Whale Watching Boat Trip with Masca Swim Stop from Los Gigantes

Los Gigantes Marina and Village

Los Gigantes is a small resort town on the west coast of Tenerife, in the municipality of Santiago del Teide, built where the land ends abruptly at the foot of the island's most famous cliffs. Its marina, tucked behind a stone breakwater, is lined with seafood restaurants, ice cream shops and boat offices, and the cliffs tower directly above the moorings, so the view starts before you even step aboard.

Your trip begins at the boat office in the marina, where the crew checks you in and leads you to the boat. Los Gigantes is quieter than the big southern resorts, with a small black-sand beach, Playa de los Guíos, beside the harbour. If you are looking for things to do in Los Gigantes, this boat trip is the classic choice, and the town is pleasant for lunch or a stroll afterwards.

Whale and Dolphin Watching off Los Gigantes

The sea floor drops steeply off the west coast of Tenerife, and deep water reaches almost to the cliffs. This is part of the protected Teno-Rasca marine area, where short-finned pilot whales live all year round and bottlenose dolphins are regular visitors. Whale watching from Los Gigantes is especially rewarding because the boat reaches good waters within minutes of leaving the harbour.

Your guide scans the surface for the dark backs and rounded heads of pilot whales or the quick fins of dolphins, and explains how these family groups live, feed and care for their young. The boat keeps a respectful distance under the Canary Islands' whale watching rules. Sightings are very common, though as with all wildlife each trip is different, and you will see either whales or dolphins depending on the day.

Masca Bay, Swimming below the Cliffs

After the watching, the boat heads north to Masca bay, a pebble cove at the mouth of the Masca ravine where the Teno mountains plunge into the Atlantic. There is no road to the bay, so it can be reached only by boat or by a steep hike down the ravine, which keeps the water clean and the setting wild. The bay is protected from most swell, and its water is a clear, deep blue.

Here you have time for a refreshing swim straight from the boat, with towering rock all around you, while the crew hands out a cold soft drink or water. Snorkelling gear is not included, so bring your own mask if you want to look at the fish among the rocks. A boat trip to Masca is the easiest way to experience this beautiful corner of Tenerife.

The Los Gigantes Cliffs on the Way Back

The return leg follows the full length of the Acantilados de Los Gigantes, sheer walls of dark basalt that rise several hundred metres straight from the sea. The early inhabitants of the island called them the Wall of Hell, and from a small boat at their foot it is easy to see why: the rock seems to lean over the water, streaked with layers of ancient lava and ledges where seabirds nest.

This Los Gigantes cliffs boat tour is best for photography in the late morning and early afternoon, when the sun lights the rock face. The crew slows down at the most dramatic points so you can take pictures with the cliffs filling the frame. The trip ends back at Los Gigantes marina, about 2 hours after departure.

Getting to Los Gigantes and the West Coast

As for how to get to Los Gigantes, the town is about 30 to 40 minutes by car or taxi from Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas, along the coast road through Playa San Juan and Alcalá, and local buses also connect it with the southern resorts. There is paid parking near the marina, which can fill up in the middle of the day, so arrive early if you drive.

Neighbouring Puerto de Santiago and Playa de la Arena, a short walk south, have a black-sand beach and a promenade, and the road inland climbs towards the village of Masca and the Teno Rural Park. The best time to visit Los Gigantes is the morning, when the sea is calmest and the light is softest on the cliffs, though boat trips run all year.