They’re the two biggest days out on the island — Siam Park, regularly crowned one of the best water parks in the world, and Loro Parque, a sprawling animal park famous for its orcas, penguins and parrots. Almost every Tenerife visitor wants to tick off at least one. The catch most people don’t realise until they’re planning: they sit at opposite ends of the island — Siam Park in the sunny south, Loro Parque in the green north.
That’s exactly why a hire car is so handy. This guide covers how to reach each park by car, where to park, the free shuttle alternatives, and — the clever bit — how to build a brilliant full day around each one using the attractions nearby.
🎢 Quick Answer
Siam Park is in Costa Adeje (south) with free on-site parking; Loro Parque is in Puerto de la Cruz (north), where the classic approach is the free Loro Parque Express train from the town centre. They’re on opposite ends of Tenerife, so visit them on separate days. Both run free shuttle buses from nearby resorts, so a car isn’t essential for the parks themselves — but it’s ideal for combining each with the surrounding region, and the two parks share money-saving combo tickets.
⚖️ Siam Park vs Loro Parque: The Basics
Same owner, very different days out, opposite ends of the island:
| 🎢 Siam Park | 🦜 Loro Parque | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Water park | Animal & marine park |
| Where | Costa Adeje (south) | Puerto de la Cruz (north) |
| Known for | World-class slides, wave pool | Orcas, dolphins, penguins, parrots, gorillas |
| Parking | Free on-site car park | Car park nearby + free town train |
| Free shuttle | From southern resorts | Loro Parque Express from Puerto centre |
| Best paired with | South beaches & Costa Adeje | La Orotava & the green north |
💡 Combo tickets (often called a Twin Ticket) cover both parks at a saving — worth it if you’ll do both. Just remember to schedule them on different days given the cross-island drive.
🎢 Getting to Siam Park by Car
Siam Park sits right beside the TF-1 in Costa Adeje, making it one of the easiest attractions to reach from the southern resorts:
| From | Roughly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🏖️ Costa Adeje / Las Américas | 5–10 min | Practically on the doorstep |
| 🏖️ Los Cristianos | ~10 min | Quick hop on the TF-1 |
| ✈️ Tenerife South Airport (TFS) | ~20 min | Straight up the TF-1 |
| 🌿 Puerto de la Cruz (north) | ~1.5 hrs | A full cross-island drive |
🅿️ Parking is free in Siam Park’s own car park — a real perk that makes driving the easy choice from the south. If you’re staying nearby, our TFS to Costa Adeje guide covers the short transfer, and the park’s own free shuttle serves many southern hotels if you’d rather not drive that day.
🦜 Getting to Loro Parque by Car
Loro Parque is in Puerto de la Cruz on the north coast. The signature way in is the free Loro Parque Express — a little train that runs from the town centre to the park entrance — but you can also drive:
| From | Roughly | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🌺 Puerto de la Cruz centre | 5 min / free train | The classic, easiest approach |
| 🏰 La Orotava | ~15 min | Combine with the historic town |
| 🏙️ Santa Cruz / La Laguna | ~40 min | Easy motorway run on the TF-5 |
| ☀️ Southern resorts | ~1.5 hrs | A cross-island day |
🅿️ Parking: there’s a car park near the entrance, but spaces fill in peak season, so arrive early — or park in Puerto de la Cruz and hop on the free train. Our Puerto de la Cruz by car guide helps you plan the town side of the day.
🗺️ Build a Full Day Around Each Park
Here’s where the car earns its keep — turning a single attraction into a complete day out:
| Park | Make a Day of It |
|---|---|
| 🎢 Siam Park (south) | Morning at the park, afternoon on the Costa Adeje beaches or dinner in La Caleta |
| 🦜 Loro Parque (north) | Park in the morning, then explore La Orotava’s old town or Garachico |
Without a car you’re tied to the park and the shuttle timetable; with one, you can roll a world-class attraction into a day of beaches, towns and scenery. It’s the difference between visiting a park and having a day in Tenerife. Both pair neatly into our 3-day and 7-day itineraries.
🤔 Only Time for One? Which Park to Choose
Short on days and can’t fit both? Pick based on your group and where you’re staying:
| Choose… | If You… |
|---|---|
| 🎢 Siam Park | Love water rides and pools, are staying in the south, want a hot sunny day |
| 🦜 Loro Parque | Prefer animals and marine shows, are based in the north, are travelling with younger kids |
| 🎟️ Both (combo ticket) | Have the days and want the island’s two headline attractions at a saving |
A rough rule of thumb: south-based, sun-and-thrills travellers lean Siam Park; north-based or animal-loving families lean Loro Parque. Either way, your hire car makes the choice flexible — you’re never tied to one end of the island.
