Extended stay guide
Staying for longer?
A week or more in Los Gigantes opens up a different side of the place. Slower mornings, fewer crowds, and the kind of spots that don't make it into the guidebooks.
Get into a rhythm
The best thing about staying longer is ditching the checklist. Los Gigantes rewards slow travel — early morning swims before the day-trippers arrive, late lunches that stretch into the afternoon, evenings watching the cliffs change colour as the sun drops. Let the pace of the place take over.
Explore beyond the town
Masca is worth the trip — a dramatic mountain village about 20 minutes away that most day-trippers never make it to. Santiago del Teide is quieter still and gives you a feel for what the island looks like away from the coast. Rent a car for at least a couple of days and go.
Try sea kayaking
Once you've done the guided boat trip, sea kayaking is the way to get back out on the water on your own terms. You can paddle right up to the cliff base in calm conditions — somewhere a larger boat simply can't go. Most rental outfits on the marina will sort you out.
Learn to dance
There's a surprisingly good salsa and bachata scene here. Classes run most evenings and welcome complete beginners — it's a nice way to meet people and do something different with your nights. You don't need a partner to show up.
Find your regular spots
The mark of a proper stay is having regulars. A bakery you go to in the morning, a table at a bar where they start pouring when they see you coming. Our restaurant guide has the places worth returning to — not just the ones that look good in photos.
Practical things worth knowing
The supermarket gets busy mid-morning — go early or late. The coastal path is best walked before 10am in summer. If anything breaks in your apartment, our local services guide has reliable people worth calling. And the ferry to La Gomera runs most days — it's an easy day out if you want a change of scene.
Only here for the day?
See the day trip guide