Los Gigantes

By the SantiagoDelTeide.com editorial team Updated: 2026-10-10 How we make this guide

Los Gigantes, Tenerife: plan your first visit

Los Gigantes is on the west coast of Tenerife, in Santiago del Teide municipality. The name refers both to the resort beside the marina and to the cliffs that dominate the landscape. For a first visit, combine the marina, Playa de Los Guíos and a view of the cliffs; to see them from the sea, compare departures and boarding points before booking.

You can enjoy the views without booking an excursion. Before swimming, check the flag and local notices: a sheltered beach does not guarantee safe sea conditions. With children or reduced mobility, check gradients, access and the distance from parking before choosing your route.

Plan your visit to Los Gigantes

General view of Los Gigantes from the sea, with the marina and the cliffs behind

Quick facts about Los Gigantes

Location

West coast of Tenerife, Santiago del Teide municipality.

Main beach

Playa de Los Guíos, volcanic sand.

Marina

Los Gigantes marina, 362 moorings, in service since 1975.

Recommended viewpoint

Mirador de Archipenque, free, in Puerto de Santiago.

Distance to the village centre

14 km from Santiago del Teide.

Tourist designation

National Tourist Interest Centre since 1964.

The development of the resort

Los Gigantes did not exist as a settlement until the 1960s, when British investment drove its development. The government declared the area a National Tourist Interest Centre in 1964 for its spectacular setting, and in 1975 the construction of its marina was approved — the first ever built in Tenerife. It has since grown as a residential and hotel area, though its registered population has fallen from 2,134 in 2000 to 1,487 in 2020: most of the people filling it every day are visitors, not residents.

The cliffs, the great icon

View of the Los Gigantes cliffs from Mirador de Archipenque

The cliffs that give the village its name are the main reason most visitors come here: an almost vertical volcanic wall dropping into the Atlantic, visible from the marina itself. It is a subject in its own right — real height, geology, best viewpoints, when to go for photos — with its own dedicated guide: see the Los Gigantes cliffs in detail.

The marina, the heart of sea activity

Aerial view of Los Gigantes marina

Los Gigantes marina has 362 moorings and is the departure point for almost every sea excursion in the municipality: scenic boats, kayaking towards Masca, jet skis, sailing, diving and whale watching. To compare prices and activities from a specific operator, see our Los Gigantes Blue guide; for the rest of the options, browse the full activities archive or our things to do in Los Gigantes guide.

Playa de Los Guíos

Playa de Los Guíos, volcanic sand next to Los Gigantes marina

Los Guíos is the volcanic-sand beach beside Los Gigantes marina. Being beside the cliffs does not guarantee safe swimming: check flags, signs and local advice. If restrictions or poor conditions apply, enjoy the views without entering the water. Playa de Los Guíos

Where to stay

Los Gigantes has much of the municipality’s accommodation with sea and cliff views, from apartments by the marina to hotels higher up the village, with more of a climb but wider views. Browse the full accommodation listing.

Where to eat and drink

Restaurants and terraces around the marina offer places for a break. Los Gigantes Beach Club and Puravida Bar have commercially featured listings on the portal; this visibility is not an independent rating or a guarantee of availability. Consult their listings and compare other local bars and restaurants too.

Los Gigantes Beach Club · Puravida Bar · restaurants · bars

Climate and best time to visit

You can visit Los Gigantes year-round, adapting plans to the forecast for your date. No season guarantees no rain or calm seas. Avoid the hottest hours when walking, bring water and check AEMET notices. Confirm boat departures with the operator.

Getting there and parking

Los Gigantes is about 14 km from Santiago del Teide village, connected by bus routes 325, 473 and 477, and reachable by road from both airports. See our full how to get to Santiago del Teide guide and, once there, our Los Gigantes parking guide: it is by far the usual weak point of a visit here.

Los Gigantes and its neighbours

The village links directly to Puerto de Santiago, with which it shares a seafront promenade and much of the dining scene, and to Playa de la Arena, the municipality’s largest urban beach. Masca, the mountain hamlet, is further away and is best treated as a separate trip.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is Los Gigantes?

A resort in Santiago del Teide, on Tenerife’s south-west coast, developed since the 1960s at the foot of the cliffs it is named after. It has a marina, a beach, and the municipality’s largest concentration of restaurants and view accommodation.

Does Los Gigantes have a sand beach?

Los Guíos is the volcanic-sand beach beside Los Gigantes marina. Being beside the cliffs does not guarantee safe swimming: check flags, signs and local advice. If restrictions or poor conditions apply, enjoy the views without entering the water.

Do I need a car to visit?

Not essential: there are bus connections from several points on Tenerife, but a car makes it easier to combine with Puerto de Santiago, Playa de la Arena or Masca on the same trip.

When is the best time to go?

You can visit Los Gigantes year-round, adapting plans to the forecast for your date. No season guarantees no rain or calm seas. Avoid the hottest hours when walking, bring water and check AEMET notices. Confirm boat departures with the operator.

Are the cliffs in the village itself?

Yes, they are visible from the marina and several points in the village; the best free viewpoint, Mirador de Archipenque, is a few minutes away by car, in Puerto de Santiago.

Next step

Choose a plan for your available time

1

Two hours

Focus on the marina and Playa de Los Guíos. Allow time for views and a break without adding a boat trip. If starting at Archipenque, allow separately for the transfer: the elevation difference means it is not a level stroll down to the marina.

2

Half a day

Start at a viewpoint, continue to the marina and visit Los Guíos. Add lunch or a short trip only if its duration and boarding time fit. Parking and returning to the viewpoint need extra time; this plan is not a transport timetable.

