Magic Pirates Island: the most complete family resort in Spain (Honest Review)

If you have kids and you’re looking for a resort in Spain where you’re not limited to just pool and buffet, Magic Pirates Island and Magic Natura are two names you should write down. They’re not hotels with a pool. They’re resorts designed for a family to live a complete experience : themed cabins, ten-meter pirate ships in the water, slides, water park, zoo, non-stop entertainment and several all-inclusive tiers that significantly change the experience.

Here’s everything you need to know before booking: the good, what could be improved, the details that make the difference and the mistakes you’ll want to avoid with the cabin or board plan.

Pirate theming: much more than a few decorative touches

The first thing that catches your eye when you enter is that the theming is not just decorative. It’s not one of those typical hotels that sells itself as “themed” and then only has a couple of cannons by the pool.

At Magic Pirates Island everything follows the pirate thread: the reception, the cabins, the restaurants, the meeting points, the wooden fences, the bridges, the tables, the stools, the signs and the kids’ areas.

You walk through the resort and come across cannons, statues, barrels, walls, hanging bridges and pirate ships that are around ten meters tall. The feeling isn’t that of a hotel with decoration, but of being inside an adventure. For kids, this is straight up a fantasy.

The consistency carries through to the shows, the restaurant décor and details scattered throughout the entire grounds. There’s even a giant octopus that appears in several children’s areas.

Strong point. The theming is thoroughly worked on and really elevates the experience.

Cabins and accommodation: Pirates vs. Natura

The two resorts share the same essence, but the cabins have differences worth knowing before you choose.

Magic Pirates Island

The Pirates cabins have more elaborate and fun décor. The theming here is superior to Natura’s.

The weak point is the space. For a family of four it’s fine. For five, two adults and three kids, it gets tight. You can sleep, yes, but it’s not ideal.

The layout is as follows: double bed (comfortable), two bunk beds designed for small children and a sofa bed. The problem with the sofa bed is that when you open it, it splits the living room and moving around the cabin becomes awkward.

The bathroom, on the other hand, is very well designed. The shower has several jet types, hot water comes out without issue and the overall feel is good. It includes a hydromassage effect.

Pirates pools: three zones for three age groups

Relax zone

The first zone is calm, with a beach bar and chill-out area. Ideal if you’re with babies or very young children. Here you can relax without the hustle and bustle of the other areas.

Kids’ zone (2 to 8 years)

Here the star is the giant octopus. It has a soft climbing structure shaped like a semicircle with water where kids can climb and play safely.

There’s also a water area up to one meter deep, with steps at different heights for swimming and playing.

Rounding out the setup is a mini water park about 30 centimeters deep with slides , water jets and a giant bucket that dumps water every so often. For small children it works perfectly.

Pirate ships and slides zone

This is the most spectacular and most photographed part of the resort. This is where the large pirate ships are, the slides and the zip lines connecting one ship to another.

It’s aimed at kids up to 12 or 14 years old , but adults enjoy it too. Visually it’s stunning and the experience of crossing from ship to ship by zip line is something hard to find in other Spanish hotels.

The entertainment team also organizes games and activities at this pool.

The Pirates pools are one of the main reasons to choose this resort.

Aqua Natura: the water park

Aqua Natura is considerably bigger than it looks from the outside. Once inside, it has a huge pool and a good collection of slides.

During our visit they were building two new slides for double inflatables. There was also an old U-shaped slide that remained closed for construction work. Even so, the offering is still strong, especially if your kids are old enough for big slides.

Terra Natura: the zoo

The third pillar of the resort is Terra Natura, the zoo. It’s an activity that works for all ages. Adults enjoy it too, especially as a change of pace after several days of pools and slides.

The combination of themed hotel + water park + zoo is what sets this complex apart from other family hotels. Here you don’t depend solely on the hotel pool: you have enough activities for several days without repeating.

Board plans: all-inclusive, ultra all-inclusive and premium

Choosing the right board plan makes a real difference at this resort. Here are the actual differences.

All-Inclusive

The standard you find at many hotels: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks during snack bar hours. Fine, but no extras.

