There's a wall of rock on the northwest coast of Tenerife that you can spot from the plane window on landing, and from the deck of pretty much any boat sailing the west coast: Los Gigantes. It isn't a village full of monuments to tick off, it's a sheer cliff dropping straight into the sea, and that's exactly why it's best seen from the water rather than from land.
A vertical wall of volcanic rock running for several kilometres along the Teno massif's coastline, among the tallest in Europe. It was shaped millions of years ago by the lava flows that built this part of the island, and the sea has spent all that time polishing the base into an almost straight drop. There's no trail down the rock face: the only way to see it up close is by sea.
The name also stuck to the village that grew at its foot, although the actual town is called Puerto de Santiago, part of the Santiago del Teide municipality, the same one that includes Masca.
Puerto de Santiago itself and its black-sand beach, Playa de la Arena, sit right below the wall and offer the easiest view: drive in, park, and walk along the seafront promenade. If you take the mountain road up towards Masca, several unofficial viewpoints along the way show the whole coastline from above, with the green of the massif against the deep blue of the Atlantic.
The way to really see them, right at the foot of the wall, is from a boat. The whale-watching cruise to Masca and Los Gigantes sets sail from Costa Adeje by catamaran, cruises the west coast until it anchors beneath the cliffs, and finishes in Masca bay with a stop for a swim and some snorkelling. It lasts 4.5 hours and costs €60 per adult, lunch, soft drinks and beer included, with specialist guides watching out for pilot whales and dolphins along the way.
If you'd rather keep it shorter, or decide on the day, the eco whale and dolphin cruise from Costa Adeje sails from Puerto Colón on a sailing catamaran and runs in two lengths: 3 hours around the Teno-Rasca whale sanctuary, or 5 hours if you want to reach Los Gigantes and Masca bay, with lunch on board. It costs €47 per adult and comes with a sighting guarantee: if no cetaceans show up, you go again for free, subject to availability.
The village runs on its marina and its beach, a strip of volcanic sand wedged between the cliffs and sheltered from the wind, which keeps it calmer than most beaches in the south. The seafront promenade is lined with restaurants looking out to sea, and fishing boats and small rental craft also leave from the harbour for anyone who'd rather explore under their own steam.
Can you hike down the Los Gigantes cliffs? No. It's a sheer wall with no access trails: the only way to see it up close is by sea, on a catamaran from Costa Adeje.
How much does it cost to see Los Gigantes by boat? From €47 per adult on the eco cruise from Puerto Colón (3 or 5-hour option), or €60 on the 4.5-hour cruise that ends with a swim in Masca bay.
Where's the best spot to see the cliffs from land? Puerto de Santiago and its Playa de la Arena, right beneath the wall, or the viewpoints along the mountain road up towards Masca.
Still planning your route around northwest Tenerife? Visit the hamlet of Masca and its gorge, head on to sunset at Punta de Teno, or browse all our things to do in Tenerife.
A 5-day plan with the best-rated excursions, real prices and local tips. As a PDF, ready for your phone.
Download the guide (PDF)Free, no sign-up: straight download.