3

A full day

Combine a viewpoint, the marina and a booked boat activity. Leave the afternoon for Puerto de Santiago or Playa de la Arena rather than trying to see everything. With children, reduce transfers and avoid turning a beach day into a long uphill walk.

These timings are planning suggestions, not measured walking-route durations. There are slopes between the upper town and the marina; with reduced mobility, confirm the specific access before visiting. You can enjoy viewpoints and the marina without booking a trip. Boat departures depend on availability, sea conditions and the operator’s decisions.

Explore the area

AQUA Restaurant
Restaurants

AQUA Restaurant

Los Gigantes Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Arepera Girasol
Bars

Arepera Girasol

Santiago del Teide Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Bar Restaurante Legends
Restaurants

Bar Restaurante Legends

Playa de la Arena Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Barceló Santiago
Accommodation

Barceló Santiago

Puerto de Santiago Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Carnavales de Los Gigantes
Events

Carnavales de Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes Location not confirmed Fotografía: Turismo de Tenerife. Uso autorizado por la organización.
Charco de Las Bajas
Beaches

Charco de Las Bajas

Puerto de Santiago Foto: Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Charcos de Punta Negra
Beaches

Charcos de Punta Negra

Playa de la Arena Foto de contexto de Playa de la Arena / Punta Barbero: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0. No hay foto de licencia libre identificada de los charcos concretos.
CICAR Los Gigantes
Services

CICAR Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes Fotografía aportada y autorizada por CICAR Los Gigantes.
Codeso Restaurante
Restaurants

Codeso Restaurante

Los Gigantes Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
CruX Tamaimo
Events

CruX Tamaimo

Santiago del Teide Foto: Wouter Hagens / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
El Marqués Palace
Accommodation

El Marqués Palace

Puerto de Santiago Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Ermita de Santiago Apóstol
Sights

Ermita de Santiago Apóstol

Santiago del Teide Location not confirmed Imagen real contextual del municipio; fuente y licencia documentadas en IMAGE_CREDITS.md.
Farmacia Los Gigantes
Services

Farmacia Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes Location not confirmed Fotografía aportada y autorizada por Farmacia Los Gigantes.
Farmacia Puerto de Santiago
Services

Farmacia Puerto de Santiago

Puerto de Santiago Location not confirmed Fotografía aportada y autorizada por Farmacia Puerto de Santiago.
Flipper Uno
Activities

Flipper Uno

Los Gigantes Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Landmar Playa La Arena
Accommodation

Landmar Playa La Arena

Playa de la Arena Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Mirador de Los Guíos
Sights

Mirador de Los Guíos

Los Gigantes Foto cedida por el propietario del portal, tomada en el propio mirador.
Mirador Valle de Arriba
Sights

Mirador Valle de Arriba

Santiago del Teide Location not confirmed Imagen real contextual del municipio; fuente y licencia documentadas en IMAGE_CREDITS.md.
Museo del Pescador
Sights

Museo del Pescador

Puerto de Santiago Location not confirmed Imagen real contextual del municipio; fuente y licencia documentadas en IMAGE_CREDITS.md.
Paseo de La Hondura
Sights

Paseo de La Hondura

Puerto de Santiago Location not confirmed Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Pastelería El Paseo
Bars

Pastelería El Paseo

Puerto de Santiago Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Playa de Los Guíos
Beaches

Playa de Los Guíos

Los Gigantes Photo: Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:At_Los_Gigantes_2022_012.jpg · Resized.
Restaurante Alfonso
Restaurants

Restaurante Alfonso

Puerto de Santiago Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Royal Sun Resort
Accommodation

Royal Sun Resort

Los Gigantes Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Tapas y Más Tapas
Restaurants

Tapas y Más Tapas

Playa de la Arena Foto cedida por el negocio, autorización declarada por el propietario del portal.
Tenerife Vive+
Events

Tenerife Vive+

Playa de la Arena Foto: Wouter Hagens / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The View Puerto de Santiago
Restaurants

The View Puerto de Santiago

Puerto de Santiago Foto cedida por el negocio, autorización declarada por el propietario del portal.
Tipsy Los Gigantes
Restaurants

Tipsy Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes Imagen aportada por el propietario del portal para esta ficha.
Zona de La Hondura
Beaches

Zona de La Hondura

Puerto de Santiago Foto: G.Lanting / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 (imagen de la calle La Hondura, no del litoral rocoso en sí)
Book from Los Gigantes

Trips related to this guide

Compare these experiences and confirm the meeting point, requirements and availability before booking.

Blue Dream Sailing sailboat sailing at sunset
Shared sail

Sailing with a swim, drink and tapas

Small-group trip from dock 1 at Los Gigantes marina.

Blue Dream Sailing · 3 h · Marina Los Gigantes, pantalán 1Check availability
Third Element Charters Whale Watching & Sailing Charters en Santiago del Teide
Sailboat

Whale watching sail with a swim

Small-group sailing from Los Gigantes with swimming and snorkelling.

Third Element Charters · 3 h · Puerto Deportivo de Los GigantesCheck availability
Flipper Uno boat sailing with its sails raised
Speedboat

Whale watching by speedboat

A dynamic two-hour trip from Los Gigantes to look for whales and dolphins.

Flipper Uno · 2 h · Puerto Deportivo de Los GigantesCheck availability
More local trips

Compare excursions

Compare these experiences and confirm the meeting point, requirements and availability before booking.

Compare excursions

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Sources and editorial review

Guide prepared by the SantiagoDelTeide.com editorial team using checked sources. The itineraries are editorial suggestions, not official routes or on-site accessibility assessments. Consult our methodology and official sources before leaving. Booking links are affiliate links: we may receive a commission.

Editorial content reviewed on 10 October 2026 by the SantiagoDelTeide.com editorial team. Location and heritage checked against Visit Santiago del Teide. Opening times, access and conditions must be checked for your visit date.