Car Hire Los Gigantes Tenerife: Pick-Up, Driving and Tips
Resort · Canary Islands · Tenerife · Spain
Car hire in Los Gigantes, Tenerife makes most sense for travellers who want more than the hotel pool and the beach. This small coastal resort on the island's west side, also known as Puerto de Santiago, is home to around 2,700 people. Tenerife South airport, which has direct flights from the UK, is roughly a 30-minute drive away, and Tenerife North takes around 49 minutes. Having your own wheels turns that airport run into the start of the holiday and opens up the rest of Tenerife on your own timetable. Below you'll find where to collect a car, what the driving involves, and how to book sensibly. You can compare live car hire prices on this page.
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- Tenerife South airport has direct UK flights and is about 30 minutes' drive from Los Gigantes.
- Mirador de Archipenque viewpoint lies roughly half a mile from the resort, an easy short drive.
- Los Cristianos ferry port is about 16 miles away for day trips to other Canary Islands.
Airports for Los Gigantes
Tenerife South (TFS) has direct flights from the UK, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton and Manchester.
Tenerife South (TFS)
About 30 min by road to the nearest resortdirect flights from the UK
Tenerife North (TFN)
About 49 min by road to the nearest resort
Do you actually need a car
Los Gigantes is compact. Playa Los Gigantes sits right in the resort, and the Mirador de Archipenque viewpoint is only about half a mile away, so a stay built around the beach and the seafront can be managed without a car at all, particularly if your package includes transfers.
The case for car rental in Los Gigantes, Tenerife grows once you look beyond the resort. The airports are 30 and 49 minutes away, the ferry port at Los Cristianos is around 16 miles off, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife is about 39 miles away. A car lets you join those dots without relying on transfer timetables, and a few days' hire within a longer stay is a sensible middle ground.
Where to collect your car
Tenerife South (TFS) is the natural pick-up point for British travellers: it has direct flights from the UK and the drive to Los Gigantes takes around 30 minutes. Collecting at the airport means you skip the transfer and arrive at your hotel on your own schedule.
Tenerife North (TFN) is the alternative, about 49 minutes from the resort, though it has no direct flights from the UK, so it suits travellers arriving via another route. If you only want a car for part of the stay, you can also rent a car in Los Gigantes for a few days rather than for the whole fortnight; compare both options in the live prices on this page.
What the driving is like
Distances on this part of Tenerife are short. From Los Gigantes it is roughly 16 miles to the port at Los Cristianos, around 39 miles to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and its port, and the Mirador de Archipenque viewpoint is barely half a mile up the road, making it an easy first outing to get used to the car and driving on the right.
The weather rarely gets in the way. Measured at nearby Adeje, daytime highs range from about 20°C in February to 28°C in August, and July typically sees no rain at all. The wettest month, March, still brings only around five rainy days, so dry roads are the norm for most of the year.
If you plan to cross to Gran Canaria, Las Palmas is about 88 miles from the resort by sea via the island's ports; check your rental terms before taking a hire car on a ferry.
Booking tips before you go
Choose a full-to-full fuel policy where you can: you collect the car with a full tank and return it full, paying only for the fuel you use. With Tenerife South only about 30 minutes from Los Gigantes, it is easy to refuel on the way back for your flight.
Read the excess terms carefully and decide in advance whether you want cover to reduce it, rather than at the desk. If you are travelling with children, reserve child seats when you book, as they are not guaranteed on the day. Most people comparing car rental for Tenerife and Los Gigantes book early for school holidays, when demand rises; you can compare current car hire offers on this page.
Next steps
Questions people ask
Do I need a car in Los Gigantes?
Not for a beach-based stay: Playa Los Gigantes is in the resort and the Mirador de Archipenque viewpoint is about half a mile away. A car is useful for airport runs, reaching Los Cristianos port around 16 miles away, or exploring further across Tenerife.
Which airport is best for car hire to Los Gigantes?
Tenerife South (TFS) is the usual choice. It has direct flights from the UK and the drive to Los Gigantes takes around 30 minutes. Tenerife North is about 49 minutes away but has no direct UK flights.
How far is Los Gigantes from the ferry ports?
Los Cristianos is the nearest ferry port, about 16 miles away. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is around 39 miles away. Check your rental agreement before taking a hire car onto any ferry.
When is the best time of year to drive around Los Gigantes?
Almost any month works. Data from nearby Adeje show highs between about 20°C and 28°C and very little rain, with July typically dry. February is the shoulder month, slightly cooler and a little wetter.
Can I hire a car for just part of my holiday?
Yes, many travellers take a package with transfers and hire a car for a few days only. Compare short and full-stay rental options in the live car hire prices shown on this page.