Getting to Los Gigantes in short
Los Gigantes sits on the west coast of Tenerife. Most visitors land at Tenerife South Airport. By road a transfer provider gives about 45 km and 41 minutes as a rough guide, and it states plainly that this is not a binding time. Another provider quotes about 1 hour 5 minutes for the same distance. So plan for somewhere between 40 and 65 minutes in a car or taxi, depending on traffic.
The public bus takes longer. You ride line 040 from the airport to Costa Adeje, then line 477 to Los Gigantes. This is an independent guide, not the bus operator or a transfer company. Check the current timetable on the day, because timetables differ on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays or holidays.
From the airport: your options
Times are rough guides, not guarantees.
| Option | How it works | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 040, then 477 | Line 040 runs from the airport via Los Cristianos to Costa Adeje. Change there to line 477 to Los Gigantes | 40 minutes plus 50 minutes of riding, plus the change | Depends on the stops; see the ticket notes below |
| Transfer | Pre-booked car, door to door | About 41 minutes by one provider's guide, about 1 hour 5 minutes by another | Set by the provider when you book |
| Taxi | Direct by road, about 45 km | About 40 to 65 minutes, depending on traffic | Agree the fare or check the meter before you set off |
| Rental car | Direct by road, about 45 km | About 40 to 65 minutes, depending on traffic | Rental price plus fuel and parking |
Line 477 runs on the TF-1 and TF-46, through Playa San Juan, Alcalá and Puerto Santiago, and it has separate timetables for weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and holidays. Line 473 is a slower coastal alternative from Los Cristianos through Costa Adeje and Callao Salvaje to Los Gigantes. Line 477 also serves the Avenida Marítima in Puerto de Santiago before it reaches Los Gigantes.
Transfers, tours and trips from Los Gigantes
Boat trips, Masca and Teide excursions that start from Los Gigantes, with live prices and availability.
Tenerife North Airport
The second airport is on the other side of the island.
From Tenerife North you take line 343, which runs from Puerto de la Cruz via Tenerife North and Tenerife South to Costa Adeje. From there you continue with line 477, as above. The 100 minutes on the line page cover the whole line from Puerto de la Cruz to Costa Adeje, so they do not describe the trip from the north airport to Los Gigantes. A transfer or a rental car is usually simpler with luggage. One transfer listing puts the road distance from the north airport at about 81 km.
Bus tickets in 2026
Tourist cards are the simplest option.
Ten+ tourist cards
The bus operator sells a day card for €10, valid for 24 hours from first use, and a week card for €50 for 7 days. A physical card costs €2 extra. The cards are personal and also available on the Ten+ mobile app. No fixed single fare is quoted here, because single fares depend on the line and the stops; the operator publishes a fare calculator by line and stop.
Not free for tourists
Free travel on public transport applies to specific resident passes, such as the one for Canary residents or the youth and senior passes. A visitor does not get it with an anonymous Ten+ card.
Back to the villages
The Masca gorge operator names lines 325 and 462 for the ride from Los Gigantes back to Santiago del Teide.
Buses and roads to Masca and Teno
Masca lies in Buenavista del Norte. Lines 355 (Buenavista, Masca, Santiago del Teide) and 365 (Buenavista, Masca) serve the village, and the municipality recommends the bus or a taxi. Parking in the village is limited to 2 hours between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., with few spaces. For the gorge, leave the car at the cemetery in Santiago del Teide and walk about 10 minutes to the bus point. Line 355 then takes about 20 minutes to Masca. Be at the stop at least 1 hour before your booked start. Since December 2025 this bus is not included in the gorge ticket.
The access road, the TF-436, can have temporary controls. From 30 July 2026 the Cabildo ran a dynamic access control to Masca because of the fire risk. It was withdrawn from 8 a.m. on 9 August 2026, and tourist private and rental cars had been excluded while it ran. Punta de Teno is reached by the TF-445. For now private vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists are not allowed on that road, because of works since 19 January 2026. Bus 369 from Buenavista takes about 20 minutes and costs €1 per person and direction, and the tourist day and week cards are valid on it. More on the Masca page and the Teno page.
Driving and entry basics
For rental cars and passport rules.
Teide by car
From Los Gigantes the west approach runs through Chío on the TF-38, then the TF-21. The cable car is at kilometer 43 of the TF-21, about 52 km from Los Gigantes. One local source puts the drive at about 1 hour 10 minutes in normal conditions. See the Teide page.
V-16 emergency light
Since January 2026 vehicles registered in Spain must carry the V-16 emergency light, which matters for rental cars. Check that your rental car has one.
Parking
Ask your accommodation about parking in Los Gigantes before you arrive.
Entry
German citizens can enter with a passport or ID card. British citizens with a normal passport can stay up to 90 days in any 180, with a passport issued less than 10 years before entry and valid for at least 3 months after the planned exit. The Entry/Exit System may require free biometric registration at the border, so allow extra time. Rules depend on your nationality.
Getting to Los Gigantes: questions
How do I get from Tenerife South Airport to Los Gigantes by bus?
Take line 040 from the airport to Costa Adeje, about 40 minutes, then line 477 to Los Gigantes, about 50 minutes. That adds up to 90 minutes of riding, plus the change and any wait.
How long does a transfer or taxi take?
One transfer provider gives about 45 km and 41 minutes as a non-binding guide. Another quotes about 1 hour 5 minutes. Traffic decides, so allow about an hour.
How much is a Ten+ card?
The tourist day card is €10 for 24 hours from first use, and the week card is €50 for 7 days. A physical card costs €2 more (2026).
Can I drive to Punta de Teno?
Not at the moment. The municipality bars private vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from the access road because of works that began on 19 January 2026. Use bus 369 from Buenavista and check the current timetable, since the municipal tourism pages and the operator list different time windows by season.
Which bus goes to Masca?
Line 355 runs Buenavista, Masca and Santiago del Teide, and line 365 runs Buenavista and Masca. For the gorge the bus is compulsory and is no longer part of the gorge ticket.
Do I need a car in Los Gigantes?
Not for the town, the marina and the beaches. A car helps for the Teide and for villages in the hills. For Masca and Punta de Teno the bus is the better choice.