Here at Attraction Tickets Direct we are lucky enough to enjoy some of the best theme parks in the world, but for us, water parks are just as important. Offering a different ride every time and a great way of cooling down on a hot day, we were pleased to see them getting recognition in the 2014 TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Awards. Coming out on top was Tenerife's Siam Park, and Tom from our office was in full agreement with this decision, having visited the park on a couple of occasions. Read on to find out why he thinks it is the best water park around...
Sprawled across 46 beautifully landscaped acres, Siam Park is quite simply the best water park I have ever been to! There are a number of reasons for this, from the quality and quantity of rides to the amazing theming throughout the park, it is an absolute must do if you’re in Tenerife and reason enough to head to this Canary Island.
One of the things that makes it such a pleasant place to be, is how organic it all feels. The park has been built into the side of a hill, so there are no huge towers of steps to be climbing, meaning that those who suffer with heights (myself included), will never really feel like they are that high up. This also makes the park a lot more visually pleasing. However, that’s not what you’re here for, you want to find out about the important stuff, like this…
The rides
Usually it is fairly easy to pick out a favourite ride or attraction in a theme park or water park, but not so with Siam Park. The great thing is, many of the rides are multi-person, so you can share the fun with your friends, with the side benefit that the queues go down a lot quicker! If pushed though, I would have to go for either The Dragon or Kinnaree.
The Dragon sees your four man raft twist and turn, then suddenly drop into a huge funnel that you slide around and climb the sides of, before hurtling out into the pool at the end – I defy anyone to not be grinning from ear to ear at this point! Kinnaree also takes four people, only this time you seemingly defy gravity as you rush through a series of slides, before climbing a wall and hanging at the top before carrying on towards the end of the 200m track.
That isn’t to say though that there is nothing in the way of single rider slides, far from it in fact. Those brave enough, can take on the near vertical Tower of Power. This 28 metre high slide sends riders down at breakneck speeds, culminating in a tunnel through shark filled waters (don’t worry, they’re behind glass!). For something a little less extreme, the Naga Racers is a six lane racing slide, that lets you and your friends race to the bottom on your blue mats. Alternatively, the Jungle Snake slides can be ridden as a one or two person ride and is a lot quicker than you would think from looking at it!
The waves
Any great park needs a world record and the Wave Palace at Siam Park is home to the biggest man made waves in the world, at close to 10 foot high! It isn’t for the faint hearted, but is amazing fun to dive into them, or you can just stand and paddle at the edges if you aren’t brave enough to go in.
For the kids
Little ones will love The Lost City and it’s the perfect way for them to get their first water park experience. Bridges, waterfalls and mini slides combine to create an amazing area for them to enjoy, with plenty of seating nearby for parents to keep a watchful eye. The Sawasdee area also contains miniature versions of some of the big slides, including the Dragon and also offers racing slides, so your little ones can have just as much fun as you!
Relaxing
As with any water park, one of the top attractions is being able to just chill out and relax for a bit and soak up some sun. Siam Park doesn’t disappoint on this front either. Sun worshippers will love the huge beach next to the Wave Palace, whilst the Mai Thai River is one of the longest lazy rivers in the world, allowing you to soak up the sun, whilst keeping cool. Plus, if you take the extended route at the end, you may just find it picks up a bit of pace!
You’ll also find yourself pleasantly surprised with the quality of food on offer. There are a variety of restaurants throughout the park, so whether you want some authentic Oriental food, a buffet or just a sandwich to grab on your way to the next slide, you’re well catered for.
When to go?
For many people, water parks are avoided in winter and then frequented in summer when it is too hot to be in theme parks all day. However, the consistent climate in Tenerife, makes Siam Park ideal year round. I’ve been lucky enough to visit in both December and March and both times found the temperature to be perfect for a day in a water park.
Whenever you choose to visit Siam Park, you can get a great deal by pre-booking your tickets with Attraction Tickets Direct. Plus, why not look at having double the fun and purchasing the Siam Park and Loro Parque twin ticket, giving you access to the amazing Loro Parque, voted the 3rd best zoo in the world in the 2014 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards.
