Natalandia in Lagos Zoo
Celebrate Christmas in the Algarve at Natalandia
Embrace the Christmas spirit in the Algarve with a visit to Natalandia at Lagos Zoo this festive season.
If you are looking for things to do at Christmas in the Algarve for children then there is perhaps no better place to spend the day than at Natalandia at Lagos zoo because while the weather in the Algarve may be warm and sunny, they have created a full winter wonderland at Lagos Zoo.
Arrange your Natalandia tickets and then prepare yourself for an overload of Christmas cheer and joy that children of all ages will adore.
Lagos Zoo is one of the most popular things to do in Lagos, especially for families with young children and with more than 140 different species at the zoo there is plenty for see at this attraction which has a very strong focus on promoting conservation and environmental issues while also being a fun and entertaining place for the family.
At Christmas time Lagos Zoo transforms into Natalandia and while the focus is on all things festive the animals remain an important part of the attraction, except that this time of the year there is also the addition of reindeer!
Natalandia is open this year from December 5th until January 6th 2016, daily from 10am until 5pm, however the main entertainment takes place between 10am and 4pm so it is a good idea not to leave it until the end of the day to visit if you want to make the most of the entertainment and activities that are on offer at Natalandia.
The main draw for lots of people heading off to Natalandia is the chance for children to meet up with Father Christmas , who has his very own house at Natalandia and is available to hear the Christmas wishes of children every day except on December 25th and January 1st.
There are lots of different places that you can visit Father Christmas in the Algarve but this has to be one of the most authentic examples and because it is not located in a shopping centre it has a less commercial feel to it and feels more in keeping with a traditional Father Christmas experience.
If you have not sent off your letter to Santa yet then you can fill in a specially prepared letter at Natalandia to make sure Father Christmas knows exactly what you want for Christmas this year!
The chances of snow falling in the Algarve for the festive season are pretty remote but that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy a dusting thanks to artificial snow falling every hour at Natalandia, giving Lagos Zoo a wintery feel but without the freezing temperatures!
If the reindeer, elves and Santa is not enough then you can continue the Christmas theme by taking a look at the miniature Christmas village, by visiting the Christmas tree exhibition, seeing the toy factory or by viewing the nativity scene – one of the traditional things to do at Christmas in the Algarve.
Natalandia has been designed to be an interactive experience for the entire family and children can jump about on the bouncy castles, take part in Christmas workshops with the professional children’s entertainers, have their face painted or head down to the Quinta do Nicolau to try out some traditional games.
Natalandia is a fantastic place to visit throughout December and into January but on certain days there are special Christmas theatre performances and if this is something you think your family would enjoy then book your Natalandia tickets for December 5,6,8,12,13,19,20,26,27,or for January 2 or 3. The theatre show is “A Christmas Adventure” and is staged twice a day on these dates at 11.30am and at 3.30pm – so plan this into your visit.
While Natalandia is all about getting into the Christmas spirit, it is only a small part of the wider Lagos Zoo, so after exploring the Christmas area then take some time to have a look at other areas of the zoo – one of the top things in the Algarve to do with children.
During the Natalandia period you can still take part in the feeding times that take place in the zoo. Feeding time is a great opportunity to see some of the species close up as they rush over for their mid morning snack or lunch time feed. You can plan in a visit to watch feeding time while visiting Natalandia with feeding taking place at 11.30am and 3pm for the pelicans and the cormorants and then at 3pm for the primates.
Christmas in the Algarve can be a truly memorable time and even though the blue skies and beaches may not look particularly festive, a top Christmas attraction such as Natalandia is the perfect way to bring that Christmas feeling straight to the Algarve.
Lagos Zoo is know for being one of the very best places for children in the Algarve, especially younger ones and by combining Natalandia with a trip to the main part of Lagos Zoo you are certain to be in for a great day out for all the family.
