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Los Gigantes means the Giants of the Canary Islands
The giants are the cliffs of Los Gigantes
Many holidaymakers who come to Tenerife have their favourite parts of the island and top of many people's list would be Los Gigantes. This is why.
Los Gigantes means "the Giants" in Spanish and in the case of the popular Tenerife resort town of the same name it refers to the high cliffs that are what the place is famous for. Los Gigantes is one the south-west coast of the island and is one of the best locations for warm sunny weather, which makes it ideal for tourists in the Canary Islands.
Acantilados de los Gigantes, to give the town its full name, has imposing and impressive basalt cliffs that rise to some 600m at the end of a quiet black sand beach known as La Canalita.
There is also a marina from which it is possible to go on cruises on which you can enjoy whale or dolphin-watching.There are always big shoals of silvery grey fish in the waters of the marina and some people like to throw food to them. Dive clubs provide services for divers and it is possible to go out and watch the underseas marine life close-up.
It is also possible to go out on a glass-bottomed boat to enjoy seeing the amazing world below the waves. Boat-taxis operate trips to and from Masca Bay too further up along the coast.
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The remote village of Masca
Masca is Tenerife's own Shangri-la mountain village and a ravine leads down from it to the sea. Many people who have visted Masca and completed the climb down this ravine, which can take a few hours, prefer to get a boat to Los Gigantes rather than climb back up the way they came.
Masca was until fairly recently cut off from the rest of Tenerife because it had no road and anyone who lived there or who wanted to visit the village had to cross the high mountains that surround it. The nearest town is Santiago del Teide.
Nowadays an incredible road with many hairpin bends and steep drops into the valleys below snakes its way to Masca and continues on to Buenavista del Norte in the Teno area of western Tenerife.
Masca is very much a tourist attraction today now that it has become accessible.
Los Gigantes photos
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Have you been to Los Gigantes?
The nearby island of La Gomera
But getting back to Los Gigantes, the resort offers everything holiday-makers could want. There are plenty of shops, bars, restaurants, and small businesses, as well as a hotel and many apartment blocks. Live music acts provide the entertainment at a few venues in Los Gigantes such as TJ's bar.
There is a traditional square by the church and around this are shops and restaurants. At fiesta times this is where it all happens.
The popular Oasis Club offers a restaurant, Internet access, swimming pool, childrens play area, lawns, sunbeds, trampolines, bowls, tennis courts and excellent views of La Gomera on a clear day. This neighbouring island can be seen across the sea.
Buses run from Los Gigantes to Puerto de la Cruz in the north of the island and also to Las Americas and Los Cristianos resorts in the south. It is also possible to get the bus to the town of Guía de Isora from Los Gigantes.
Further along the coast are the resorts of Puerto Santiago, Playa de la Arena, Alcalá and Playa de San Juan. Tenerife Titsa buses run regular services connecting with these places too
It is easy to see why Los Gigantes has become such a popular spot for tourists to visit and spend their holidays in. Los Gigantes has so much more than just its mighty cliffs to offer. This is why Los Gigantes should be on your list of where to visit if you are coming to Tenerife.
© 2010 Steve Andrews