Selwo Marina in Benalmadena covers a large site with various well-presented shows and exhibition areas featuring dolphins, sea lions, penguins, crocodiles, snakes and exotic birds and offers an excellent day-out for all the family.
It is open daily through to October 31st and then only on fridays, saturdays and sundays until December 8th 2009. The standard opening hours are from 10.00 to 18.00. However for most of July and August the closing time is extended to 24.00.
When you get there you have the option of either buying a single ticket just for entry to the Marina or you can purchase a combined ticket for Selwo Marina and Selwo Aventura (Wild-life Adventure Park) as well as the Telecabina at a saving of 40%. The current entrance prices are shown below.
You will also be given a map of the site and a schedule of the various exhibition shows. It is advisable to spend a few moments planning a sequence to follow so that you can maximise your time there.
The current schedule in August is as follows:
Monday to Friday
Dolphins 12.00 – 14.00 – 18.00 – 22.00
Sea Lions 12.45 – 16.00 – 20.00
Exotic Birds 11.00 – 13.15 – 18.30
Penguin Feeding Time 11.30 – 15.00 – 19.00
Snakes 15.30
Saturday and Sunday
Dolphins 12.00 – 14.00 – 18.00 – 22.00
Sea Lions 12.45 – 16.00 – 20.00
Exotic Birds 11.00 –
Contained within a compact and well laid-out site that makes getting around very easy are a very good range of things to see and do. As you enter the site, there is a reasonably priced restaurant and of course a gift shop!
To the left of the entrance are the main pools where you can see the dolphins and sea lions, next to that and opposite the entrance is the open-air theatre where the shows with the exotic birds and the snakes take place.
Adjacent to this is a very well designed children’s play area with underground slides, tunnels, caves, climbing frames and overhead walkways. To the right of the site are the penguinarium, touch pools and virtual reality areas. There is also a new area focusing on the habitat of the tropical jungles of Amazonia with dwarf crocodiles!
The main pool has banked seating providing excellent viewing of both above and below the surface of the water area of the main pool. An extensive roof canopy also shades much of it. The shows themselves are great fun to watch and particularly entertaining for children, and feature dolphins and sea lions that appear to be very well looked after.
Just behind this is the Virtual Reality area, which has a 3-D cartoon film in a small theatre about the adventures of a futuristic Captain William Frost. Of course it entails wearing strange glasses but it is fun! The shows alternate between those with English and Spanish commentary.
Also in the same building are special individual “craft” that you sit in, put on special three-dimensional goggles that help you to manoeuvre your craft through a virtual reality adventure – the “craft” also moves as you manipulate the joystick!
The Theatre is the location for shows featuring exotic birds and snakes. It is a good idea to choose a time to visit the penguins in their enclosed penguinarium, “Ice Island”, to coincide with one of their feeding times, as the bi-lingual commentary from the keeper is very interesting.
The touch pools just outside have a variety of fish, including stingrays, swimming around.
Selwo Marina is definitely worth a visit for both children and adults although admittedly it is really the former group who will particularly enjoy the experience.
There is plenty of parking available just outside although do note that you cannot re-enter the site once you leave.
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