Playa de Los Gigantes

The editor's take

Tucked beneath the 600-metre vertical wall of Acantilados de Los Gigantes, this small black-sand cove is one of the most dramatic beaches in the Atlantic. The cliffs cast late-morning shadow over the sand, the harbour sends out catamarans hourly to spot pilot whales, and the water is deep, cool and crystal-clear — ideal for snorkelling along the rocky edges. There's no resort buzz here; just a quiet jetty, a few cafés, and an enduring sense of being at the edge of the island. Come for sunset and watch the cliffs glow gold above a wine-dark sea.