Unlike its neighbour Las Américas, Los Cristianos is a real town, with about 21,000 residents, tucked between the Chayofita and Guaza mountains. It was a fishing and export port until, at the end of the 1950s, Swedish visitors with rheumatism and the after-effects of polio began arriving in search of the climate. The main street is still called Avenida de Suecia (Sweden Avenue).
That history explains who it suits today: families, older travellers or people with reduced mobility, and anyone who doesn't want a car. Everything is within walking distance: the quay, both beaches and the bus stops. If you're after late nights, you'll find them in Playa de las Américas, linked by the seafront promenade.
Our picks
1
The short whale-watching trip
Travelin' Lady: 1 h 30 from kiosk 2 on the quay, past Montaña de Guaza and with a swimming stop.
GetYourGuide1.5 hours
Travelin' Lady: Eco Yacht Whale & Dolphin Safari + Swim
4.7 (19,421 reviews)
from €29.90Check availability
2
Whales and a swim from a schooner
Peter Pan, a wooden schooner for 60 people, 2 hours with 15–20 minutes' swimming at the end if the sea allows.
GetYourGuide2 - 3 hours
Tenerife: Whale-Watching Cruise & Swim from Los Cristianos
4.7 (4,267 reviews)
from €27.81Check availability
3
Kayak and snorkel
Two and a half hours paddling and snorkelling with water, fruit and photos. The best-rated kayak trip here.
GetYourGuide2.5 hours
Los Cristianos: Kayaking and Snorkelling with Marine Life (water, fruit, photos) included
4.8 (725 reviews)
from €34Check availability
4
Try dive
A 2-hour PADI introductory dive leaving from Los Cristianos.
GetYourGuide2 hours
Tenerife: PADI Discovery Scuba Diving in Los Cristianos
5.0 (22 reviews)
from €65Check availability
5
La Gomera in a day
A 9-hour excursion from the south with lunch, for people who don't want to organise anything.
GetYourGuide9 hours
From South Tenerife: La Gomera Island Day Trip with Lunch
4.1 (2,224 reviews)
from €110Check availability
The quay: what leaves Los Cristianos and from where
Los Cristianos harbour is a state-owned commercial port, run by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority (https://www.puertosdetenerife.org/puertos/puerto-de-los-cristianos/). Two different worlds share it, and they board in different places.
Ferries to the other islands
Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària Canarias (formerly Naviera Armas) link Los Cristianos with San Sebastián de La Gomera, La Estaca (El Hierro) and Santa Cruz de La Palma. Timetables and fares change with the season: check each ferry company's website before you plan. The companies are compared on our ferries page.
Excursion boats: Zone A
Whale-watching, sailing and kayak trips board in the Excursion Zone (Zona A). Finding it takes a bit of know-how:
- Go into the port area and look for the blue line painted on the ground.
- Follow it to a green fence: that's Zone A.
- Look for your company's kiosk; they're numbered (Travelin' Lady is number 2, a red and white yacht).
- Leave yourself plenty of time. If you're driving, the pay car park is a few metres away, but in high season it can be full: better to walk or take the bus.
Los Cristianos has 11 registered whale-watching boats, far fewer than Puerto Colón, but the pilot whale colony lives a few kilometres from the harbour mouth. That's why hour-and-a-half trips work here: less time sailing, more time watching. Which boat to choose and why, in whale watching from Los Cristianos.
Other trips you can book from this quay or the beach next to it:
- Kayak and snorkel with marine wildlife, 2 to 3 hours, from about €21. Feeding the turtles is illegal, so don't. More on our kayak page.
- PADI try dive, 2 hours, from €64. See scuba diving.
- Stand-up paddleboarding: board hire for an hour, from €18.
- Small-group sailing with food, drinks and a swim, 3 hours, from €56.
- The Ragnarok Viking ship, with a sword-fight show and costumes for children, 2 or 3 hours. Be aware: the official register gives its base as Amarilla Marina, formerly Marina San Miguel, so check the boarding point on your voucher.
