Tenerife: Los Gigantes Whale Watching Cruise by Sail Boat
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From 75,00€ per person
The resort town of Acantilado de los Gigantes is located along the west coast of Tenerife and is famous for the impressive cliffs of the same name, 600 metres high and 10 kilometres long, which drop sheer into the Atlantic Ocean and surround it like a majestic amphitheatre.
Visiting the Los Gigantes cliffs is a must-do activity in Tenerife, as it will give you a unique perspective of the island. The visit is done by boat, and you also have the option of combining it with a stop at Masca beach or a trip in search of dolphins or whales.
The village of Los Gigantes is part of the municipality of Puerto de Santiago, located about 30 kilometres from Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos and not far from the idyllic rural village of Masca. The small hamlet, once a fishing village, also has a small black sandy beach.
Visiting the cliffs of Los Gigantes requires taking part in a boat tour, either private or shared, departing from the village’s marina. The boats are of all types, ranging from small dinghies to traditional covered tourist boats. The boats operate throughout the day, and reservations are not necessary, also because the tours are conducted by different operators.
Usually the tour lasts about an hour, time to go to the cliffs, stop at a couple of strategic photo points, take a dip in the sea and return. Prices vary depending on the services offered and the ‘quality’ of the boat (although getting there is no problem, as the cliffs are very close to the port of Santiago!). Of course, private tours cost more on average than group tours.
Sometimes, excursions to the Los Gigantes cliffs extend all the way to Masca beach, including a stop. Other boat tours departing from the harbour, in addition to visits to the cliffs, also include the possibility of straying a little from the coast to admire dolphins or whales. Nothing prohibits you, of course, from taking part in an all-inclusive tour that will allow you to admire the reefs, relax on the Masca beach and see (with a bit of luck) cetaceans. Usually, a tour like this takes between three and five hours.
The most obvious tip for visiting the cliffs of Los Gigantes is to make sure you don’t get seasick! The cliffs can only be visited by boat, and the weather in Tenerife is often gloomy, cloudy and windy in these parts, and rainfall is not uncommon, resulting in the risk of rough seas.
Speaking of which, if you think it might rain during your tour, try to take along the bare essentials, such as a k-way or a mackintosh. On the contrary, if the day is fine and your excursion includes swimming, don’t skimp on sun cream and, of course, wear a swimming costume. Finally, you will often be provided with natural water, but in case your tour does not include it, take care to bring at least one bottle with you.
Acantilado de los Gigantes has developed considerably in terms of tourism in recent years, which is why it is literally full of places to sleep. They range from classic hotels to aparthotels, from all-inclusive resorts to flats. Often with a sea view thanks to the particular conformation of the terrain, these facilities offer all the comforts and sometimes even a splendid view of the cliffs.
South of Los Gigantes is the town of Puerto de Santiago. The boundary between the two locations is blurred, it might as well not even exist since they actually form a single town. It goes without saying that even in Puerto de Santiago, there are plenty of accommodation facilities of all types and categories.
Los Gigantes is located on the south-east coast of Tenerife, never too close to the island’s main landmarks. From Los Cristianos – Costa Adeje – Playa de Las Americas it takes about 25 minutes, taking the TF-1 road heading north to exit 87 Playa San Juan – Los Gigantes, and then continuing on the TF-46 and TF-47 to your destination, following the signs. It is slower to do this by public transport, as bus 477, which connects Costa Adeje to Los Gigantes, takes about 50 minutes.
If, on the other hand, you are in the north and want to get to Los Gigantes, the route is much longer. From Santa Cruz de Tenerife one travels clockwise along the east coast along the TF-1 and exits at exit 87 as described above. From Puerto de la Cruz one travels counter-clockwise along the north coast by first taking the easy TF-5 towards Icod de Los Vinos, and then by the winding TF-82, which offers breathtaking views.
Los Gigantes is an extension of Puerto de Santiago, both part of the municipality of Santiago del Teide. We are on the west coast of Tenerife, just opposite the island of La Gomera, which is only 30 kilometres from here as the crow flies.
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