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🎒 Practical Things to Know Before You Go
A little preparation makes either park day smoother:
- 👙 Siam Park: bring swimwear, a towel and water shoes; lockers and sun loungers are available, and the wave pool and headline slides draw the biggest queues mid-morning.
- 🧥 Loro Parque: wear comfortable shoes for a lot of walking, bring a light layer (the north can be cooler), and check the daily show schedule when you arrive to plan your route around it.
- ☀️ Weather matters more in the north. If Loro Parque day looks cloudy up north, it may be sunny in the south — having a car lets you flip your plans and swap which region you do that day.
- 🕘 Both reward an early arrival for parking, shorter queues and a fuller day.
This flexibility — reacting to the weather, combining a park with a beach or an old town — is the real reason a car beats relying on shuttles for these big days out.
💡 Tips for Visiting Both Parks
- 🎟️ Buy tickets in advance, and consider the combo ticket if doing both — it saves money and time at the gate.
- 📅 Visit on different days — the cross-island drive between south and north makes one-day-both impractical and exhausting.
- ⏰ Arrive early for parking and to beat the crowds to the popular slides and shows.
- ☀️ Siam Park = a sunny south day; pick a clear day, as the north can be cloudier.
- 🚗 Driving from the opposite coast? Fuel up and allow ~1.5 hours each way — fuel is cheap, as our petrol & fuel policy guide explains.
- 🅿️ Know the parking rules elsewhere on your day out via our parking in Tenerife guide.
New to the island’s roads? A quick read of driving in Tenerife sets you up, and to keep the car affordable see our cheap car hire guide.
✅ Park-Visiting Checklist
- 🎟️ Book tickets ahead — combo ticket if doing both parks.
- 📅 Schedule them on separate days (opposite ends of the island).
- 🎢 Siam Park: free parking, sunny south, arrive early.
- 🦜 Loro Parque: free town train or arrive early for the car park.
- 🗺️ Plan the surrounding day — beaches in the south, towns in the north.
- ⛽ Fuel up if driving across the island.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Siam Park and Loro Parque in Tenerife? Siam Park is in Costa Adeje in the sunny south, while Loro Parque is in Puerto de la Cruz on the green north coast. They sit at opposite ends of the island, so it’s best to visit them on separate days.
Can I drive to Siam Park, and is there parking? Yes. Siam Park is right beside the TF-1 in Costa Adeje, just minutes from the southern resorts, and it has a free on-site car park — making driving the easy option from the south.
How do I get to Loro Parque by car? Loro Parque is in Puerto de la Cruz, reachable on the TF-5 motorway. There’s a car park near the entrance, but the classic approach is the free Loro Parque Express train from the town centre, which saves the parking hunt.
Do I need a car to visit the parks? Not strictly — both run free shuttle buses or trains from nearby areas. But a car gives you the freedom to combine each park with the beaches, towns and scenery around it, turning a park visit into a full day out.
Can I visit Siam Park and Loro Parque on the same day? It’s not recommended. They’re on opposite ends of the island, about 1.5 hours apart by car, so doing both in one day would be rushed and tiring. Schedule them on separate days.
Is there a combined ticket for both parks? Yes, the two parks share the same owner and offer a combined (Twin) ticket at a saving versus buying separately — worthwhile if you plan to visit both.
Which park is better for families? Both are family favourites. Siam Park suits those who love water rides and pools, while Loro Parque appeals to animal lovers with its marine shows and exotic species. Many families do both with a combo ticket.
How far is Siam Park from Tenerife South Airport? About 20 minutes by car straight up the TF-1, as it’s in nearby Costa Adeje. That makes it an easy first or last day for visitors staying in the south.
Is parking free at Siam Park and Loro Parque? Siam Park has a free on-site car park. At Loro Parque there’s a car park near the entrance that can fill up in peak season, so many visitors instead park in Puerto de la Cruz and take the free Loro Parque Express train to the gate.
Which park should I choose if I only have one day? If you’re in the south and love water rides, choose Siam Park; if you’re in the north or travelling with animal-loving younger children, choose Loro Parque. With a hire car, either is easy to reach and you can combine it with the surrounding area for a full day.
🎢 Two Great Days, One Easy Plan
Siam Park and Loro Parque are bucket-list days out — and a hire car makes them effortless, letting you reach each one and wrap it into a full day of Tenerife either side. Book ahead, split them across two days, and enjoy the island’s headline attractions without the hassle.
👉 Compare car hire deals in Tenerife to reach both parks on your own schedule. This guide is part of our complete Tenerife by Car guide; for the right rental, see our Tenerife car hire guide.
