'Sup! Tad here, the tween Frog family thrill-seeker, waterslide expert and family videographer. One of my favorite parts of visiting Beaches is getting to spend time at the Pirates Island water park. My baby sister, Lily, is a toddler, so even though my dad and I are all about hitting the biggest and fastest slides and surf simulator, I have a pretty good sense of the Beaches Resorts water park features that are perfect for little tadpoles making their first splashes too. And then there’s Mommy Frog. Give her a fruity drink from the swim-up bar and a tube. Then send her down the lazy river and she “don’t worry about a thing!” (Did you sing that in your head in reggae too?) I’m covering the water park guide to Beaches since we all agree that I probably spend the most time there out of anyone!
Are you a family that loves waterslides, spraying each other on splash pads and floating down the lazy river? Then get ready to make a Caribbean splash at the Pirates Island water parks at Beaches Resorts. The water parks are toadally included in your stay (#bonus). The water parks really set Beaches Resorts apart from other Caribbean family all-inclusive resorts. But you may have some questions. Which resort has a surf simulator? Which resorts have lazy rivers? What resort has a water park right at the beach? And which water parks cater to toddlers and small children? We’re here to drench you with all the details, whether you are looking to choose a Beaches Resort based on the water park amenities, or whether you have a resort picked out and want to know what to expect. Cannonball!
Guide to Beaches Resorts Water Parks — A Resort-by-Resort Guide
Which is the best Beaches water park? Here are the stats on each resort. A little later, we will dive in to more details on specific features that may be important to you.
Beaches Negril in Jamaica
Beaches Negril is the smallest Beaches property, but its water park is adjacent to the wide stretch of Negril’s seven-mile white sand beach. This is a more mellow water park experience if you have little ones just learning to get their feet wet. Short attention span? No problem! Hop between the beach and water park. Negril's water park also features:
- 3,962 square feet of fun
- Eight total slides
- Two large, 204-foot-long slides (42-inch height requirement)
- Smaller slides for ages 2 to 4 and 4 to 6
- Lazy river
- Pirate bucket drops
- Splash deck
Beaches Ocho Rios in Jamaica
Ocho Rios is the larger of the two Jamaican resorts. The water park is significantly larger than Negril’s, too — but note that it is not sitting at the beach. It’s a good choice for all ages, from toddlers to teens. Kids who enjoy a challenge will have fun making their way across the cargo net structure. The downside is there is no lazy river to float around in. Mommy Frog loves a lazy river. It’s just her speed. It does have a zero-entry pool, with shallows perfect for toddlers, in addition to:
- 27,000 square feet
- 11 total slides
- Tube slide
- Body slide
- Speed slide
- Six kiddie slides
- Treasure Isle Aqua-Play area with water cannons and a treasure chest
- Kid’s zone
- Zero-entry kiddie pool (with a misting crab, a squirting sea turtle and a splashing seahorse)
- Water crawl cargo net aqua-play structure, complete with sea creature-themed stepping-stones made with soft-play resilient foam
Beaches Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos Pirates Island water park is the most comprehensive of the three Beaches Resorts water parks, with a lazy river, water cannons and cranks and spray features. The water park is not right at the beach as with Negril, but it’s the biggest water park of them all! It’s the only resort in the Caribbean with a surf simulator! Turks and Caicos also has a zero-entry pool, as well as:
- 45,000 square feet
- 10 total waterslides
- Three huge slides
- Tot slides
- Kid-friendly pools with a zero-entry-pool for tots
- Water cannons
- Pop-up jets
- Cranks and spray
- Separate splash deck
- Lazy river
- The Caribbean’s only surf simulator
- Swim-up soda and juice bar
- Food trucks, 50s diner and ice cream machine
- Waterfall pool
- Rainforest game room
- Whirlpool
About That Surf Simulator ...
The ocean water at Beaches is warm and inviting with great visibility for snorkeling and SCUBA diving. But it’s not great for surfing (for which you toadally need waves). No problem, brah. At Beaches Turks and Caicos they make their own waves with a Body Glove wave machine. It’s fun for all ages. Whether you are a new surfer or an experienced grom (that’s surf and skate speak for a young surfer or skater like me), grab a surfboard or bodyboard and give it a try! The surf’s up all the time! The machine can make several types of waves, including a Waimea river mouth standing wave, a V wave similar to the Lunch Counter Snake River wave and a barreling standing wave. Boards and helmets are provided.
Kicking Back in a Lazy River
Only Negril and Turks and Caicos offer a lazy river. If you’ve never floated in a lazy river, you are missing out! You can float in a tube in a manmade river with a gentle current. You can travel around and around the water park as many times as you like. It’s where we can find Mommy Frog chillaxing, usually with Lily relaxing on Mommy Frog’s belly.
Height Requirements for Waterslides
At all three water parks, the larger slides have height requirements of 42 inches. But the resorts also have smaller slides designed for ages 2 to 4 and 4 to 6. Your tadpole is likely to find one that is just right for their height and sense of adventure.
Best Features for Toddlers and Small Children at Beaches Resorts Water Parks
Is there anything more fun for a toddler than playing on a splash pad, squirting water and having a giant bucket of water dumping down around them? It doesn’t get much better than that! When I’m not surfing or sliding the big slides, you can find me playing with the spray and pop-up jets with Lily when at Beaches Turks and Caicos. Mommy Frog likes to join Lily in the shallows of the zero-entry pool.
At Ocho Rios, Lily loves the kid’s zone and zero-entry kiddie pool, complete with a misting crab, a squirting sea turtle and a splashing seahorse.
When at Negril, she loves the splash deck and anticipates the pirate bucket drops. At all three resorts, she’s brave enough to take on the smallest tot slides.
Food at the Water Park
If your tadpoles are anything like Lily and me, it can be hard to get them to leave the water fun to eat, even when they are hungry. That’s why we love Beaches Turks and Caicos water park. The food is right there. We can get kid drinks at the swim-up bar and hop over to the Mr. Mac Artisan Macaroni & Cheese Truck or the Curls & Swirls Ice Cream and Milkshake Truck for dessert. Bobby Dee’s 1950s diner is nearby, and I guarantee your pickiest kids will find their favorite foods there.
Tips for Hitting the Water Parks at Beaches Resorts
Here are a few splashing tips we've picked up from our trips:
- Bring arm floats (Mommy Frog says it's cheaper than buying floats at the resort).
- There are some general-use life jackets available at the resort, but the supply can be limited. If you are visiting during the peak season, you might want to bring your own.
- If it's important to have a front-row view of the action, claim a chair early in the day.
- Know the height requirements to set the right expectations. Larger slides have a height requirement of 42 inches.
- Check the slide hours when you check-in so you can arrive at the water park when they are open. Nobody likes to miss out on the fun for the day! Such a bummer!
- Bring water-resistant sunscreen and be sure to reapply.
- Dress tadpoles in UV wear, hats and UV goggles. Water shoes can protect little flippers from slippery or hot surfaces.
Hopfully, I've answered any questions you had in our guide to the Beaches Resorts water parks. I can't wait to go back. How about you? Aren't you so excited about your trip and the water parks at Beaches? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments section below!
Related: Top Family Activities at Beaches
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