Most family holidays on the southern Costa Blanca need at least one day away from the beach: a grey morning, a sunburn break, or children who simply want to see a giraffe. The four trips below run all year, sit within roughly an hour’s drive of La Zenia, and work for a range of ages. Each section lists what the official source says at the time of checking (4 October 2026) and links to it, because opening hours and prices change by season.
Driving times are approximate, measured from Zenia Boulevard without traffic. Allow extra time in summer, at weekends and around Murcia and Alicante at rush hour.
| Trip | Approx. drive | Best for | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mata–Torrevieja lagoons | 15–20 min | toddlers, pushchairs, a short morning | 1.5–2.5 hours |
| Río Safari Elche | about 45 min | younger children, picnic families | half a day or more |
| Terra Natura Murcia | about 55 min | animal fans of all ages | most of a day |
| Santa Bárbara Castle, Alicante | about 1 hour | school-age children who like views and walls | 2–3 hours |
1. La Mata–Torrevieja lagoons natural park: the short one
Why go: a flat, easy nature outing close to Orihuela Costa, with salt lagoons, birdlife and a visitor centre. It suits a morning with small children, and it is the trip to choose when nobody wants a long drive.
Access. The visitor centre is in the old forestry house in La Mata (Torrevieja), about 400 m from the N-332 at kilometre point 64.5, reached by an asphalt track.
Opening hours. The visitor centre opens in the mornings only. The park’s two official pages currently list slightly different times, so if the centre matters to your plan, call 96 572 16 50 before setting off. Both pages agree that the centre is closed on 1 and 6 January and 24, 25 and 31 December. Either way, plan a morning visit.
With pushchairs and small children. According to the park’s accessibility page, the shared section of the red and yellow routes from La Cadena to the picnic area has a wooden boardwalk 384 m long and 1.6 m wide. It ends at an adapted platform with five picnic tables designed for wheelchair access. The centre has audio guides in Spanish, Valencian, English and German.
Rules worth knowing before you go. The park’s visitor recommendations say:
- Bathing in the lagoons is prohibited. Keep away from the shoreline, which is a fragile breeding area for plants and birds.
- Stay on marked paths and take your rubbish home.
- Dogs must be on a lead.
- Groups of more than 15 people should notify the interpretation centre. Groups of more than 35 need authorisation requested 15 days in advance.
- Do not pick grapes from the surrounding vineyards, which are private property.
Age tip. This is the easiest trip for babies and toddlers. Bring binoculars for older children, plus hats and water. There is little shade, even outside summer.
2. Río Safari Elche: zoo, palm grove and a picnic
Why go: a walk-through animal park, set in a palm grove, with talks and feeding sessions included in the ticket. You are also allowed to bring your own food.
Where. On the Elche–Santa Pola road (CV-865), 9 km from Elche and 4 km from Santa Pola.
Opening hours. When checked, the hours page said: open every day, 10:00–18:00. Hours change by season, so check the page on the day.
Tickets. Prices on the official price list when checked:
- adults (13–64): €22.50
- children (3–12): €17.00
- children 0–2: free
- seniors (65+): €17.00
Large-family and single-parent discounts are sold only at the ticket office, with the relevant documents. Tickets are sold online.
What is included. The visit-planning page says that talks and feedings are included, with no separate charge or booking. The lemur feeding and talk takes place daily at 12:30 and is repeated in the afternoon at weekends and on public holidays, with limited capacity. A train runs a roughly 15-minute non-stop route with an audio guide. Pushchairs are left at the train station while you ride. The park itself is explored on foot.
Seasonal facilities, so you are not disappointed:
- The Splash Park water area has been closed since 13 September 2026 and is due to reopen in May 2027. Do not pack swimsuits for it on an autumn or winter visit.
- The Aventura Park (adventure circuits, inflatables, go-karts) is open only at weekends and on public holidays and is a separate activity from the zoo.
Food. The visitor services page says you may bring food and drink into the park, and there are picnic areas. Do not feed the animals.
Age tip. The walking distances are manageable for small children, and the train gives tired legs a break. Arrive before 12:30 if you want to see the lemur session.
3. Terra Natura Murcia: a full day with big animals
Why go: lions, giraffes, a white rhino, Iberian wolves and otters, all within a large accessible park. According to the official site, Terra Natura Murcia covers more than 125,000 m² and is home to more than 50 species from the Iberian Peninsula and the African savannah.
