📘 Want to Really Get to Know Tenerife?
Monkey Park is just one of Tenerife's many attractions! Would you like to discover other animal parks, interesting places nearby, extraordinary corners of the island and stories you won't find in typical tourist brochures?
In my guidebook, Tenerife with Achamán, I don't start with a list of attractions. First, you'll get to know the island itself – its ancient inhabitants, the Guanches, its fascinating history, Mount Teide and the places where nature has created truly extraordinary wonders.
🐒 More than just Monkey Park: You'll also discover other animal parks, interesting places nearby and attractions scattered across the island. This makes it easier to plan your sightseeing and combine several fascinating places into a single day trip.
🧭 Everything you need to explore independently: GPS locations, parking, public toilets, ticket prices, opening hours, accessibility information for visitors with disabilities and plenty of other practical tips.
📱 A PDF guide: Always at your fingertips on your phone or tablet, without having to carry an extra book.
👉 Discover my guidebook: Tenerife with Achamán
❤️ The Smallest Park, the Biggest Fun!
During our family holiday in Tenerife, we visited three zoos: Loro Parque, Jungle Park and Monkey Park. And you know what? Although Monkey Park is by far the smallest and most modest of the three, it's where we had the most fun!
We were there with our children, and every one of us, regardless of age, had a fantastic time. The monkeys jumped onto us, curiously inspected our hands and sometimes behaved so amusingly that we couldn't help laughing. Everything took place under the watchful eyes of the park staff.
We enjoyed Monkey Park so much that we visited it again. And we had just as much fun the second time!
Of course, a lot has changed since then, particularly the rules about direct contact with the animals. But for me, Monkey Park remains proof that the biggest and most spectacular attractions don't always bring the most joy.
Sometimes, our fondest holiday memories come from the smallest places. ❤️
👀 Don't Miss
🐒 Watch the monkey families – look out for them grooming one another, playing and caring for their young. If you're lucky, you might even spot some baby monkeys!
🐾 Take a closer look at the ring-tailed lemurs – you'll recognise them by their distinctive black-and-white ringed tails. On sunny days, look out for lemurs basking with their arms spread wide.
🥕 Ask about feeding the animals – this was one of Monkey Park's best-known attractions for many years. Rules can change, so check at the park whether feeding is currently allowed and which animals, if any, visitors can feed.
🦜 Discover the park's other residents – don't focus entirely on the monkeys! Look out for colourful parrots, tortoises, reptiles and small wallabies.
📸 Have your camera ready – the animals can be incredibly lively, and their funny expressions and behaviour may take you by surprise. Take photos without using flash, and never try to attract their attention with food.
ℹ️ Practical Information
🗺️ GPS: 28.06103, -16.69233
🚗 Getting there: Monkey Park is located in Arona, near Los Cristianos, just off the TF-662 road. The easiest way to get there is by car. Bus route 467 stops at San Francisco, from where you'll need to continue by taxi. The park advises against walking there for safety reasons.
🅿️ Parking: Free parking is available at the park, with no reservation required.
💶 Ticket prices:
Adults and children over 12 – €10
Children aged 5–12 – €5
Children under 5 – free
Tickets can be purchased at the park. Online purchases are subject to an additional €1 booking fee.
🕘 Opening hours: Daily, 9:30 am–4:00 pm, all year round. Last admission at 3:30 pm.
⏱️ Time needed: Approximately 1 hour. If you enjoy taking your time observing the animals, allow 1.5–2 hours.
♿ Accessibility: The park is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with pushchairs. Wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters are available to borrow free of charge, but advance booking is required.
🚻 Toilets: Available.
🍎 Animal feeding rules: Bringing your own food to feed the animals and touching them are prohibited. The park's FAQ mentions specially prepared animal food available for €3, but its visitor information page also states that feeding is not permitted. Check the current rules before your visit.
🍎 Feeding the Animals
During our first visit to Monkey Park, we were asked to show the contents of our rucksack before entering. The staff were checking that we hadn't brought our own food for the animals. I must admit, I was quite annoyed at first! Why couldn't I give the monkeys something I'd brought myself?
However, I soon realised that it wasn't about making money from selling food, but primarily about protecting the animals' health. Each species has specific dietary needs, and even seemingly harmless treats can be harmful.
