10 Best Things To Do in Los Gigantes, Tenerife

Los Gigantes - famous for its majestic cliffs, is a quaint and charming seaside town on the island of Tenerife.

It is situated on the west coast of the island, but it still enjoys beautiful weather all year round, similar to the southern resorts like Costa Adeje, Playa las Americas and Los Cristianos.

The town has grown in popularity during the past years, evolving from a place where people only stopped for a few moments to admire the amazing cliffs, to a place where visitors actually come to spend their holidays in Tenerife.

What to do in Los Gigantes - Best places to visit

Los Gigantes is ideal for a chilled and relaxing holiday, as opposed to Costa Adeje, Playa Fanabe, Playa de Las Americas,  and the more party oriented resorts.

Barcelo Santiago and Be Live Family Costa los Gigantes are the most popular hotels in the area, if you're looking for a place to stay.

1. Visit the beach in Los Gigantes (Los Guios beach)

Los Guios Beach is a black sand beach and it offers great views of the cliffs. Unfortunately, due to the height of the cliffs, the beach doesn't get much sun in the morning, but it's great just after 12 or 1 PM.

2. Enjoy a meal or a drink at one of the restaurants in Marina Los Gigantes

If you fancy a meal with a view towards the marina and the beautiful boats, pop into one of the restaurants and enjoy lunch while admiring the view.

3. Whale-watching cruise by sailboat from Los Gigantes 

The port of Los Gigantes is ideal for a boat trip to watch the dolphins and the whales along the coast of Tenerife. You can see these majestic creatures in their natural environment, all while enjoying a drink and the food that is also included in the price of the boat trip.

• Time to swim and snorkel
• Fresh fruit, home-made sandwiches (vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options) & Beverages, including cava, white and red wine, beer and soft drinks
• 3-hour whale-watching cruise and time to swim and snorkel

4. Enjoy a day by the pool at Tipsy Terrace

Up until a few years ago, visitors to Los Gigantes had two choices in regard to heated pools, but nowadays both Oasis and Piscina El Laguillo are closed, with no plans of reopening unless someone decides to buy the Oasis pool which is currently up for sale. 

So if you're staying in Los Gigantes in an apartment that doesn't offer access to a pool and you don't want to go to the beach either, our suggestion is to spend the day at Tipsy Terrace Bar & Bistro Los Gigantes - the price for a sunbed and access to the pool all day costs around €6 which is great and it's a fun way to spend the day. 

5. Admire the view from Mirador Archipenque

If you want to get the best view of Los Gigantes cliffs, Mirador Archipenque is the place to go. You get an overview of the town, as well as a view of the cliffs and the best thing is you can buy a souvenir here and even drink a cup of coffee while taking in the view. We know that by the time you're reading this you're probably already tired of us talking about the view, but this is truly one of the most stunning landscapes in Tenerife. Also, this mirador is among the best viewpoints in Tenerife in our opinion, so make sure not to skip it.

6. Walk from Los Gigantes to Puerto de Santiago (or even to Alcala)

If you fancy a day with a bit of a walk, you can go over to Puerto de Santiago, which is the neighboring town. There are some lovely restaurants and bars along the way so there's no need to rush. Since this part of the coast is quite hilly and full of ups and downs, you'll need to hydrate yourself along the way anyhow.

Read more about things to do in Puerto de Santiago.

7. Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise with Swimming by Flipper Uno

Marvel at dolphins and whales on this relaxing cruise from Los Gigantes. Dive into turquoise waters, sip on a cool drink as you cruise by majestic cliffs, and explore the Teno-Rasca Whale Sanctuary.

8. Plaza La Bouganvilla

• See Google Maps location

A typical Spanish square with a white church and a few lovely bars and restaurants where you can grab something to eat or simply enjoy a coffee or a beer in the sun.

The square has a very nice atmosphere and it's also a safe place for children to run around and play while the adults enjoy a well-deserved cocktail.

9. The (un)popular natural pool in Los Gigantes

The natural pool in Los Gigantes is located in a beautiful natural setting and many people like to come here to swim and relax, but it can also be quite dangerous, so be very careful.

• See Google Maps location

Keep in mind that the pool can be very dangerous and many people have died here over the years and many more have had to be rescued by helicopter after the waves have swept them in the ocean while sitting on the walls of the pool.

Don't go in the pool when there are big waves or the weather is generally bad because a lot of tragedies have happened here over the years. In 2017, two people drowned here after a giant wave swept them away from the pool.

We don't want to put you off from visiting this place; we only want to stress the fact that you need to be careful if you decide to swim in this natural pool in Los Gigantes. Unfortunately, a lot of tragedies have happened here and the currents in this part of the island are quite dangerous and strong and tourists often go in without being aware of the danger. 

Personally, we never went in to swim in this pool, although we often walk in this area because we like the landscape and the promenade, which is enough for us. 

10. Get a tan on Playa la Arena

Situated in Puerto de Santiago, Playa la Arena is one of the most attractive beaches in Tenerife, which has been rewarded with the Blue Flag distinction since the '80s.

Although the sea is usually not ideal for swimming, the beach is quite lovely, with palm trees and the black shiny sand, so a day spent here is a must if you're in the area and if you love spending time in the sun. Due to the strong currents in the area the red flag is usually up on the beach, which means that swimming is forbidden, especially during the winter months.