Los Gigantes

Understand

The resort itself only consists of about 2,700 people, but the greater area inhibits many more. The town has a marina surrounded by concrete walls to dampen the effect of the rough seas around the area. A small black sand beach lies between the rocks and the marina. The marina has a boulevard with many restaurants. There are three viewpoints in the village, the main one on main road to towards Tamaimo, another above the sports club and a third on a coastal path around the Hotel Barcelo. The village has many small shops and restaurants serving the tourists that visit the area, especially on the one-way road loop around church and plaza, and also near to the marina and beach.

Getting there

Los Gigantes is well connected by road, and it is a convenient hub for trips to Masca, the Los Gigantes canyons, El Bujero (the rock eye), the almond trees trail, Chinyero, and even El Teide.

By bus 1 Los Gigantes Bus Stop. Not a real bus station but the main bus stop in the area. All connections to this area run through here. (updated Mar 2023) Bus 325 connects to Puerto de la Cruz 3-5 times a day via Santiago del Teide. Buses 473 and 477 (direct) connect to Costa Adeje every 1-2 hr via Alcala and San Juan. There are further buses that connect nearby villages:

461 – Arguayo 462 – Arguayo, Chio, Guía de Isora 493 – Alcala, San Juan, Guía de Isora See Tenerife#Get around for more general information.

Getting around

The best way to get is on foot. However, all buses coming to this area run through Playa Arena, Puerto Santiago and Los Gigantes–check the incoming and outgoing connections for Los Gigantes in case you want to use the bus.

See

Los Gigantes has notable cliffs in view of the resort and a picturesque marina.

1 Acantilados de Los Gigantes (Cliffs of the Giants). (updated Oct 2019)

Do

Carnival. Each year in February/March, the carnival hits the island and parades through the villages and towns of Tenerife, including Los Gigantes. (updated Mar 2023) Dolphin and whale watching. Many excursions are run from Los Gigantes for things such as whale watching. (updated Mar 2023) 1 Natural swimming pool (accessible from Calle Magnolia). (updated Mar 2023) 2 Oasis, Avda. Jose Gonzalez Forte 7, [email protected]. Posh pool complex with water slides. You cannot bring in your own food or drinks. Adults €10, children €5. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Alcala (4-5 km south of Puerte de Santiago along a walkable coastal footpath). Has some nice beaches, due to a high end hotel being there, a relaxed promenade, and (the highlight) a bay in front of the town center where you can snorkel and see sea turtles. (updated Mar 2023) 4 Playa San Juan (About 8 km south of Puerte de Santiago, reachable by coastal walk or bus). One of the best beaches in Tenerife. (updated Mar 2023) 5 Playa Abama (Just another kilometer south of Playa San Juan). An artificial high end beach with wave break that belongs to a 5-star hotel but is also open to the bourgeoisie. (updated Mar 2023)

Hiking Besides the opportunities below, also check out Santiago del Teide#Hiking and Teno Rural Park#Hiking, which are in easy reach by bus, car or thumb from Los Gigantes or Puerto de Santiago.

1 Tamaimo will be your preferred village to aim for when starting or finishing hikes–so, remember the name and check the bus connections (325, 461). Hitchiking is of course always on option. 6 El Bujero – An interesting half-day hike to the eye of Los Gigantes that you can see from the town itself down at the sea. Take bus 325 at 11:00 up to Tamaimo and start hiking from there. You will need an offline map and GPS, because the second half of the trail is not well maintained. On the way up, you will pass the 7 Cruz de los Misioneros viewpoint. Instead of heading back to Tamaimo or down to Puerto de Santiago, yo

Buy

1 Lidl. Daily 08:00-22:00. (updated Mar 2023)

Eat

There are restaurants along the marina, the many promenades in the area and in the centre(s). CK's Bistro, in the village, serves English cuisine, but Indian and Chinese are readily available.

1 El Paseo (just southwest of Lidl, in the town center). M-Fr 08:30-22:00, Sa 08:30-14:00 19:00-22:00 (Pizza from 12:00). The must see Italian-run pizzeria in town–super affordable but still super delicious. They also sell mouth-watering pastry. €5/pizza. (updated Mar 2023) 2 Casa Gusto, Avenida del Emigrante 28, ☏ +43 642 00 27 90. Tu-Su 18:00-22:00. A small restaurant with ocean view run by a French couple that took pride in importing specialties from Brittany, and preparing them in some of the most delicious combinations imaginable. €15-30. (updated Aug 2019)

Drink & nightlife

There are some bars, but nightlife is not the priority here—daytime activity is.

Sleep

The area has numerous hotels and at least one hostel:

1 Arena Nest Hostel, ☏ +34 628991703, [email protected]. 10-bed dorm, female dorm, and two doubles. Breakfast included. (updated Apr 2023) For further cheap accommodation alternatives, see Santiago del Teide#Sleep and Teno Rural Park#Sleep—there are two or three campings nearby and the hiking hostel Albergue San Jose de los LLanos.

Go next

Masca – A picturesque mountain village in the Teno Rural Park and starting point to the Masca Gorge, one of the most popular treks on Tenerife. Teno Rural Park – The park itself offers numerous hiking opportunities and include Punte de Teno, the western most point of Tenerife with a lighthouse. Guía de Isora – Desert town known for its greenhouse cultivation of bananas, tomatoes, and flowers.