At the park, we could buy specially prepared portions of food. And that's when the real fun began! 🐒 The animals approached us, reached out their little paws, and some even jumped onto visitors. Everything took place under the supervision of the staff.
We enjoyed feeding them so much that the food we'd bought quickly ran out. Of course, we went back for more! 😊
🥕 Can You Feed the Animals Today?
Monkey Park states that visitors can buy specially prepared food containing fruit and vegetables. However, its official website also contains conflicting information about feeding, so it's worth checking the current rules before your visit.
🚫 Remember: Never give the animals food you've brought yourself. Even if they eagerly reach for it, that doesn't mean it's good for them.
The rules regarding direct contact with the animals have also changed. The park now states that touching them is prohibited. Although I look back on our earlier encounters with great fondness, I understand that the animals' welfare and safety must always come first.
🐵 Who Lives at Monkey Park?
The name Monkey Park suggests that monkeys are the main attraction. And they certainly are the stars of the park! However, you'll also find lemurs, exotic birds, reptiles, tortoises and even small kangaroos among its residents.
🐒 Monkeys – From Tiny Marmosets to Larger Primates
Monkey Park is home to several species of monkeys, including guenons, marmosets and Barbary macaques. Particularly interesting are De Brazza's monkeys, which are easily recognised by their distinctive white beards and orange patches on their foreheads.
Some monkeys are incredibly active, while others prefer to sit quietly and observe their surroundings. It's worth spending a little longer watching them, as their everyday behaviour can be the most fascinating part – grooming one another, playing and caring for their young.
🐾 Lemurs – Curious Residents from Madagascar
Among the park's most recognisable residents are ring-tailed lemurs, easily identified by their long tails with black and white rings.
Although we often call them monkeys, lemurs belong to a different group of primates. In the wild, they live in Madagascar, and one of their most distinctive behaviours is basking in the sunshine with their arms spread wide.
🦜 Colourful Birds, Reptiles and Little Australian Hoppers
Monkey Park is also home to exotic birds, including colourful parrots. Among the reptiles, you can see Cuban crocodiles, iguanas and tortoises.
Other interesting residents include Bennett's wallabies – marsupials native to Australia that resemble small kangaroos. The park also introduces visitors to Pio the raven, whose intelligence and curiosity are wonderful examples of the remarkable abilities of birds.
❤️ From an Expectant Mother to Baby Monkeys
I've visited Monkey Park twice – once in winter and once in summer. During my first visit, I noticed a monkey that was expecting babies. When we returned a few months later, there were little ones in the park!
I don't know which species the monkey belonged to, but I clearly remember the joy of watching the youngsters. Encounters like these show that even a small zoo can provide unforgettable experiences.
Monkey Park in Tenerife – Small Park, Big Fun!
Monkey Park is the smallest and most modest of Tenerife's popular zoos, but close encounters with monkeys and lemurs can give the whole family unforgettable experiences!
🐒 Monkey Park – A Small Zoo with a Big Personality
Monkey Park is located in southern Tenerife, near Los Cristianos. It was established in 1991, initially under the name Tenerife Zoo, on the initiative of Francisco Reina López. From the beginning, it was a small zoo focused on close encounters with animals.
Today, Monkey Park is not just a tourist attraction, but also a centre dedicated to caring for rescued animals and breeding endangered species. Particular attention is given to primates, including ring-tailed lemurs, guenons and marmosets.
🌴 Why Tenerife?
The island's mild climate allows the animals to spend time outdoors all year round. According to the park's staff, this supports their welfare and natural breeding cycles.
🧬 More Than Just Watching Animals
Monkey Park participates in breeding programmes and works with other zoos. It also takes in animals that need care, while ticket revenue helps fund their upkeep and conservation activities.
You won't find animal shows or trained animals performing tricks here. Instead, the park aims to give visitors the opportunity to observe natural animal behaviour and learn about species threatened with extinction.
👜 Curiosity Gets the Better of Good Manners!
I remember one particularly funny incident. The little monkeys were so curious to see whether I had anything tasty for them that I decided to open my handbag and show them I had nothing left.
My husband only had time to say, "Don't do that! One of them will take something out of your bag!" And of course, he was right! 😂
One of the little monkeys immediately reached into my handbag and grabbed something. I can't even remember what it was, because as soon as it realised its prize wasn't edible, it promptly threw it away!
Ever since then, I've known one thing – it's best to keep your handbag closed around monkeys! 🐒