Playa de los Gigantes is one of my favorite places in Tenerife, together with Duque Beach, Charco el Diablo and Las Teresitas Beach. However, what sets this beach apart is its black sand and breathtaking cliffs rising from the ocean.
If you’re looking for a spectacular beach that will take your breath away, make sure to visit Playa de los Gigantes. The beach itself is not very big, but the water is perfect for swimming.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know when visiting Los Gigantes Beach, one of the best beaches in Tenerife. Let’s get to it!
1. What to expect at Los Gigantes Beach, Tenerife
Located in the resort town Los Gigantes, Playa de los Guios, aka Los Gigantes, is well-known for the tall cliffs that reach up to 800 meters. The beach is about 180-meters long, but it has all the facilities you need for the perfect beach day.
You can find showers and toilets right on the beach or nearby. There is also a lifeguard constantly checking that everyone is safe.
Like most beaches in Tenerife, Los Gigantes is covered in black sand. If you’re looking for golden sand beaches, you can head to El Duque Beach or Las Teresitas Beach. Make no mistake, these two beaches used to have black sand too, but the local authorities imported golden sand to satisfy all tastes.
Just a short walk away, you can find countless souvenir shops, bars and restaurants. You can easily spend an entire day at Los Gigantes Beach. This place is amazing!
Right near the beach, there is a port where you can book trips with catamarans or a scuba-diving experience. If you choose to book a trip with a catamaran, you’ll most probably see dolphins and whales.
Near the port, there are a few restaurants where you can try some delicious seafood and tapas. You can easily plan to spend an entire day in the area, but if you’re rushing, I recommend spending at least two hours at Los Gigantes.
Good to know – during the first part of the day, the cliffs provide natural shade. At sunset, the sun shines directly towards the beach and there is no natural shade, so I advise you to wear sunscreen.
2. Swimming at Playa de los Gigantes
The water gets gradually deep, making it perfect for swimming. Be careful if you’re trying to swim on the right side of the beach because there are a few rocks on the bottom of the ocean.
When I visited this beach, the waves were moderate, but the currents were pretty strong. I don’t think it’s a good idea to venture too far from the shore.
There is a lifeguard on the beach and if you’re swimming too far, he’ll signal you to come closer to the shore.
3. Parking at Playa de los Guios
During high season, finding parking can be difficult. I recommend parking your car at the marina. The fee is 2 Euros per hour. From the marina, it’s a 5-minute walk to the beach.
4. Best restaurants near Los Gigantes Beach
One of the best restaurants in the area is KV Bar Gourmet. The seafood is delicious and the services are impeccable. The restaurant also offers a beautiful view of the marina.
Another restaurant I recommend, located right near Playa de los Gigantes is Tas-K. They serve fresh and delicious fish, the staff is friendly and the atmosphere is great.
If you’re looking for a nice bar, you can try Puravida or Barraquito.
5. Activities at Los Gigantes
Take a cruise
Probably the most popular activity at Los Gigantes is joining a cruise. There are many tour companies right near the harbour. If you’re visiting Tenerife during the holidays, I recommend booking your tour in advance. If not, you can buy your tickets directly from the harbour.
There is a big population of dolphins and whales around Tenerife, but most of them spend their time near Los Gigantes beach. During a cruise, you’ll be able to see these incredible creatures and admire them in their natural habitat.
Diving
The marine life at Los Gigantes is incredible. You can admire angel sharks, stingrays, corals, parrotfish and many other marine creatures. There are plenty of dive sites to choose from at Los Gigantes, suitable for all levels of experience.
Some of the sites located nearby are La Caleta, El Condesito wreck and Marazul. If you choose El Puertito, you can even see turtles!
Shopping
Even though there is no shopping mall in Los Gigantes, you can find plenty of stores near the marina and around the city. There are a few big brands such as Lacoste, but most shops are smaller brands, even local ones.
6. Los Gigantes resort town
As you probably know, there are countless resort towns around Tenerife. Most of the time, in these resort towns you’ll only find hotels. Locals live in areas like Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz or smaller villages.
Los Gigantes is a quiet resort, perfect for families and couples. You can choose between a wide range of activities in the area or you can simply relax, discover excellent restaurants and admire the views.
Keep in mind that the town is built on a steep hill. Therefore, taking a relaxing walk might not be that relaxing. If you’re planning to stay at a hotel in Los Gigantes, it’s a must to have comfortable shoes!
7. Places to visit near Los Gigantes Beach
If you want to admire one of the best views on the island, head to Mirador Archipenque. This incredible viewpoint is located right on the side of the road and it offers stunning views towards Los Gigantes.
Plan at least half an hour here and don’t forget your camera home!
Playa de la Arena, a beautiful black-sand beach is located just a short drive away. This beach is becoming increasingly popular among tourists due to its beauty. However, if you’re looking for a true hidden gem, make sure to visit Charco el Diablo.
At Charco el Diablo you’ll find beautiful natural pools formed inside lava rocks. The scenery is spectacular and, the best part is that this place is not mainstream yet.
A must-see on the island is Teide Volcano, located about 100 km away from Los Gigantes. Teide is the highest peak in Spain, with a height of a little over 3700m. With the cable car, you can reach 3500 meters, but to climb the summit, you need a special permit (only 200 such permits are released each day).
-> Other must-see places in Tenerife:
- Climb Mount Teide – The tallest mountain in Tenerife
- Take a whale watching cruise
- Siam Park – The world’s best water park
8. How to get to Los Gigantes and Los Guios Beach
Los Gigantes is located on the western coast of Tenerife, 40 kilometers away from Tenerife South Airport and 100 km away from Santa Cruz. A short drive away from Lost Gigantes is Masca, one of the most popular areas in Tenerife.
While exploring Tenerife, I recommend renting a car. It’s cheap and convenient – prices start at 30 euros per day. Most parkings on the island are free. We chose this option and rented a car for a couple of days and managed to drive around the island and see many tourist attractions along the way.
Another option to get to Los Gigantes would be to take the taxi. The starting fare is 2,68 EUR plus 0,47 EUR per kilometer. Getting around by taxi is much more expensive than renting a car.
There are also buses in Tenerife but the connections aren’t always great. A few of the bus stations located in Los Gigantes are Quinto Centenario, Correos and Los Gigantes. Given the fact that this resort is built on a steep hill, if you arrive by bus you’ll most probably have to take a taxi to your hotel.
Good to know – once you get at Los Gigantes marina, head to Calle Los Guios to reach the beach. Walk for a few minutes until you’ll reach a beautiful mural on your right side. That’s the entrance to Los Guios Beach.
9. Where to stay in Tenerife
Even though Tenerife is not a big island, there are plenty of accommodation options, suitable for every budget. I’ve been searching for the best hotels on the island and here are my recommendations.
- Budget – Atlantic Holiday Hotel – amazing ocean view, beautiful modern studio, good location, friendly staff, good amenities
- Mid-Range – Labranda Bahia – beautiful pools, good location, spacious rooms and good services, friendly staff, all-inclusive
- Luxury – Fantasia Bahia – perfect for couples and families, excellent services, all-inclusive, huge & modern rooms, beautiful pools
10. Final thoughts
Los Gigantes Beach, aka Los Guios Beach, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Tenerife. The tall cliffs, the ocean, the cute restaurants are just some of the reasons why you should visit this place. In my opinion, Los Gigantes is the most beautiful destination on Tenerife’s Western Coast.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below. May the travel bug bite you!
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Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!