Los Gigantes – English translation being ‘The Giants’ – is a holiday resort that truly lives up to the name. The resort is a quiet location most well-known for its stunning cliffs which tower high into the sky, only to plummet directly down into a deep blue sea. Regardless of how many times you view these natural attractions, the dizzying height and rainbow of colours will always leave you breathless and awestruck.
If you wish to witness the outstanding rock formations of the Los Gigantes cliffs, here’s a guide on everything you need to know and if you want to find out even more about the island, have a look at Tenerife Forum and their Tenerife Facebook page which posts fantastic content on a daily basis.
What Are The Los Gigantes Cliffs?
The Los Gigantes cliffs are one of the most popular natural attractions on the island of Tenerife.
The cliffs are found in the Teno Rural Park, which is on the western side of the island between Santiago del Teide and Buenavista deal Norte. The cliffs do not have any ‘synthetic’ construction to them and are approximately 500 to 800 metres above the water, with a 30 metre underwater depth. The only natural attraction which is more popular than Los Gigantes in Tenerife is Mount Teide National Park.
According to records, the cliffs were developed with one of the initial volcanic reactions that created the island of Tenerife. While the cliffs look very different today as compared to when they were first formed, the presence of the cliffs continues to be a result of geological shifts caused by the ocean.
The history books also state that the Los Gigantes cliffs were known as ‘The Wall of Hell’ before the 15th century and its associated Spanish Conquest. This name was given because of the cliffs’ unique appearance – a dark red and brown lava colour jutting out of rock at an odd angle. When viewing the rocks, locals would consider it to be the edge of the earth; however, Christopher Columbus proved them wrong.
What Is The Best Viewing Point For The Los Gigantes Cliffs?
While there are various viewing points for Los Gigantes, one is by far better than the others. When driving into the village, you will come across a spot known as Mirador Archipenque – this is the area where you can view the cliffs in all their glory. From this prime location, you can view the cliffs clinging to the coastline with the village sitting below the waterfall. Moreover, on a clear day, you can see the neighbouring island of La Gomera.
Following The Masca Trail
If you enjoy heading outdoors and love engaging with nature, you can gain a completely different perspective of the cliffs by going on the Masca walking trail. Not for the faint of heart, the Masca walking trail can take a person between two and six hours to complete – dependent on how experienced a trail walker you are. It also covers some of the roughest terrain in Tenerife, so you need to have some knowledge of hiking.
Regardless of the challenges, the walking trail is worth the effort once you reach the coast. The top of the trail offers some close-up views of the Los Gigantes cliffs. The highly energetic walkers can continue to the ravine; however, if you are feeling somewhat exhausted, you can enjoy a ride back to the resort on a water taxi.
Boat Trip Views Of The Cliffs
One of the most relaxing and pleasant means of viewing the Los Gigantes cliffs is via a chartered boat trip. Many companies offer excursions to view the cliffs, some of which combine both whale watching and a Los Gigantes dolphin tour with the cliff viewing – an ideal day out for the entire family!
From the boat, you are in the best position to view the cliffs in their entirety. This is not something you can achieve from land, but need to be floating below the cliffs. When you’re travelling along the bottom of the cliffs, you gain a true sense of their size and understand why they were previously known as ‘The Wall of Hell’.
When Is The Best Time To View Them?
The most opportune time to view them depends on the experience you want to have.
They are exceptional to view at sunset when the sun is dipping beyond the horizon, casting a red hue across the cliffs making them appear as if they are on fire.
Conclusion
There are many Tenerife blogs that offer interesting information about the island and what it offers but if you want to read up a little more on Tenerife then have a look at this selection of articles available on Amazon and Google to give you more of an idea why the island has become so popular.
