EPIC LOS GIGANTES HIKE
Welcome to Los Gigantes! This hardcore trail can be classified as an extreme adventure and is one of my personal favourites when it comes to hiking in Tenerife. Starting from the village of Tamaimo, the route takes you through a secluded gorge, a tunnel, and an incredible cliff walk 100 meters above the coast. Warning: this trail is not recommended to unexperienced hikers or people with vertigo.
LOS GIGANTES HIKE FACTS
Distance: The total distance for this hike was 23km for the loop trail.
Hike duration: This hike’s duration was 7h and 40minutes with a moving time of 6h. Adding few breaks, this hike should take no more than 8,5h.
Elevation gain: The total elevation gain for this hike was 1342m.
Difficulty: This hike is difficult. Firstly due to the distance and elevation gain, secondly due to the Los Gigantes cliff walk part (closed access – status for April 2021). The trail goes along a very narrow and slippery path, 100 meters above the coast and can be very hard to follow. In addition, there are some extreme drop-offs. It is definitely not recommended for unexperienced hikers and people with vertigo/afraid of heights.
Gear needed: Although Tenerife is warm all year round, you should always remember to check the weather forecast. You should avoid this hike during storms or rainfall as the trail might get extremely slippery. I recommend bringing a headtorch for one very long tunnel and a swimming suit for the beach. If you’re unsure on what else to bring for a hike, read this guide.
My Strava map + gpx file can be found here: LOS GIGANTES
GETTING TO LOS GIGANTES HIKE
By car: The starting point for Los Gigantes hike is located in Tamaimo (570m) next to the Restaurante Aires del Sur. Google pin for parking the car can be found here.
By bus: Take the bus no 325, 460 or 462. Current bus schedules can be found here: https://www.titsa.com/index.php/en/
MY EXPERIENCE HIKING LOS GIGANTES TRAIL
The distance of the Los Gigantes hike can vary depending on the route. I planned to go from Tamaimo to Los Gigantes through two tunnels, but I missed the entrance to the first one. So, I decided to take the alternative trail around, which made the whole hike more challenging. This trail starts in Tamaimo and includes a steep climb up to the Cruz de Los Misioneros.
Once we climbed up, we were treated to stunning views of the southern part of Tenerife. When we reached the next fork in the trail, we then turned right and began hiking up a mountain trail that was a bit overgrown and not often used. This part of the hike required good navigation skills, as the trail was not always visible. Hiking off-trail can be dangerous, so it’s important to have the proper skills and equipment to stay on track.
After reaching a little mountain grave, you will need to pay attention to the trail as it continues with a descent towards the ocean. There is a fork in the trail at this point, and you should continue straight. After a short while, the trail will lead through the beautiful Barranco Mancha de Los Diaz. This part of the hike offers incredible views and is a highlight of the Los Gigantes trail. Remembr to stay alert and follow the trail carefully, as the terrain can be steep and rocky in this area.
We eventually reached the water channels and the ruins of a house built into a huge rock. After reaching the bottom of the Barranco, the trail continues on the right side of the water canal. This part of the trail winds through a canyon filled with a variety of vegetation, including cool cactuses. The scenery in this area is beautiful and it is a great place to take a break and enjoy the surroundings.
As we hiked along the trail, we came across the entrance to a tunnel that leads to Los Gigantes. Surrounding the entrance were abandoned construction machinery and a large rock formation with caves carved into its upper parts. The tunnel itself was not blocked, but it was long and tedious to hike through. It is important to bring a headlamp or flashlight when hiking this trail, as the tunnel is likely to be dark and difficult to navigate without light. Overall, the tunnel was definitely a fun part of Los Gigantes hike, but it can be challenging to hike through.
THE EXTREME CLIFF WALK SECTION:
Reaching the end of the tunnel, we arrived at Los Gigantes and were treated to stunning views of the coast and mountains. It was immediately clear that this trail was not the safest one we had been on. The route continued with a descent that was very dry and slippery, followed by a climb upwards over unstable ground. There were a few trails on Tenerife where my heart started beating fast, and Los Gigantes hike is 100% among them. The next hour was spent hiking on a tricky and unstable terrain that made our hearts beat faster many times. If you decide to take this route, you should be extremely careful. Don’t rely too much on your GPS, and try to stick as close to the rocks as possible. Avoid getting close to the edge, as the path sometimes leads along the edge of the cliff, which can be dangerous. If you have trouble finding the trail, look for stone signs left by other hikers to guide you in the right direction. Overall, this trail is not to be taken lightly and should only be attempted by experienced hikers who are prepared for the challenges it presents.
After about an hour, we finally made it to the town, where you can take a break for lunch or a swim. The trail continues through Los Gigantes and Puerto Santiago, and eventually leads back to Tamaimo on the other side of the mountains.
The hike back from Los Gigantes was actually very interesting as it led us through banana plantations, houses, and a farm where animals were wandering around freely. Oh! There was also a strange vending machine that sold cheese. Tenerife never ceases to surprise me! One hour later, we made it back to Tamaimo, and the sunset illuminated the town in a very cute way.
CONCLUSION
Los Gigantes hike was a challenging and a bit of a hardcore experience. You really need to know what you’re doing to pass the cliff section ‘safely’. Overall, the trail was long, demanding and made our hearts beat faster a few times. If you like challenging hikes, check out: Pico Viejo, Teide, An old linen trail from Punta del Hidalgo to Chinamada, Sendero de Baracan or Playa de Ijuana hike.
HAVE YOU SEEN MY OTHER HIKING GUIDES FOR TENERIFE?
I lived and worked in Tenerife for three months, hiking nearly every day. I’ve explored over 70 trails to bring you an ultimate guide – highlighting the Top 30 Best Hikes in Tenerife. Each guide has a detailed description including the distance, difficulty, gear needed and everything else needed to complete the hike successfully. If you happen to notice any changes on the trail that should be updated – please drop the comment below so I can keep this guide up to date.
If you prefer easier hikes that can be completed under 3 hours, check out Top 12 Short Hikes in Tenerife guide.
Safe and happy hiking my friend!
