Pirate Boat Whale and Dolphin Trip with Swim Stop Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes Harbour and Town

Los Gigantes is a small resort town on the west coast of Tenerife, in the municipality of Santiago del Teide, built in terraces on the slopes facing the ocean. Its harbour sits right at the foot of the cliffs that gave the town its name, so the view opens the moment you step onto the quay. Next to the marina is Los Guíos, a little black sand beach with the cliff wall rising directly behind it, and the streets above are lined with cafés and small shops.

Many visitors ask how to get to Los Gigantes from the south resorts: the drive from Costa Adeje or Playa de las Américas takes about 35 to 45 minutes along the motorway and the coastal road, and public buses also link the town with the south. Parking around the harbour fills quickly, so we recommend arriving an hour before departure. Our Los Gigantes boat trip leaves from the office at the harbour entrance.

The Cliffs of Los Gigantes

The Acantilados de Los Gigantes are among the most impressive sea cliffs in Europe, vertical walls of dark volcanic rock that rise between 300 and almost 600 metres straight out of the Atlantic. They are the edge of the Teno massif, one of the oldest parts of Tenerife, built by lava flows several million years ago and later cut by the sea. Old sailors called them the Wall of Hell, because there was no place to land along their base.

From a boat you appreciate their true scale: the layers of basalt, the deep ravines that split the wall and the seabirds nesting on the ledges. The cliffs face west, so they glow warmly in the late light, and the sea beneath them drops to great depths only a short distance from shore. For many travellers, the cliffs are the reason Los Gigantes is worth visiting, and seeing them from the water is the best way to do it.

Masca and the Teno Coast

North of Los Gigantes, the cliffs continue towards the Teno Rural Park and the famous Masca gorge. The village of Masca clings to a ridge high in the Teno mountains, among palm trees and terraced fields, and its ravine winds down between towering rock walls to a small pebble beach that can only be reached on foot or by boat. From the sea you see the mouth of the gorge opening between the cliffs, a view few visitors to the village ever have.

This stretch of coast is protected and almost untouched by building, so the scenery is wild and dramatic, with sheer rock, hidden coves and very clear water. The route towards Masca depends on the sea state on the day, and the crew decides how far to go. It pairs perfectly with a later visit to the village by road, along one of the island's most spectacular mountain drives.

Whales and Dolphins off West Tenerife

The channel between Tenerife and La Gomera is one of the best places in Europe for whale watching, because deep water lies very close to the coast. It belongs to the Teno-Rasca marine protected area, where a resident population of short-finned pilot whales lives alongside bottlenose dolphins that are seen through the year. Depending on the season, you may also meet common dolphins, sperm whales or loggerhead turtles.

Whale watching in Los Gigantes is calm and close to shore, so the boat usually reaches the animals within a short time of leaving the harbour. Licensed boats follow strict rules: they keep a respectful distance, approach slowly and limit the time spent with each group. Sightings depend on the sea and cannot be guaranteed, but pilot whales and dolphins are seen on most trips, and your guide explains their behaviour as you watch.

The Swim Stop and Paella Lunch

After the wildlife and the cliffs, the boat drops anchor in one of the bays beneath the rock walls, where the water is clear and sheltered. You can climb down the stairs for a gentle swim, or make a splash from the trapeze, which is always the favourite moment for children and adventurous adults. The water here is deep blue and often calm, and you may see small fish below you. Bring your own swimwear and towel.

On the three-hour trip, lunch is served on board after the swim: a warm chicken and vegetable paella followed by a piece of fruit, with soft drinks and water throughout the excursion. You then cruise back to the harbour along the cliffs, with time for photos and to dry off in the sun. The two-hour afternoon option follows the same route but without lunch.