add a day)

• Tenerife Los Cristianos: Whale and Dolphin Eco-Yacht and Swim Stop

  

Budget Tips (target ~50/100)

• Mix resort dinners with market picnics and beach kiosks; plan one or two headline tours (whales, Timanfaya) and keep other days DIY.
• Choose an apartment with kitchenette via VRBO Costa Adeje or VRBO Playa Blanca to save on breakfasts and snacks.
• Prebook key tours and stargazing to avoid last-minute pricing spikes and sold-out dates.

Summary: In one week, you’ll beach-hop along Tenerife’s sunny south, watch whales in their Atlantic home, and stand amid Teide’s black-lava moonscapes before tracing Lanzarote’s fire mountains and lava caves. The pacing suits a family with a 6- and 3-year-old—short drives, stroller-friendly promenades, and big moments of wonder. The islands’ easy logistics and warm hospitality make every day feel like play.