Tour of Gran Canaria

Day 0: Arrival day

We offer included transfers from Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) to our start hotel in San Agustín at several times throughout the day, with a journey time of just 30 minutes.

The 4* Gloria Palace San Agustín is a wonderful hotel to spend the first two nights of your cycling holiday. It is within walking distance of the beach and boasts two beautiful swimming pools, and a spa (extra charges apply). The hotel even hosts a hire bike centre, with an excellent range of bikes to suit all budgets. This is a great additional service if you don’t want to bring your own bike, but we advise booking in advance.

You’ll have time to assemble your bikes before we gather in the early evening. Our two guides will brief you on the week ahead and how the holiday will work. This will also give you a chance to meet your fellow riders, before enjoying a fantastic dinner.

Day 2: Barranco de Ayagaures, Passo Taro to Puerto de Morgán

You start today by cycling along the coast to Santa Agueda, where we head inland and climb gently up the Barranco de Arguinequin. This is a wide and arid valley, apart from a narrow strip where you’ll see citrus trees and prickly pear cacti thriving. The cycling gets more challenging after Las Filipinas, so the detour to the cafe/restaurant in Soria is a good pitstop.

Next up is the Risco Grande / Paso de Tauro (911m) climb, with a few short, sharp sections. Rest assured that this single-lane road has glorious views to distract you from the challenge!

Our destination is the luxurious Hotel Cordial Mogán Playa which is located in the idyllic seaside town of Port Mogán. Those wanting to relax and appreciate the facilities can head straight to the hotel but there are extra cycling options available for those wanting more of a challenge.

The first detours north from the coast and takes you on a classic loop up the Ayagaures Valley and over Alto de Pedro Gonzalez (489m).

The second option is near the end of the day, when you can head up the GC605 climb to the cafe in Ayacata (1317m). We know you’ll love the mind-blowing descent to the coast from here!

Classic route: 64km with 1190m ascent [ride profile]

Harder route: 89km with 1610m ascent [ride profile]

Challenge route: 119km with 2210m ascent [ride profile]

Day 4: The lush northwest and sea-to-summit challenge to Cruz de Tejeda

The north of Gran Canaria is lush and verdant. The lower flanks of the mountains are covered in banana plantations, but these give way to terraced fields and villages, and then pine forests clinging on to the cinder-covered mountainsides. Our destination today is the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda hotel, at 1560m, and it’s a truly fabulous place to spend two nights, with wonderful facilities.

There are many infamous ‘leg-breaking’ roads of the ‘Medianias’ in the north of the island, but we’ve chosen the gentlest way to gain altitude, and your ride can always be punctuated by stopping at any of the many local tavernas. En route to the summit, we pass through Cruz de Tejeda, so you may wish to retire to the hotel’s hydrothermal pool – with a spectacular view!

However, the Pico de las Nieves (1930m) is a truly magical place with extensive views of the island and beyond to Tenerife, so it is well worth the effort.

The Challenge route adds a classic loop down to Ayacata, then over El Aserrador (1345m) before climbing back up to the Cruz de Tejeda (1560m) from the southeast.

Whichever route you choose, you’ll be rewarded with superb accommodation and facilities at the Parador when you finish pedalling for the day. How about a well-deserved dip in the pool?

Classic route: 41km with 1820m ascent [ride profile]

Harder route: 58km with 2340m ascent [ride profile]

Challenge route: 83km with 2910m ascent [ride profile]

Day 6: Valley of the Tears, Cruz Grande and the GC-60 descent to San Agustín

It’s your final day of cycling and today is an absolute corker! Whichever route you choose, you’re sure to arrive back at the fabulous Gloria Palace San Agustín having had an unforgettable day!

You’ll start with a fast descent, before picking up a balcony road past Artenara, which has constant views of the rugged volcanic landscape. You’ll then enjoy a thrilling descent into the Aldea canyon. Wow – what a ride! This takes you to the base of the aptly named ‘Valley of The Tears’ (VOTT). This wild and remote climb is renowned for its punishing gradients (averaging 12%, with some sections over 20%) and ranks highly in the list of must-do cycling climbs in Europe. Rest assured that if you find it too much, you can always catch a lift in one of our support vehicles. 

You will eventually head over El Aserrador (1345m) back to Ayacata for a hearty lunch. Here, those on the Challenge route have a decision to make, as there is still one ascent of the Pico de las Nieves (1930m) that needs to be tackled – the GC-600 past Roque Nublo.

For those who don’t fancy the VOTT, our (unsupported) easier route takes you via the Cruz de Los Llanos (1723m) to Ayacata.

From Ayacata, all routes head to Cruz Grande (1236m) and back to San Bartolome de Tirajana. Here, you’ll pick up the GC-60 and enjoy descending the wonderful road you first climbed six glorious days ago. 

Once back at the Gloria Palace, you can relax, enjoy the facilities, and partake in the obligatory post-mortem of the day’s ride, while celebrating a fantastic week’s cycling!

Easier route: 52km with 570m ascent [ride profile]

Classic route: 80km with 1550m ascent [ride profile]

Challenge route: 103km with 2220m ascent [ride profile]