Tour of Tenerife & El Teide
Road Cycling Holidays in the Canary Islands
- Winter sun cycling! Perfect climate for a pre-season warm-up
- Enjoy excellent roads, often used by pro cycling teams
- Flexible itinerary: suitable for new or experienced road cyclists, individuals, and groups
- Expertly designed routes, that showcase the entire island
- Opportunity to take on the epic Mt Teide climb from three directions (optional)
- Stay in three comfortable hotels (i.e. not moving on every night), including one with spa facilities
- Good value and plentiful flights from many UK regional airports
- Exceptional, full support cycling holiday: two support vehicles and two skilled and enthusiastic Marmot guides
- Bike and e-bike hire available locally
Days on the bike
There must be an enormous amount of planning to make a trip run as seamless as this, but it was done with such a light touch that everything "just" happened and the atmosphere throughout the whole week was warm and friendly...a family holiday without the arguments!
B Nottage
Introduction
With a perfect climate for cycling (average temperature 18-20°C), dramatic scenery, and smooth roads, it’s easy to see why Tenerife in the Canary Islands is one of the world’s top winter cycling destinations. Amateur and professional cyclists alike migrate to the island between October and April and as such, the island has developed a worthy reputation as one of the best places to ride a bike. As with all Marmot Classic style holidays, this itinerary has been carefully crafted to showcase the best of Tenerife. We probe the quiet, hidden corners of the island as well as giving you the opportunity to climb Mt Teide (up various routes), one of the longest climbs in Europe. Naturally, you traverse the Teide National Park, but you also get to explore the rugged mountainous extremities of the island.
During the week, you stay in three charming 3*- 4* star hotels (one of them with relaxing spa facilities), each nestled in a rural mountain location. It’s from these high-altitude vantage points that we’ve planned a wonderful variety of routes, making this holiday suitable for fit cyclists with varying aspirations and experience of cycling in the mountains. If you choose to stick to the Classic route, you’ll cycle an average of 61km a day, with 1475m of ascent. However, if you’re looking for more intense training or a tougher challenge then you could add the optional extras, cycling an average of 99km a day with 2600m ascent.
Please note that due to local regulations, we don’t bring our customised Marmot vans or titanium hire bikes to the island. Instead, we use local companies for transfers as well as bike hire and hire support vans on the island. However, you’ll still be supported in the usual Marmot style by two of our skilled and enthusiastic guides during your holiday. It’s their mission to support you as an individual and to help you achieve your goals. This is a truly fantastic week of cycling on a wonderful island! For further inspiration, you can head over to our YouTube channel to see a video of this fantasticcycling tour.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, including security and local laws plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Departure Dates & Prices
2025
Discount Information
We are pleased to offer some tempting discounts off the basic trip cost (not including extras such as single rooms or bike hire):
- Book & pay your deposit more than 6 months in advance of the start of your holiday for our 5% early bookers discount
- Get a group of 10+ people together for a 7.5% group discount and, as the group organiser, receive a £150 voucher for your next holiday
- Be rewarded for your loyalty by receiving a 10% discount from your 3rd Marmot trip onwards
Please note that there is a maximum 10% discount on any holiday.
Map
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival day
We offer included airport transfers (a journey of 45min) at scheduled times during the day from Tenerife’s Southern Airport (TFS) to your hotel in Vilaflor. We stay here for 2 nights, then return to it for the last night of your holiday.
Full travel advice (essential reading before booking your flights) and airport transfer timings can be found in our Trip Notes.
Day 1: The Classic Climbs of the South
Today’s ride is a wonderful warm-up for the week of cycling that stretches in front of you. We’ve designed two routes that give you the chance to experience the best of the dry, volcanic landscape in the south of the island. On your descent towards the south coast, we recommend pausing at the viewpoint Mirador de la Centinela (‘pirate lookout’) for panoramic views.
Stopping short of the coastal suburbs, you head up your climb for today: the TF21 to Vilaflor. This spectacular bit of road meanders its way up the volcanic cone of the island through a series of vertical cuttings that have been hewn out of the solidified volcanic ash. After lunch in Vilaflor, you’re faced with the tricky decision of whether to relax on the hotel terrace with a drink or head back out on the bike for some more sunny cycling!
