Santiago del Teide, Los Gigantes, and the most spectacular coast of Tenerife

Santiago del Teide is a municipality in the west of Tenerife known for hosting the Los Gigantes Cliffs, volcanic rock walls up to 600 meters high that fall vertically into the Atlantic. It is one of the most impressive landscapes of Canary Islands. But the municipality offers much more: black sand beaches, a historic volcano, a charming mid-altitude town, and access to the Teno Rural Park.

Moreover, the CanariasLife Webcams in Los Gigantes, La Arena Beach, Playa Chica, Los Guíos Beach and the historic center allow you to see live the sea state, the beach atmosphere and the day's conditions.

Los Gigantes Cliffs

The Los Gigantes Cliffs are the main attraction of the municipality. These volcanic walls reaching 600 meters high plunge directly into the ocean, creating a landscape visible from land, sea, and webcams.

Since the marina of Los Gigantes excursions leave from catamaran and boats to see the cliffs from the water and to dolphin and whale watching. The west coast of Tenerife is a permanent habitat for tropical pilot whales and dolphins, so the chances of seeing them are high throughout the year.

You can also enjoy kayak y paddle boarding at the foot of the cliffs, an experience hard to match.

Beaches of Santiago del Teide

The municipality has several beaches of volcanic sand, all on the west coast:

La Arena Beach is the best known: black sand, blue flag, and clean waters. It has been recognized for the quality of its water and is the most popular beach in the area.

Los Guíos Beach, at the foot of the Los Gigantes cliffs, offers a swim with a 600-meter rock wall as a backdrop. It's small but spectacular.

Playa Chica, in Puerto de Santiago, is more cozy and family-friendly. However, the area between Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago has coves and coastal spots discovered by walking.

Chinyero Volcano: the last eruption of Tenerife

In the interior of the municipality is the Chinyero Volcano, site of the last volcanic eruption of Tenerife in 1909. Today you can walk a circular path that crosses the fields of solidified lava and the pine forests that have colonized the land. It is an easy and very visual route that shows the volcanic power of the island.

In fact, the Chinyero Protected Landscape is surrounded by forests of Canary pine and offers a complete contrast with the coast of the municipality.

Town of Santiago del Teide

The historic center is in the mid-altitudes, about 900 meters above sea level. It is a quiet town with the Church of San Fernando Rey, Canarian houses, and an authentic rural atmosphere. From here you can access the Teno Rural Park and routes of hiking for the Monte del Agua, where the laurisilva and the biodiversity are surprising.

The contrast between the tourist coast of Los Gigantes and the mountain town is part of the charm of this municipality.

Gastronomy in Santiago del Teide

On the coast, the restaurants of Los Gigantes y Puerto de Santiago offer fresh fish and seafood with views of the cliffs. In the town, the taverns serve mid-altitude Canarian cuisine: grilled meats, gofio, wrinkled potatoes with mojo and local cheeses.

Additionally, vineyards are cultivated in the municipality producing wines local wines of the Denomination of Origin Ycoden-Daute-Isora, ideal to accompany any meal.

Festivals and traditions

The parties of San Fernando, patron of the municipality, fill the town with religious and cultural events. The Romería de Santiago Apóstol combines music, dance, and Canarian gastronomy in the streets of the town center. In Los Gigantes, the festive atmosphere is especially vibrant in summer.

How to get to Santiago del Teide

Since the Tenerife South Airport you arrive at Los Gigantes in about 40 minutes via the TF-1 and TF-454. From Los Cristianos, about 25 minutes. There are TITSA buses connecting the coast with the town and other municipalities on the island.

The town of Santiago del Teide is about 15 minutes from the coast going up the TF-82.