Beaches
When staying in Puerto de Santiago the best beaches are the Playa Chica and the Playa de la Arena. Both are black sand beaches. The Playa de Santiago is the more relaxing one and has a small little bar and not much else.
The Playa de la Arena is the more touristy of the 2 and has sunbeds you can hire, lots of bars and restaurants and shops next to it. It also has the more soft sands and is the more popular for families. Just know that on some days the waves here can get pretty big but there is also a lifeguard here.
Just around the corner you will also find the Playa del Volcan. This one is less touristy, less pretty and more rocky, but also more peaceful and quiet.
Further in the direction of Los Gigantes there is also the Playa Chica beach that is generally more peaceful and quiet.
There are also other unique swimming options like the Playa de las Baja, a more rocky beach ideal for snorkeling between the rocks. And also the Natural pools, Acatilado de Los Gigantes.
Where to stay in Puerto de Santiago
If you want to be a lot on the beach, staying near the Playa de la Arena area is best. For more restaurants and nightlife, the area near Barcelo Santiago is ideal.
- Barcelo Santiago: Adults-only holiday close to the most lively area in Puerto de Santiago.
- Sholeo Lodges Los Gigantes: Fresh and modern hotel with some unique features and excellent value for money breakfast buffet.
- Landmar Playa la Arena: Excellent hotel very close to the beach. Choose the Platinum option for adults-only holidays.
- Landmar Costa Los Gigantes: Definitely the best family holiday hotel in this area of Tenerife.
Things to do in Puerto de Santiago
- Natural pools: Swim in one of the many natural pools along the coastline called Charcos.
- Hiking: There are plenty of hiking trails in this area like one towards the Playa Barranca Seco beach.
- Los Gigantes marina: From the nearby marina of Los Gigantes you can join plenty of boat tours to go dolphin or whale watching or explore the coastline. Also here you can do many different types of watersports like jet skiing or kayaking.
- Diving or fishing: Since you are close to the open ocean here without a lot of tourism, this area is ideal for both these activities.
- Masca: Visit the nearby town of Masca with an organized excusision. You can also go there by car but it is hard to find parking near the village.
- Hire a car: Since this area is quite far from the airport and there is not so much to do here, it is highly advisable to hire a car to save on airport transport but also to explore more outside of the resort. Many parks and attractions are only a short drive away, but without a car hard to get to.
- Fish restaurants: Visit the nearby Los Gigantes harbor to try some of the freshest fresh caught fish restaurants.
- Alcala and Playa La Jaquita: A nearby town and beach to visit. Alcala is still very authentic and not very touristy except for the one hotel just outside of the town.
Restaurants
While not as numerous as in the other, larger holiday destinations in Tenerife, there are still quite a few restaurants in Puerto de Santiago. These are mainly located near the Playa de la Arena beach and near the Barcelo Santiago hotel. For a truly unique experience the Fisherman’s Inn has been an established value here for many years, overlooking the ocean. On a budget, the restaurant Plaza is excellent value for money and very popular with the local population.
Nightlife
When it comes to nightlife in Puerto de Santiago, some of the bars here stay open till pretty late and most offer a very family-friendly atmosphere. There aren’t any late-night clubs; this area is more of a relaxed, family-oriented resort. For the best nightlife, look near the Barcelo Santiago hotel or next to the Playa de la Arena beach.
Tenerife airport to Puerto de Santiago
Puerto de Santiago is 41 kilometer drive away from the Tenerife South Airport (TFS). The Tenerife North Airport (TFN) is 81 kilometers away. So it is best to fly to the Tenerife South Airport:
- Public transport (7.80 €/pp): Cheap, but you need at least 1 or 2 transfers on to other buses to get to your destination. Adding a lot of unneeded stress and loss of time to your holiday.
- Shuttle bus online (11.26 €/pp): For just a few euros more a much better budget friendly option without the need to transfer and drop off directly and you hotel.
- Taxi or minibus online (66.72 €): Best option if you are traveling in a group of 4 or more.
- Taxi at the airport (62.30 €): Can also be good but with less service, no child safety seats and higher prices in the evenings and weekends it is much better to book before online for most people. Also during peak arrival times, you might have to wait for a taxi.
When to go
Puerto de Santiago is great to visit all year round if you can find a great deal. If you are visiting in winter and want to be guaranteed the best weather, the South of Tenerife is a better choice but in general the weather is not much different. During winter the main advantage for this area is that it is less windy then the South, what can be a real advantage to making it feel warm and comfortable.
May and November in this area you might want to avoid because there is limited nightlife and restaurants here, and if they decide to close for holidays or renovations, it is most often in this month. If this does not matter to you, the best budget deals with great weather are in May. Both June and September offer excellent value for money.