Classic route: 47km with 1100m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 74km with 1900m ascent [ride profile]
Day 2: Las Cañadas del Teide to La Laguna
From Vilaflor at 1400m the sunken crater of the El Teide volcano (Las Cañadas) is within relatively easy reach. The imposing Pico del Teide looms above you (at 3718m it’s the highest point in Spain) but fortunately for us cyclists, the tarmac road rises just to Tabonal Negro at 2342m! From this point, you head along the northeast ridge of the island up to the space observatory, before you make an epic descent to La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage town. Your hotel for the night, Hotel Laguna, has a counter-current pool, sauna, and massage service (to be booked in advance) for you to take advantage of.
If you’re looking for more time on the bike, the challenge route takes in the curious Pyramids of Güímar. You’ll then climb back up to the rib of the island from the challenging eastern flanks to Cuatro Tiempos.
Classic route: 81km with 1600m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 139km with 3300m ascent [ride profile]
Day 3: The rugged coastline and mountains of Anaga
The coastal areas of the northeastern peninsula are wild, deserted and fabulous to explore by bike. Above 600m the Anaga mountains are carpeted in lush rainforest; this is a UNESCO recognised biosphere reserve with hugely diverse flora and fauna. Ponder while you’re cycling, that these roads are built on rock that’s 7 to 9 million years old!
Your route follows the coast to the beautiful marina village of San Andres before heading inland and climbing 600m to El Bailadero. From here our Classic route takes you back to the hotel via the lovely climb of Pico del Inglés. For those who want more, there is the option of taking the remote mountain road to Chamorga, or a spectacular descent to the coastal village of Benijo for a coffee stop – or both! Whichever route you choose, they’re all great options!
Classic route: 53km with 1250m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 89km with 2700m ascent [ride profile]
Day 4: The North of the island to Santiago del Teide
Today we take on El Teide from its most challenging northern side via a beautiful climb with great views through lush forests. This morning you have the option of riding from the hotel across the historic northern coast of Tenerife and then taking on the whole 38km climb (Challenge route). Alternatively, you could take a lift in the van part of the way (Classic and Harder routes). Whichever option you choose, it’s well worth stopping off at the café in El Portillo on the crater rim, which commands stunning views of the summit of El Teide (3718m).
After an otherworldly experience cycling through the moonscape of Tenerife’s central crater, you enjoy a wonderful 30km descent before a smaller (340m) climb back up to the hotel. We finish the day in Santiago del Teide at the welcoming Hotel La Casona del Patio with its museum of local agriculture and daily tea ceremony in the cosy atrium room (or opt for a cool beer, if you prefer!).
Classic route: 72km with 1500m ascent [ride profile]
Harder route: 86km with 2380m ascent
Challenge route: 118km with 2900m ascent [ride profile]
Day 5: Mascá and the mountains of Teno
The northwestern peninsular of Tenerife is a national park boasting truly spectacular mountain scenery. Your route today takes you into the heart of the Teno mountains, one of the three volcanic areas that form the island.
After a small climb to start the day, enjoy a descent to the wild seaside hamlet of Garachico on a series of tight switchbacks that have been carved out of a lava flow! Cycle along to Buenavista del Norte on the coast. Once there, you have the option of a ‘there and back’ detour on a narrow road to the picturesque lighthouse of Punta del Teno on the most western point of the island (Challenge route).
This gives cyclists on the Classic route a head start for the main climb of the day! Pass through El Palmar before riding on roller-coaster roads that hug the rugged cliffs towards the isolated hamlet of Mascá. Despite the rides being relatively short today, the gradients of Mirador de Cherfe at the end of the ride will ensure that you feel suitably challenged!
Classic route: 59km with 1750m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 77km with 2150m ascent [ride profile]
Day 6: Sea to Summit Teide Challenge
If you’re a purist, you’ll need to follow the Challenge route today, descending first to Puerto de Santiago, so you have the opportunity of cycling up Teide from sea to summit (an additional 1000m of climbing).
At the summit, we highly recommend a cool drink on the terrace at the Parador Hotel. Amazingly situated, the hotel welcomes pro teams from around the world for their winter training, so you may even get to do a bit of pro-spotting!
All that remains is to enjoy the fabulous descent to our hotel in Vilaflor, where your cycling adventure started 6 days ago.
Classic route: 55km with 1650m ascent [ride profile]
Challenge route: 95km with 2650m ascent [ride profile]
Day 7: Departure day
All good things must come to an end. We will transfer you back to Tenerife’s Southern airport (TFS) at scheduled times during the day.
Full travel advice (essential reading before booking your flights) and airport transfer timings can be found in our Trip Notes.
Trip Album
