Sixteen rides put to the test at Siam Park in Costa Adeje

16 attractions, a superbly maintained site, dozens of lifeguards and, above all, pure adrenaline: Siam Park in Costa Adeje on Tenerife is Europe’s largest water park. Teneriffa News put this huge water park through its paces and – to cut a long story short – was thrilled. A first-hand account:

The big Siam Park review – all the details

The park in the south of Tenerife is situated right next to the TF1 motorway. There are even shuttle bus services for visitors staying at nearby hotels. All other guests can easily get there by public transport or by car. Car parks are available.

The attractions at Siam Park

A large sea lion pool awaits guests right at the entrance. Here, it’s immediately clear to visitors that the park is more than just an outdoor swimming pool. The motto is ‚go big or go home‘. Once you’ve passed the sea lions and are looking for the changing rooms, you’ll understand how such attractions are funded: one downside is the fee charged on top of the admission price for a (strongly recommended) locker. But once you’ve cleared that hurdle, nothing stands in the way of your swimming fun:

„Mai Thai River“ (Rating: 3-)

This is where leisurely bathers and slide fanatics go their separate ways, as the first attraction, the „Mai Thai River“, takes things at a leisurely pace. On single or double tubes, you make a circular journey through the complex. The current is gentle to slow. On the plus side: in winter, the „Mai Thai River“ helps you get used to the sea temperature, which is cooler than in summer. Taking the park’s slogan, „The Waterkingdom“, as our basis, we award this attraction a 3- due to the very slow flow rate and the lack of variety.

„Mekong Rapids“ (Rating: 3+)

The „Mekong Rapids“ are located in the western part of the park. The ride simulates white-water rafting. In a round four-seater boat, you travel down a winding course down the slope. Anyone who hasn’t got wet by this point has now fully arrived at the park. This attraction is perfect as an „appetiser“, but there’s even better to come!

„The Giant“ (Rating: 3)

The „Giant“ is also well suited to first-time visitors to the park. Right from the start, the ride leads into an oversized funnel. There, you go round in circles a few times before the single- or two-person ring is sucked into the centre of the funnel. Usually, this is followed by a backwards ride at a fair pace towards the outlet pool.

„Tower of Power“ turbo slide (Rating: 1-)

Right next door is the park’s most prominent attraction, the „Tower of Power“. The turbo slide promises a feeling of weightlessness as it descends 28 metres at an almost vertical angle. Many of the daring visitors turn back immediately after taking a look from the platform. But those who pluck up the courage won’t be disappointed.

At speeds of up to 80 km/h, your adrenaline levels soar to unimaginable heights in a fraction of a second. Whilst many visitors close their eyes because of the speed and the spray, we recommend looking up as soon as the ride levels out: at the end of the adventure, the track takes you at top speed through a Plexiglas tube into a huge shark tank.

By the end of this section at the latest, every adventurer will have a broad grin on their face. The only slight deductions here are because you have to put up with long waiting times in summer, and the whole experience is over very quickly in comparison.

The „Dragon“ (Rating: 2+)

Just a few metres further on lies the next main attraction at Siam Park. Anyone who’s ever been swallowed up by the „Dragon“ will be back for more. That’s because this high-speed slide isn’t just the water park’s current icon; it’s also a real challenge for visitors. In a four-person rubber ring, the ride begins with a steep descent. Through a dark tunnel, visitors are finally guided at high speed into a horizontal funnel. Three times the ride goes back and forth up the wall and down again, even giving a brief sensation of weightlessness. Then the current of water carries the ring on towards the outlet pool.

The „Volcano“ (Rating: 2)

Anyone thinking of a second go on the Dragon must make up their mind once they’re back at the top, as the Volcano awaits right next to the starting area. The ‚Volcano‘ feels a bit like the Dragon’s little brother. Visitors are also flung back and forth at high speed in the dark. The only differences are that the speed is slightly lower and, instead of the up-and-down motion in a funnel, you go round in circles for a few laps. To make up for this, there’s a small laser show inside the attraction.

„Jungle Snakes“ (Rating: 3+)

The „Jungle Snakes“ only seem boring at first glance. The slides – four in total – have been built into a sort of mini-jungle. Here, too, you go downhill in single or double tubes. For a „normal swimming pool“, the Jungle Snakes would be a real highlight, but at Siam Park they almost get a bit lost amongst all the bigger attractions. Nevertheless, they’re great fun. Our recommendation: definitely give them a go!

