Los Gigantes, Tenerife: cliffs, beach and things to see

By the SantiagoDelTeide.com editorial team Updated: 2026-11-07 How we make this guide

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

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.

1,487 residents (2020)Marina concession: 1975Check weather and sea conditions14 km from Santiago del Teide village

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 according to Puertos Canarios; concession granted in 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.

What to see in Los Gigantes village on foot

Discover Los Gigantes through its square, streets and marina surroundings. This walk links five stops in the village without booking an excursion; follow the whole route or focus on the marina and beach. The way down to the sea involves slopes, so allow for the uphill return to your accommodation or parking place.

Plaza de la Buganvilla: the village centre

Start at Plaza de la Buganvilla, beside the Espíritu Santo church. The square and its shops and terraces introduce the village before you head down to the sea. You can view the church from outside; check opening arrangements if you wish to enter and respect services.

Flor de Pascua: shops and everyday life

Continue along Flor de Pascua, one of the village streets linking to the Poblado Marinero area. Browse shops, find services or pause here. Use pavements and marked crossings: this is an urban walk alongside vehicle access routes.

Poblado Marinero: approaching the harbour

Head towards Poblado Marinero, the cluster of streets, premises and terraces beside the harbour. The view shifts from village buildings to boats and cliffs. You can stop here without booking an activity or buying anything.

The marina: boats and cliffs

Walk through the public access areas of Los Gigantes marina. Look at the boats and excursion departure points while keeping boarding access clear. Pontoons and operational areas are not part of the walk unless you have permission or are boarding.

Playa de Los Guíos: finish by the sea

Finish around Playa de Los Guíos, beside the marina. Enjoy the volcanic sand and cliff views without needing to swim. Before entering the water, check the flag and local instructions. Afterwards, head back into the village or stay for a meal nearby.

Extend the walk: Mirador de Los Guíos

Mirador de Los Guíos, on Calle Las Adelfas, offers another view of the bay, marina and cliffs. It is separate from the beach and involves a change in elevation: add it if you want to keep walking, using the village streets. For a shorter route, finish at the marina and beach.

Before you set off on foot

Choose your start according to your accommodation or Los Gigantes parking options. Bring water and comfortable footwear, and allow for heat and the uphill return. With a pushchair or reduced mobility, check access at each stop: this walk does not imply a level or adapted route throughout. Stay on streets and designated paths rather than taking shortcuts over rocks or beside the cliff face.

History of Los Gigantes: development of the resort

Los Gigantes developed as a tourist resort from the 1960s. Decree 3081/1964 designated the “Acantilado de los Gigantes” complex a National Tourist Interest Centre. In 1975 the concession to build and operate the marina was granted. The village grew as a residential and hotel area beside the marina and cliffs. As historical context, the registered population fell from 2,134 in 2000 to 1,487 in 2020, according to the population series reproduced on Wikipedia.

Los Gigantes cliffs: where to see them

Front view of the Los Gigantes cliffs from the Los Guíos viewpoint

The Los Gigantes cliffs form a volcanic rock face above the Atlantic on Tenerife’s west coast. Tenerife’s tourist board places them within Teno Rural Park and gives a height of 600 metres at some points; the whole cliff face is not the same height. From the village you see how the cliffs meet the marina and beach. Choose between these three perspectives to experience the landscape differently.

From Archipenque: understand the landscape

Mirador de Archipenque, in Puerto de Santiago, brings the cliff front, marina and village into one view. It makes a useful first stop to get your bearings. You can then head down to the marina; check parking and allow for the change in elevation if walking.

From Los Guíos: beach and marina

The Playa de Los Guíos area brings your view closer to the foot of the cliffs and combines well with the marina. Mirador de Los Guíos is a separate viewpoint, not the beach itself. Use each listing’s access information and follow local signs.

From the sea: a different perspective

A departure from the marina lets you view the cliff front from the water. Before booking, check which stretch the excursion covers and where you board: not every trip reaches Masca or Punta de Teno. Routes and departures depend on sea conditions and the operator.