The Ragnarok costs €28 on both platforms. On GetYourGuide you can cancel free up to 24 hours before; on Tiqets, read the cancellation policy on the listing before you pay.
| Platform | Product | Rating | Price | Where to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | Tenerife: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise with Swim Stop | 4.7 (3,717) | €28 | See on GetYourGuide |
| Tiqets | Los Cristianos: Viking Tenerife Ragnarok Cruise | 4.5 (23) | €28 | See on Tiqets |
Adult prices checked on 2 October 2026. They can change with the date; each platform confirms the final price.
La Gomera in a day, on foot from your hotel
From most hotels in Los Cristianos you can walk to the ferry, no transfer needed. It's the most convenient base on the island for crossing to La Gomera.
| On your own | With a tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Item | on your own | on an excursion |
| Getting to the quay | on foot from town | hotel pick-up, depending on the excursion |
| Ferry ticket | you buy it from Fred. Olsen Express or Baleària Canarias | included |
| On La Gomera | you organise it yourself | guide, route and lunch |
| Length | whatever the ferry timetable allows | about 9–11 hours |
| Price | the ferry plus whatever you spend there | from €110 per person |
If you want to see the interior and Garajonay without sorting out transport, the excursion is worth it. If you just want to wander round San Sebastián, go independently. Every option on our La Gomera page.
The two beaches: the calmest water in the south
| Beach | Size | Sand | Facilities | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Cristianos | 345 × 80 m | light, inside the harbour | showers, sunbeds, accessible | more than 100 spaces |
| Las Vistas | 850 × 80 m | light, between breakwaters | toilets, showers, sunbeds, tourist information, accessible | more than 100 spaces |
When the sea is rough elsewhere on the island, these two are still among the calmest: Los Cristianos beach is inside the harbour and Las Vistas sits behind breakwaters. Las Vistas keeps its Blue Flag, Arona's only one as things stand; Los Cristianos beach has lost its flag.
Accessibility: the town's strong point
This is Los Cristianos's big selling point. Arona council runs an adapted bathing service with lifeguards, amphibious chairs and amphibious crutches, with no booking needed for individuals:
| Beach | When | Hours | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vistas | all year | winter 10:00–14:00 and 15:00–17:00; summer 11:00–14:00 and 15:00–18:00 | 2 amphibious chairs, crutches and a hoist |
| Los Cristianos | 15 June–15 September and Easter week | 11:00–14:00 and 15:00–18:00 | 1 amphibious chair and crutches |
Groups book by email at arona@pro-activa.es and the lifeguards' phone number is 672 786 195. The conditions are at https://www.arona.org/Areas-Municipales/Medio-Ambiente/Litoral/Ba%C3%B1o-adaptado.
More worth knowing if you use a wheelchair: TITSA buses take wheelchairs up to 75 × 130 cm and 300 kg including the user, and the 342 to Teide runs with an adapted vehicle; the Teide cable car, on the other hand, doesn't take passengers with reduced mobility. Wheelchair-accessible taxis with a ramp (eurotaxis) are booked by municipality: book ahead through your hotel or a transfer company and give the wheelchair's dimensions. There's no official information on gradients or steps along the promenade towards Las Américas; ask at the tourist office. All of this, in more detail, on our accessible Tenerife page.
What else to do from Los Cristianos
- Siam Park, Aqualand and Jungle Park have free buses from the CC Pasarela shopping centre. Siam's leaves at 09:30, 10:10, 10:50, 11:30, 12:10 and 13:35; Jungle Park's at 10:20 and 11:45 (take the first if you want to see the 12:30 birds of prey show). Prices and times on our Jungle Park page.
- Karting Club Tenerife, in Arona, picks up free of charge in Los Cristianos if you book online, from 10:00 to 16:00 (17:00 in July and August).
- Teide by bus: the 342, the only one of the day, passes at 09:40 (€7.60); it comes from Costa Adeje bus station (09:25), where it's easier to get a seat.
