Los Gigantes · Santiago del Teide, Tenerife
Playa de los Guíos
Everything you need to know before you go: Getting there, parking, prices, best time.
Last checked: September 2026
Common questions, answered
A strip of black sand about 180 m long and 20 m wide at the foot of the Los Gigantes cliffs. The slope above has been secured with nets since a rockfall killed two people in 2009, and the town still warns of landslides. The beach is free, but it has opening hours.
Straight talk
What to know before you go.
- Under an unstable slope. Rockfall killed two people here in 2009, and the beach was closed for years. Nets secure only part of the slope, sections are often fenced off, and the town warns of landslides. Don't lie at the foot of the cliff.
- It closes in the evening. The beach has opening hours, roughly 10:00–18:00. No swim at sunset.
- Small and full. 20 m wide, and around midday Google shows it close to its busiest.
- Stony entry. Visitors describe stones at the water's edge and very hot sand. Bring water shoes.
- Reports of a smell. Reviews mention a sewage pipe on the slope and a smell at times. We found no official confirmation and no bathing ban.
Getting there
The beach is at the end of Calle Los Guíos, right next to the Los Gigantes marina on the west coast.
By car
- 01From the south take the TF-1 towards Adeje and follow the signs along the coast via Playa San Juan and Puerto Santiago to Los Gigantes.
- 02From the north come over the hills via Santiago del Teide and Tamaimo.
- 03In Los Gigantes follow the signs down to the marina (Puerto Deportivo) and park in the paid car park by the pontoons.
- 04Walk about 300 m along the harbour to the beach at the end of Calle Los Guíos.
The marina car park is usually full in high season. Parking El Mirador higher up has more than 300 spaces at €1.60 an hour, but it is about 850 m away and uphill.
Other
Line 473 from Los Cristianos
About every 30 minutes via Costa Adeje, 1 h 20 min for the whole route, with buses until after midnight.
Line 477 from Costa Adeje
Quicker at about 50 minutes, but less frequent: every 35–40 minutes on weekdays, every 70–80 minutes at weekends.
From the north
Line 325 from Puerto de la Cruz via Icod takes about 1 h 45 min and runs only five times on weekdays, three times at weekends.
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- Destination
- Parking
Check before you go
The town closes the beach or parts of it at short notice when there is rockfall risk or work on the slope above, as in September 2023, and it sets the opening hours. During a Canary Islands coastal alert stay out of the water: the town warns of strong currents here.
Parking & arriving
On site
A narrow strip of black sand directly below the Los Gigantes cliffs, next to the marina, with the rock walls rising straight above you. Loungers can be rented.
- Time there
- ~30 min for the view, a few hours for a swim
- Walk from car park
- ~300 m along the harbour from the marina car park
- Toilets
- Free toilet at the beach; €0.50 at the marina car park
- Food & drink
- Bars and restaurants above the beach and around the marina
- Shade
- Cliff shade until about 14:00 in summer, then full sun
- Wheelchair
- Ramp, walkways and amphibious chairs for assisted bathing
- Dogs
- Not allowed
When is it worth it?
The beach has opening hours. Tap a time of day.
Afternoon
16:00Sun on the sand. The busiest time is 13:00–15:00, after that it thins out.
00–10Before 10:00
Probably still closed. The town last announced 9:00, Google shows 10:00.
10–14Late morning
Open, but in the shade of the cliffs until about 14:00. It fills up from 11:00.
14–18Afternoon★ Recommended
Sun on the sand. The busiest time is 13:00–15:00, after that it thins out.
18–24Evening
Closed. You can still see the cliffs from the marina and from the Mirador Archipenque.
Google lists 10:00–18:00. The town's last official notice (October 2023) said 9:00–17:00. Busy times from Google.
All year
Open daily. Lifeguards from West Coast Rescue; the town gives no season or hours.
Summer
In July visitors report shade until about 14:00. Midday is packed.
Boat trips
Whale and dolphin trips and boats to Masca leave from the marina next door.
Forecast
Facts
- Size
- Source: Town · 09/2026
- About 180 m long and 20 m wide
- Sand
- Source: Town · 09/2026
- Black volcanic sand, stones at the water's edge
- Opening hours
- Source: Google · 09/2026
- About 10:00–18:00 (Google). Last official notice 9:00–17:00 (2023)
- Lifeguards
- Source: Town · 09/2026
- Yes, West Coast Rescue
- Showers
- Source: Town · 09/2026
- Yes, at the beach
- Awards
- Source: Town · 09/2026
- Q for tourism quality, EMAS, ISO 14001. No Blue Flag in 2026
- Rules
- Source: Town · 09/2026
- No ball games, smoking or vaping. Don't take sand, pebbles or shells
- Rockfall
- Source: Press · 09/2026
- Two deaths in 2009. The slope has been secured with nets since 2019
- Parking
- Source: Operator · 09/2026
- Marina about €2/h, Parking El Mirador €1.60/h
- Bus
- Source: TITSA · 09/2026
- Lines 473 and 477 to Los Gigantes, 630 m
Nearby
- Mirador ArchipenqueViewpoint · 900 m as the crow flies
- Playa de la ArenaBeach · 2.0 km as the crow flies · Google Maps
- Playa La JaquitaBeach · 4.6 km as the crow flies · Google Maps
- La Caleta de AlcaláViewpoint · 4.8 km as the crow flies · Google Maps
- Masca BeachBeach · 5.0 km as the crow flies · Google Maps