Archipenque Viewpoint

The cliffs of Los Gigantes fill the view to the north: dark basalt walls dropping sheer into the Atlantic, with deep blue water at their foot. Towards evening the sun falls straight onto the rock and turns it orange and red, and sunset is when the viewpoint earns its name. In clear air the coast runs on to the lighthouse at Punta de Teno, and La Gomera sits on the horizon out to sea.

It is a roadside stop, and the traffic on the coast road is the sound that stays with you. Information boards explain the geology of the cliffs, the coastal plants, and the whales and dolphins that frequent the water below. The café serves coffee and beer with the same view.

• The car park fills up. Free street parking nearby is the fallback when it does.
• Mondays are listed as a closing day, so check the hours before you plan a visit around sunset.
• Cars pass constantly on the coast road, and their noise carries across the viewpoint.
• La Gomera and Punta de Teno only show in clear air. On a hazy day the view stops at the cliffs.
• A map board for the PR-TF 65 trail between Santiago del Teide and Puerto de Santiago stands about 216 m away.

Archipenque Viewpoint sits on the coast road through Puerto de Santiago, and the approach ends almost where you park. A free car park lies about 41 m away, and there is free street parking nearby; the car park fills up. A second free car park, about 257 m away, is for customers only.

By bus, the Quinto Centenario stop is about 74 m away and the Los Gigantes stop about 253 m. Los Gigantes itself, with its marina under the cliffs, lies to the north along the same stretch of coast.

Best: late afternoon into sunset, on a clear day.

Avoid: Mondays, when the place is listed as closed, and hazy days.

The cliffs face west, so the low evening sun lands square on the rock and turns it orange-red, and only clear air brings La Gomera and Punta de Teno into view.