Santiago del Teide in a nutshell
Santiago del Teide is a municipality in the southwest of Tenerife. The tourist coast runs from Puerto de Santiago to Los Gigantes. Higher up lie villages such as Tamaimo, Arguayo and the main town, Santiago del Teide, in the valley that locals call Valle de Santiago. The municipality covers 52.21 km². The 2025 register is reported at 12,582 residents.
Two of the best-known trips from here lie outside the municipality. Masca and the Masca Gorge belong to Buenavista del Norte, and the summit of Mount Teide belongs to La Orotava. This guide treats both as day trips from Santiago del Teide, not as parts of it.
What this guide covers
The coast, the villages and the trips from them.
You will find pages on Los Gigantes with its cliffs and harbor, Puerto de Santiago, the beaches, hiking, boat trips and whale watching. There are also guides to the trips to Masca, the Teno mountains and Mount Teide, plus practical pages on weather, getting there and where to stay. The site is independent. It is not run by the town hall, a tourism board, the national park, the cable car or a tour company. Prices are in euros as listed in 2026, and they change, so check the current price before you book.
Away from the coast, the villages give a different picture. Arguayo is known for its pottery museum, Tamaimo has the trail down to Puerto de Santiago, and the main town of Santiago del Teide has a white church and views of the Teide. Chinyero, the volcano of the last historic eruption on Tenerife in 1909, lies in a nature reserve that Santiago del Teide shares with El Tanque and Garachico.
Our picks: tours from the west coast
A cliffs cruise from Los Gigantes, the Masca Gorge on foot and a Teide day trip with the cable car.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Masca Gorge hike with boat and transport
A walking guide, helmet, gorge entry, the boat back and transport to Masca and back to the start are included, plus accident and liability insurance. Food and drinks are not.
Check availability →
Teide day trip with cable car ticket and transfer
Transport from the north and south of the island, a guide and the Teide cable car ticket are included. Food and drinks are not.
Check availability →
Los Gigantes cliffs cruise with whale and dolphin search
A two-hour boat trip along the cliffs with a swim stop and one drink. Whale and dolphin sightings depend on the weather.
Check availability →Tours from Los Gigantes
Boat trips, whale watching, Masca and Teide tours from the west coast, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the sights, then pick the pages you need.
Things to do
Twelve ideas from the cliffs to a pottery museum and the Teide.
Tours compared
Boats, Masca and Teide: what each trip costs and what is extra.
Los Gigantes
Cliffs, marina and the beach below them.
Boat trips
What to expect on the water, and the boat back from Masca.
Whale watching
Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, the rules and no guarantees.
Masca
The mountain village, the TF-436 road and parking.
Masca Gorge
Booking, fees, time slots and equipment.
Beaches, nature and practical pages
Where to swim, where to walk and how to get around.
Puerto de Santiago
Fishing harbor, promenade and a small town beach.
Playa de la Arena
A black sand beach with showers and a lifeguard post.
Beaches
Playa de los Guíos and the other beaches nearby.
Mount Teide
Cable car, summit permit and the road from Chío.
Teno Rural Park
Punta de Teno and why the road is closed to cars.
Chinyero
The 1909 volcano and its circular route.
Hiking
Trails around Santiago del Teide and dated closures.
Weather
Monthly climate figures from the nearest official station.
Getting there
Buses, transfers and driving from the airport.
Where to stay
Los Gigantes, Puerto de Santiago or La Arena.
Good to know in 2026
Where older guides are out of date.
Masca is not in Santiago del Teide
Masca and the gorge belong to Buenavista del Norte. Since December 2025 the compulsory bus 355 is no longer part of the gorge ticket, and the boat back to Los Gigantes is a separate ticket too.
Masca Gorge →The Teide summit permit costs money
Since 19 January 2026 the permit for the Telesforo Bravo trail costs €15 for visitors from outside the Canary Islands in the paid time slots. The cable car ticket is not a hiking permit.
Mount Teide →Punta de Teno is closed to cars
Because of works since 19 January 2026, the access road is closed to private cars, pedestrians and cyclists. Do not plan a drive there.
Teno Rural Park →One beach, two names
"Los Gigantes Beach" and Playa de los Guíos are the same beach. La Arena and Los Guíos received the Q de Calidad quality mark again in July 2025. That is not a Blue Flag.
Beaches →Hunting closures on trails
On set dates in autumn 2026, trails around Chinyero and Arguayo are closed from 07:00 to 16:00, for example on 28 October. Check the dates before you walk.
Hiking →Beyond Tenerife
Another island, another guide.
This site stays with the west coast of Tenerife. If your trip also takes in another Canary Island, Fuerteventura has its own independent guide.
Santiago del Teide: frequently asked questions
Where is Santiago del Teide?
In the southwest of Tenerife. The coast with Puerto de Santiago, Playa de la Arena and Los Gigantes is the tourist side, and villages such as Tamaimo and Arguayo lie higher up. Los Gigantes is about 45 km by road from Tenerife South Airport.
Is Masca part of Santiago del Teide?
No. Masca belongs to the neighboring municipality of Buenavista del Norte, and the Teide summit lies in La Orotava. Both are easy day trips from here. See the pages on Masca and Mount Teide.
How do I get from the airport to Los Gigantes?
By bus, take line 040 from Tenerife South Airport to Costa Adeje, then line 477 to Los Gigantes. TITSA lists 40 and 50 minutes of ride time, so plan about 90 minutes plus the change. By car or transfer, one operator gives about 41 minutes, while another source shows about 1 hour 5 minutes. See getting there.
Do I need a permit for Mount Teide?
Not for the cable car, but the walk from the top station to the summit crater needs a separate permit (trail PNT 10), booked through Tenerife ON. The cable car ticket does not replace it. Details are on the Teide page.
How much is a bus ticket for visitors?
TITSA sells tourist passes: €10 for 24 hours from first use, or €50 for 7 days, as listed in 2026. A physical card costs €2 extra.
Is this the official website of Santiago del Teide?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the town hall, Turismo de Tenerife, the Teide National Park, the cable car or any tour operator.