A
descriptive guide to Los Gigantes, Puerto
Santiago and Playa de la Arena
For Practical information such as phone numbers,
addresses, maps etc.
Los Gigantes is only a short distance away from the other two resorts. These
three are neighbours on Tenerife's picturesque west coast. Situated
in the municipality of Santiago del Teide, they can be found just
south of the famous acantilados de los gigantes cliffs of Los Gigantes (The Giants), and about
20 miles (30 kilometres) north west of Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos. It is generally acknowledged that the year-round climate in this, the island's most westerly region, is among the best in the Canaries.
Los Gigantes, Puerto de Santiago and Playa de la Arena are small
and tranquil, and a far cry from the bright lights and noise of
their larger southern cousins, Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos.
But this is not to say that you can't find somewhere to let your
hair down round here too! Tenerife is all about holidays, fun and
having a good time, so whatever your tastes are, you can be sure
that you'll find something to suit your needs, wherever you are
on the island. More local info here
The
town of Los Gigantes is named after, and lies at the foot of, the imposing
cliffs of the same name. The cliffs also mark the southern boundary of
the beautiful Teno mountains, which cover the entire north-western corner
of Tenerife. The cliffs are visible in all their glory from the Archipenque
Mirador or viewpoint, but are best experienced up close from a boat where
they loom over you and you can distinguish the different colours and textures
of the volcanic strata. Directly south of Los Gigantes is the old fishing
village of Puerto Santiago, which despite extensive development, still
retains an unhurried, homely atmosphere. Further south, and effectively
joined on to Puerto Santiago, is the growing resort of Playa de la Arena.
Below we'll describe the resorts separately and in greater detail.
Los Gigantes
Los Gigantes is a very pretty resort. Great care has obviously been taken
over its design and construction. With the exception of one multi-storey
hotel, all of the resort's central apartment complexes and residential
areas are low-rise and blend in well with the surroundings. It is a small,
tranquil place and has an air of exclusivity about it. There is not much
danger of the resort losing this atmosphere and ambience by expanding
in any direction either, closed in as it is on all sides, nestling between
the area's natural rocky confines and the Atlantic Ocean.
The roads in Los Gigantes are very narrow, with a one-way system operating
throughout most of the town. It has a climate that is second to none in
the Canaries, some beautiful scenery and many amenities. Lying at the
foot of the cliffs there is a small, clean, black sand beach which is
rarely crowded, despite being suitable for children. Parking near the
beach can be a problem. Right
next to the public beach is the marina, where you will find an array of
pok boba een the west
coast of Tenerife and the neighbouring island of La Gomera.
You can have a drink or a meal at the bars and restaurants that line the front of the marina, or you can walk on top of the protective
sea wall that surrounds it, thereby getting a good look back at the boats
and the town and the apartments and villas, rising up into the cliffs
Los Gigantes commercial centre is just inland (and therefore, uphill)
from the marina. Although small, it hosts a variety of bars and restaurants,
plus shopping for everything from fruit and veg to designer label clothes.
In the central square (the Plaza) you'll find a pedestrian zone based
around the church. This also where the majority of events such as the
(carnaval de los gigantes) towns carnival (the week after
Ash Wednesday) take place.
Puerto
de Santiago
Puerto
Santiago (the 'de' is usually left out) lies between Playa de la Arena
and Los Gigantes. Its main thoroughfare, which links the other two towns,
culminates in a narrow winding serpentine known to the ex-pat community
as “Spanish corner”. There are frequent blockages here -great
fun if you happen to be on a bus at the time its negotiating the worst
bend. It is possible to get from Los Gigantes to Playa de la Arena by
going the 'long way round' - via the main island ring road - but then
you'd miss all the fun.
In
Puerto Santiago you'll find a small fishing port but limited in terms
of Beaches. There is a top, middle and bottom part to the town, making
the area rather sprawling, a mixture of homes, hotels and apartments.
As you would expect from a tourist resort, there is a huge assortment
or bars, shops, restaurants, a post office, and nightlife mainly in Santiago
bajo. As there are a large number of locals resident in the area you'll
find some excellent Canarian food available in the traditional restaurants
and Tapas bars. The anual firework display is not to be missed
If
approaching from the south, the first of the three resorts you will encounter
will be the unimaginatively named Playa de la Arena (or in English .....
Sandy Beach!). Playa de la Arena does boast the finest beach in this region
- it has been awarded the European blue flag for many years in succession.
Although smallish, it can confidently stand comparison with any other
beach of similar size on the island. This is especially true when you
consider that while many of Tenerife's popular beaches are man-made using
imported sand, the beach here is natural. Its black sand is a constant
reminder of the island's powerful volcanic origins. The beach is situated
centrally along the main coastal thoroughfare, the Avenida Maritima, which
has relatively easy (and free) parking facilities. If you get hungry or
develop a thirst you will find yourself spoilt for choice by the many
bars, restaurants and shops adjacent to and opposite the beach. Playa de la Arena beach offers a gentle gradient and often calm waters.
Don't forget though that as we are a small island and out in the middle
of the Atlantic Ocean, we are sometimes subject to rough seas, especially
in the winter months. On the occasions when weather conditions prohibit
bathing, a red flag flies on the beach. Don't ignore it! The
resort itself is somewhat elongated, being built up in a thin strip along
the length of the Avenida Maritima (coast road), which cuts through the
resort. It runs more or less parallel to the sea front for a couple of
miles, with the beach at its heart. Here you'll also find the beachfront
promenade where you can have a stroll in the sunshine. Playa de la Arena
is very much a modern resort and as such you will find some contsruction
ongoing. There are new apartments and hotels in progress and you will
notice constant 'cosmetic' work being carried out, such as planting of
decorative palms. But the degree of ongoing building work is not likely
to detract from the atmosphere of the resort or your overall enjoyment
thereof. For a relatively small resort, Playa de la Arena boasts a mind-boggling
array of bars and restaurants of all shapes and sizes, although 'nightlife'
in the sense of clubs and discos, while it undoubtedly exists, is on a
much smaller scale than the larger resorts in the south.
Playa de la Arena is also home to a Tourist Information office. Here you
will find English-speaking staff who can give you on-the-spot help and
information, plus there is always a multitude of leaflets and pamphlets
freely available, which will give you further facts and figures about
the region.
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Los Gigantes is a very pretty resort. Great care has obviously been taken
over its design and construction. With the exception of one multi-storey
hotel, all of the resort's central apartment complexes and residential
areas are low-rise and blend in well with the surroundings. It is a small,
tranquil place and has an air of exclusivity about it. There is not much
danger of the resort losing this atmosphere and ambience by expanding
in any direction either, closed in as it is on all sides, nestling between
the area's natural rocky confines and the Atlantic Ocean. 
Playa de la Arena beach offers a gentle gradient and often calm waters.
Don't forget though that as we are a small island and out in the middle
of the Atlantic Ocean, we are sometimes subject to rough seas, especially
in the winter months. On the occasions when weather conditions prohibit
bathing, a red flag flies on the beach. Don't ignore it! 