For a first independent visit, combine Archipenque with the marina and Los Guíos area. A sea trip offers another perspective, but is not essential to see the landscape. Find more detail in the Los Gigantes cliffs listing.

The marina, the heart of sea activity

Los Gigantes marina has 362 moorings according to Puertos Canarios. Boat trips, kayaking, jet skis, sailing, diving and whale watching depart from the harbour. Each product has its own route, timetable and meeting point: compare the activities or plan the rest of the day with the things to do in Los Gigantes guide.

Playa de Los Guíos

Playa de Los Guíos is the small volcanic-sand beach beside the marina and cliffs. You can visit for the scenery without swimming. If you enter the water, follow the flag, signs and lifeguards’ instructions; its location does not guarantee calm seas or safe swimming.

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

For food or drinks, compare location, menu and opening hours with your planned route. Check the listings for Los Gigantes Beach Club, beside Playa de Los Guíos, and Puravida Bar, or browse the restaurants and bars directories. Confirm any services you need and whether booking is required directly with the venue.

Climate and best time to visit

The best timing depends on your plan: visibility and light matter at a viewpoint; heat and slopes matter on a walk; wind, swell and the operator’s decision matter for a boat trip. Check the AEMET forecast for your date rather than assuming a particular month guarantees good weather. Bring water and sun protection, and adapt your route to the day’s conditions. Check the AEMET forecast for Santiago del Teide.

A day in Los Gigantes

Start at the marina and a viewpoint

Combine the marina with Archipenque to see the landscape from below and from higher ground. Choose the order according to where you park and how you will travel; allow for slopes and the return journey.

Choose your sea activity around the conditions

Choose a departure by its route, duration and meeting point. Confirm conditions with the operator: a departure time does not guarantee less wind or calmer seas.

Eat near the beach

Playa de Los Guíos and its surroundings hold the most convenient dining after a morning of activity.

Close the day with sunset

If you finish with coastal views, check sunset time for your date and plan your return. Light and visibility vary with cloud and calima haze.

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?

It is a coastal village in Santiago del Teide, on the west coast of Tenerife, beside a marina and Playa de Los Guíos. It shares its name with the cliffs, a landscape extending beyond the village itself.

Does Los Gigantes have a sand beach?

Yes. Playa de Los Guíos has volcanic sand and is beside the marina. Before swimming, check the beach flag and local notices; sea conditions can change.

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?

Choose according to your plans and the forecast for your date. Visibility and heat affect walks; wind and swell affect sea activities. No month guarantees boat departures or swimming conditions.

Are the cliffs in the village itself?

You can see them from the marina and Playa de Los Guíos, although the cliff front extends beyond the village. Archipenque offers another perspective from higher ground. You do not need to book a boat to see them.

Book from Los Gigantes

Trips related to this guide

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

Marítima Acantilados en Santiago del Teide

Masca from the sea

Wildlife watching and a Masca swim

Marine wildlife, cliff scenery and a swim stop from Los Gigantes.

Operator: Marítima Acantilados
Duration: 2 h
Departure: Puerto Deportivo de Los Gigantes
Age and requirements: Age and requirements: check the product page before booking

Cancellation: according to the product conditions

Check 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.

Operator: Third Element Charters
Duration: 3 h
Departure: Puerto Deportivo de Los Gigantes
Age and requirements: Age and requirements: check the product page before booking

Cancellation: according to the product conditions

Check availability

Safari en moto de agua de Los Gigantes Blue frente a los acantilados

Teno coast

Boat from Los Gigantes to Punta de Teno

A coastal trip beneath the cliffs towards Punta de Teno.

Operator: Los Gigantes Blue
Duration: 1.5 h
Departure: Puerto Deportivo de Los Gigantes
Age and requirements: Age and requirements: check the product page before booking

Cancellation: according to the product conditions

Check availability

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