Ultra All-Inclusive

This is where things change. Depending on the number of nights you book, it includes:

• Access to Terra Natura and Aqua Natura.
• Access to other Magic hotels in Benidorm with free transfer.
• Themed restaurants (Italian, rice, grill).
• With 7 nights: tickets for the Desafío Medieval, an experience that’s well worth it.
• Pizzas delivered to your cabin from 7 PM at no extra cost.

This is the sweet spot in terms of value for money.

Premium

Adds on top of Ultra AI:

• Front-line pool cabins.
• Access to a quieter restaurant with some higher-quality items (serrano ham, a few extra touches).
• Shorter queues at snack bars (there are fewer premium cabins, so fewer people).

On drinks, the difference is minimal: maybe a higher-tier whisky or gin and tonic, but overall they’re similar.

Food and buffets

The food is good and there’s variety, but it’s worth adjusting expectations and knowing the different dining spaces.

Standard buffet

This is the one included with half board, full board or all-inclusive. The food is in line with a four-star hotel: decent, varied, you eat well. You can find turkey steak with vegetables, stews, hot dishes, salads and chef’s specials.

Premium buffet

The food is similar, but the atmosphere is different. Fewer people, more peace and quiet and a pleasant terrace for breakfast when the weather is good. A few items are slightly higher quality, but the main difference isn’t on the plate — it’s the experience.

Snack bars

Food designed for kids: burgers, chips, hot dogs, popcorn. It’s not fine dining, but it works for them.

Areas for improvement

• The breakfast coffee machines take between 30 and 40 seconds per coffee. If there’s a queue, you waste time.
• At peak times, there are kids running and shouting inside the restaurants. The resort has plenty of play areas; the restaurant should be a somewhat calmer zone and the staff could step in more on this.

Themed restaurants

With Ultra All-Inclusive you get access to several themed restaurants, distributed according to the number of nights you stay.

Italian

Only open for dinner. Good variety of pizzas, pastas, lasagna and rigatoni. The lasagna and rigatoni stand out, with the option to choose your sauce.

The atmosphere is pleasant, with a lit terrace and attentive service. A robot waiter brings the dishes to the table , a detail that surprises the kids.

Fixed menu: starter base, one main course per person and dessert. The tiramisu is really good; the panna cotta is a bit sweet but has good flavor.

Rice restaurant

If you like rice dishes and can only pick one themed restaurant, this is probably the best choice.

Grill

Roasted vegetables and several types of grilled meat with good flavor. Ideal if you’re big meat lovers.

Staff and entertainment

This is one of the resort’s strongest points. The team is young, cheerful and resourceful. They generally serve with a good attitude and create a great atmosphere.

The lifeguards keep an eye on the water areas and the kids, not chatting among themselves. The wait staff work quickly, are friendly and clean well.

The entertainment team invites you to join in without being pushy. They put on a great show, make the games more fun and get families involved in the experience. For the kids, they make all the difference.

Accessibility

The resort has ramps and adapted chairs so that children and adults with reduced mobility or disabilities can get into the water. It’s a detail that not all hotels take care of and it’s well handled here.

Final verdict

Category	Score
Room cleanliness	9.5
Mattress and pillow	8
Bathroom (hydromassage shower)	9
Breakfast	8.5
Lunch	7.5
Dinner	8.5
Ultra All-Inclusive	9.5
Pools	9.5
Services for adults	8.5
Services for kids	10
Staff	9
Theming	10

Final score: 9 out of 10.

The beach isn’t scored because this resort isn’t designed for that. There’s a shuttle if you want to go, but the experience is designed for staying in and making the most of everything it offers.

My Honest Opinion

The Final Verdict

For whom do I recommend it?

Perfect For

• You're traveling with kids and want a resort where they're entertained all day long.
• You value thorough, in-depth theming — not just cosmetic touches.
• You want a variety of activities beyond the hotel pool.
• Your budget allows for Ultra All-Inclusive (it makes a real difference).

Skip It If

• You're looking for a quiet adults-only or couples-only hotel.
• The beach is a priority for your holiday.
• You're traveling with three kids and prioritize room space over theming. In that case, Natura is a better choice than Pirates.
• Noise in the buffet drives you up the wall. In that case, consider the Premium board plan or adjust your expectations.