„Naga Racer“ (Rating: 3)

Once you’ve reached the northern part of the park, the „Naga Racer“ awaits. It’s built exactly like the familiar magic carpet slides you find at funfairs. You ride side by side on water mats down six separate lanes. The „flying carpets“ are particularly popular with younger visitors.

„The Lost City“ (unrated)

„The Lost City“ is a huge water playground. An oversized water bucket is regularly filled and then emptied over visitors‘ heads. There are also water jets, mini-slides, all sorts of water toys and climbing structures. ‚The Lost City‘ is designed for children and so we were unable to try it out or give it a rating. However, we didn’t spot any dissatisfied visitors at ‚The Lost City‘. Quite the opposite, in fact: it looks like great fun!

‚Siam Beach‘ (Rating: 2)

„Siam Beach“ nestles up against the park’s huge wave machine. It is the largest of its kind in the world and simulates up to 40 different types of waves. It is consequently very popular with surfers. But it is bathers, above all, who can enjoy „Siam Beach“ to the full. It is laid out like a real beach. From the sand, the water is very shallow at first. Children can splash about here safely. Anyone who wants to swim or experience the spectacle of the waves, which occur every 20 minutes, will get their money’s worth after just a few steps into the deeper water.

„Kinnaree“ (Rating: 1)

Our absolute favourite is one of the park’s relatively new attractions: the „Kinnaree“, which only opened in 2012, combines the best features of Siam Park’s other water slides. In the four-person ring, the ride starts with a steep descent. This is immediately followed by a funnel strongly reminiscent of the one on the „Dragon“. Although it is slightly smaller, the speed is higher. As soon as the current pulls the ring back into the slide, it heads steeply downhill again after a few bends. The momentum built up in this way catapults the ring into a giant open-air wave with no „rollover protection“. On this 200-metre-long turbo slide, not only are various elements skilfully combined, but a thrilling 25-metre drop is also conquered. As far as we’re concerned, ‚Kinnaree‘ deserves a solid ten out of ten!

‚Sawasdee‘ (unrated)

‚Sawasdee‘ is also relatively new. It is a water play area for the youngest guests. Due to regulations, most slides can only be used by children measuring at least 1.10 or 1.25 metres in height. The park responded to the disappointment of many children and created „Sawasdee“, another water playground next to the „Lost City“, where children can run about, slide and explore. A very good investment!

Safety (Grade 1)

When it comes to safety, Siam Park sets the standard. Lifeguards are stationed at every slide, in the wave pool and at all other potential hazard spots. Even in the generally harmless ‚Mai Thai River‘, lifeguards are stationed at regular intervals, keeping a friendly yet unobtrusive watch over the action. This does not disturb guests; rather, it gives them an intuitive sense of safety.

Food & drink (Rating: 2)

Bringing your own picnic is prohibited at Siam Park. What initially strikes many visitors as an attempt to foist overpriced food and drink on them quickly turns out to be a typical tourist prejudice. After all, Siam Park is spotlessly clean at all times of the day. There are no pests. And by banning picnics, the park operators aim to ensure that it stays that way. In return, the prices for food and drink at the various pavilions and snack bars are reasonably moderate by amusement park standards. A variety of drinks, snacks and hot meals are on offer.

Admission and prices (Rating: 2-)

At first glance, admission to Siam Park seems very expensive. 33 euros (children up to the age of eleven pay 22 euros) is initially a stumbling block for many tourists. However, what the park has to offer – particularly when you take into account the numerous lifeguards and the large, extremely unobtrusive cleaning team – puts the price into perspective. Only the extra cost of lockers drags the overall rating down slightly. On the other hand, the ‚Second Visit‘ option is comparatively cheap: anyone who decides, before leaving the park, to return within 14 days pays the discounted admission price of 16 euros for that visit.

See now:
Siam Park admission – What a day at the water park costs

Conclusion

Siam Park rightly bears the subtitle ‚The Water Kingdom‘. A day out at Europe’s largest water park offers something for the whole family. Visitors of all ages will find plenty of ways to while away the hours. What’s more, the numerous well-spaced sun loungers, the beach and the bars ensure there are quiet moments to enjoy between the adrenaline rushes. For the team at Tenerife News, Siam Park is definitely a must-visit for anyone visiting Tenerife.

Photos from Siam Park

All the attractions in pictures:
Photos: This is Siam Park on Tenerife