Administratively attached to Santiago del Teide but built on the water's edge, Puerto Santiago is the village that lives at the foot of the cliffs of Los Gigantes, volcanic walls which peak around ~600 m and plunge into the Atlantic a few minutes' walk from the seafront. Unlike Los Gigantes, its better-known neighbor, Puerto Santiago maintains the rhythm of a coastal village, with fish restaurants and a marina.
The tip: The two towns almost touch each other: it takes around a few minutes by bus or a short coastal walk to combine them without a car.
Puerto Santiago's waterfront alternates between fish restaurants and coastal paths with close-up views of the cliffs. The area's marina (Puerto Santiago / Los Gigantes) is one of the classic starting points for dolphin and pilot whale excursions off the west of the island.
The area's volcanic beaches (pebbles and black sand) contrast with the developed beaches of the touristy south. Several coastal paths connect Puerto Santiago to Los Gigantes on foot, offering the best views of the cliffs without taking the car.
Transport: From the south, TITSA lines 473 and 477 serve the Los Gigantes / Puerto Santiago sector (timetables vary depending on the season).
Access: A few minutes drive from Santiago del Teide; Los Gigantes is contiguous, bus or coastal walk.
To combine: Los Gigantes (cliffs, viewpoint) · Santiago del Teide (village, Masca road) · dolphin/whale boat excursions departing from the marina.