Where and how to get there. The park is in Espinardo, next to the University of Murcia campus, at C/ Regidor Cayetano Gago s/n. The directions page gives these driving directions: from the A-7 Murcia–Alicante, take exit 136 (Universidad de Murcia). From the A-7 Alicante–Murcia, take exit 762b (Murcia Centro). On-site parking is supervised and costs €3, according to the services page.
Opening days and hours. Check the 2026 calendar (PDF), because closing time depends on the date. When checked:
- the zoo opened at 10:00 all year, except from 22 June to 6 September, when it opened at 11:00
- closing time varied by day between 17:00 and 20:00; many weekdays outside summer close at 17:00
- the 2026 calendar showed the park closed on 1 January and 25 December
Tickets. Prices on the price page are labelled “winter season” and were as follows when checked:
- adults (13–59): €19
- children (3–12): €15
- seniors (60+): €15
- children 0–2: free
Disability, large-family and single-parent discounts are sold only at the ticket office, with the relevant documents.
Weekday talks. The weekday activity timetable (PDF) lists educational talks, with no price shown, about birds of prey, giraffes, exotic birds, otters and bears. Two extras, the lemur activity and the Tsavo lions visit, cost €5 and are paid at the ticket office. A separate weekend timetable is published on the calendar page. The timetable notes that activities may change or be cancelled for technical or weather reasons.
With small children. The services page lists pushchair hire: a single pushchair costs €8 plus a €1 deposit, and a double costs €10 plus a €1 deposit. The neighbouring Aqua Natura water park is seasonal and has its own dates on the calendar.
Age tip. This is the longest day in this guide. With under-fives, plan around one or two talks and a lunch break rather than trying to see everything.
4. Santa Bárbara Castle, Alicante: views and fortress walls
Why go: a free hilltop fortress with ramparts, dungeons and wide views over Alicante, the port and the sea.
Entry and hours. According to Alicante City Council, entry to the castle grounds is free. Opening hours are:
- 15 November–27 February: 10:00–18:00
- 28 February–16 June: 10:00–20:00
- 17 June–4 September: 10:00–23:00
- 5 September–14 November: 10:00–20:00
The council page says last entry is 30 minutes before closing, while the tourism office page says 40 minutes, so arrive at least 40 minutes before closing. The castle is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December, 1 and 6 January, and all day on 24 June. Closing times change on event days.
Getting up: do not plan to park at the top. The council’s page states that parking at the castle is not allowed. Vehicle access is only for dropping off and picking up passengers. According to the MUSA page, the two disabled parking spaces and the bike racks remain available. The family-friendly options are:
- The CSB shuttle minibus: according to the council page, it costs €1.45 per journey, can be paid only by debit card or bonobús travel card, and runs about every 40 minutes. See the Vectalia CSB line page for stops.
- On foot via Parque de la Ereta or Monte Benacantil, which is a real uphill walk and better suited to older children.
There is also a lift from near Postiguet beach, but its status is uncertain: on 4 October 2026 the council’s MUSA page carried an undated notice saying it was closed due to a technical fault. Do not rely on it without checking directly with the castle. Leave the car in a public car park in central Alicante and use the minibus or walk up.
Inside. The Museum of the City of Alicante (MUSA) is located inside the castle, and the council lists it as free. It gives you an indoor stop if the weather turns.
Age tip. Walls and drops are part of a castle, so hold small children’s hands along the ramparts. A summer evening visit is cooler than midday.
On a rainy or very hot day
- MUSA inside Santa Bárbara Castle is the indoor part of the castle visit and is free.
- La Mata interpretation centre has an exhibition with audio guides, but it closes early in the afternoon. Phone first.
- In summer heat, plan zoo visits for the morning, when walking around is more comfortable for children.
What to pack for any of these trips
- Water, hats and sun cream all year round. Even in winter the sun is strong at the lagoons and on the castle walls.
- Snacks or a picnic. Río Safari explicitly allows outside food.
- Debit card for the castle minibus, which accepts only a debit card or bonobús.
- Proof of discount eligibility, such as a large-family or single-parent card, if you plan to ask for those prices at the ticket office.
- A pushchair or carrier for under-threes; Terra Natura also rents pushchairs.
- Your child’s car seat set-up checked before you leave.
Before you set off
Hours, prices and seasonal closures in this guide were checked on the official pages linked above on 4 October 2026. Parks update them during the year, so open the linked page on the morning of your trip.