- A tourist train to get round town without wearing yourself out, and shopping streets for browsing.
- Market: many guides put it on a Sunday, but there's no official published schedule. Check at the tourist office before you go.
Getting there and getting around
From Tenerife South (19 km, about 19 minutes). Bus 40 leaves the airport every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 21:40 (the first at 06:30) and costs €3.20 in cash or by contactless bank card, €2.80 with Ten+ credit. After 23:00, night bus 711 makes nine departures until 04:50. By taxi, about €30 by day and about €33 at night or on a Sunday.
From Tenerife North (83 km, an hour). The 343 goes to Costa Adeje bus station (€12.40, four a day) and from there the 467 drops you in Los Cristianos for €1.45. The other route is the 20 to Santa Cruz (€2.65) and then the direct 110 to Costa Adeje bus station (€9.45). By taxi, about €116 by day. Full comparison in our airport transfers guide.
Around the south by bus:
| Destination | Line | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Adeje (bus station) | 467 | €1.45 |
| La Caleta | 467 | €1.50 |
| Adeje old town | 447 | €1.50 |
| Los Gigantes | 473 | €4.65 |
| Golf del Sur | 470 / 483 | €2.80 |
| Teide (cable car) | 342 | €7.60 |
The 470 carries on to El Médano. A Ten+ card with credit can be shared between several people and brings down the fare on almost all of these journeys, except the 342. Cicar has an office in town if you'd rather hire a car for a couple of days.
Excursions you can book in Los Cristianos
GetYourGuide2 - 3 hours
Tenerife: Whale-Watching Cruise & Swim from Los Cristianos
4.7 (4,267 reviews)
from €27.81Check availability
GetYourGuide3 hours
Los Cristianos: Whale-Watching Cruise with Swim Stop & Drinks
4.7 (995 reviews)
from €38.50Check availability
GetYourGuide2.5 hours
Los Cristianos: Kayaking and Snorkelling with Marine Life (water, fruit, photos) included
4.8 (725 reviews)
from €34Check availability
Tiqets02:00
Los Cristianos: Viking Tenerife Ragnarok Cruise
4.5 (23 reviews)
from €28Check availability
GetYourGuide3 hours
Los Cristianos: Kayak & Snorkelling Marine Adventure
4.4 (1,146 reviews)
from €20.80Check availability
GetYourGuide2 hours
Los Cristianos: Kayaking and Snorkelling with Marine Wildlife
4.5 (239 reviews)
from €45Check availability
GetYourGuide
Los Cristianos: 1 Hour of Paddle Board Rental
4.4 (103 reviews)
from €18Check availability
See all options on GetYourGuide →
What is there to do in Los Cristianos?
Whale watching from the quay, kayaking and snorkelling, a try dive, Los Cristianos and Las Vistas beaches, the promenade walk to Las Américas and a day trip to La Gomera by ferry. Siam Park, Aqualand and Jungle Park run free buses from the CC Pasarela shopping centre.
Where does the ferry to La Gomera leave from?
From Los Cristianos harbour, with Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària Canarias. From most hotels in town you can walk there; check timetables and prices on each ferry company's website.
Where do you catch the whale-watching boats in Los Cristianos?
In the Excursion Zone (Zona A) on the quay: follow the blue line painted on the ground to a green fence, where each company has its numbered kiosk.
Which beach in Los Cristianos has assisted bathing all year round?
Las Vistas, with two amphibious chairs, crutches and a hoist, in morning and afternoon sessions. At Los Cristianos beach the service only runs from 15 June to 15 September and in Easter week.
How do I get from Tenerife South airport to Los Cristianos?
On bus 40, every 30 minutes, for €3.20, or by taxi for about €30 by day. For night arrivals there's line 711, with departures from the airport until 04:50.
Is Los Cristianos a good base for older people or those with reduced mobility?
Yes: everything is within walking distance, the beaches are calm and Las Vistas has adapted bathing all year round. Book eurotaxis in advance and don't count on the Teide cable car, which doesn't take passengers with reduced mobility.
