• Distance 177 km
  • Elevation gain 3,977m
  • Difficulty
  • Epic rating

Page Contents

Looking for a big day out on your road bike in Tenerife? Want to experience some of the island’s most striking and diverse landscapes? Well, this challenging loop ride has it all!

From the blue Atlantic Sea to sweeping pine forests and green mountains, Tenerife’s natural beauty keeps on giving on this memorable tour of the island.

The vast, volcanic landscapes of Teide National Park lie at the heart of this route and feel worlds away from the island’s buzzing coastline.

This route is brought to you by Epic Road Rides reader, Claude Léger. He is regularly found cycling in Tenerife and can’t wait to share this ride with you. Over to Claude…

GPX DownloadTerms of use reminder

Highlights

This is a long, tough ride with so much to savour along the way! Here are some standout moments that I always look forward to…

  • The 36 kilometre climb from El Médano to Granadilla. It just keeps on going and takes you all the way up to Vilaflor and the entrance of the Teide National Park. A great start to the loop ride.
  • The first glimpse of Padre Teide (“Father Teide” is what the locals call it!) and cycling alongside it never gets boring.
  • The astonishing 27 kilometre ride inside the Teide National Park between Boca Tauce and the Teide Observatory. You are at an altitude between 1,900 metres and 2,330 metres above sea level at this point in the ride. The volcanic landscape is out of this world.

Ride notes

1. El Médano to Boca Tauce: 0 – 40km

Your ride starts from the seaside town of El Médano. Time to start the day with a big 36 kilometre climb!

You cycle up to Granadilla on the TF 64. Then carry on up to the village of Vilaflor on the TF 21 road.

The landscapes and vegetation change considerably as you climb. Initially you cycle alongside arid cactus and vegetation. These start to give way to Canary Island Pines before you reach Vilaflor.

Vilaflor sits at the entrance of Teide National Park and is a good place for a quick coffee!

From here you continue to climb up through pine forests to the entrance of the amazing Teide National Park, home to mind blowing volcanic landscapes.

After a while you begin to descend for about three kilometres to Boca Tauce.

2. Boca Tauce to Arafo: 40 – 98km

The 48 kilometre ride from Boca Tauce along the TF 21, to the intersection of the TF 24 and TF 523 road is a magical section through the Teide National Park. The roads are extremely well maintained.

Then, you descend around 18 kilometres to Arafo through dense, fragrant, pine forests.

Be aware! The road surface is not new and some cracks run (mainly) perpendicular to the road. You’ll need to be careful on the descent and keep your wits about you!

3. Arafo to El Médano: 98 – 177 km

You descend on the TF 525 for approximately five kilometres from Arafo to Güímar

Then you ride on the TF 28 from Güímar to Chimiche for 42 kilometres. This landscape is really arid with shrubs and views of the Atlantic Sea.

In Chimiche, you take the quiet, gently sloping TF 636 for nine kilometres.

The final descent to El Médano is on the TF 64 for about five kilometers.

Café stops

Vilaflor

Vilaflor would be a good first stop; it’s a nice place to refuel mid climb. Restaurante Teide Flor at the intersection of TF 51 and TF 21. There is also the Supermercado Tajinaste on Calle Sea.

The Catalina bar is closed on Mondays. It is the first street on your right on TF 21.

Vilaflor also has a petrol station, ES Dias Vilaflor de Chana. It is found around the corner of TF 51 and TF 21.

Teide National Park

Your next stop would be inside Teide National Park.

You can stop at the Café & Bar Los Roques in the Hotel Parador. You can also bring your bicycle inside the cafeteria!

Another option are the facilities at the Teide Cable Car. However, it is around 400 to 500 metres of additional climbing off the TF 21. The cable car is worth the effort if you can though and the views are stunning. From the cable car you can also walk up to the summit of Tiede volcano. It’s about a 200 metre walk.

Top tip! To reach the summit of Tiede you need to apply for a permit. The permit is free but you’ll need to apply well in advance of your visit. At least four months!

Your last option would be just before the TF 24 turn off. There are two restaurants which sit across each other on TF 21, Restaurante Bambi and Restaurante Papillon.

Güímar and Villa Arico

There a number of cafés and/or bars found in Güímar.

Café Jerónimo in Villa Arico is also found on the final TF 28 stretch; it’s useful for a pick-me-up later in the day!

Accommodation

El Médano is a small seaside town in Tenerife with a laid-back feel.

The town is a good base for anyone wanting to take on this tour of the island ride (and others nearby)!

The town is buzzing with surfers and kite surfers and shops and amenities are easily accessible by foot. There are several hotels and Airbnb’s to choose from in the town.

There is also a great bike shop called Bike Point Bike Shop. You can rent road bikes from here. Ask for Michael when you arrive!

El Médano is also only 15 minutes away from the nearest airport, which makes it a great option for ease of access. You can easily rent a car from the town.

Tips for cycling this loop

Tenerife boasts a pleasant year-round climate. But the best time of year for cycling is between early November to the end of April and early May.

During January and February, the temperature differences between the coast and up to Teide can be quite different. So pack accordingly (see below).

You may come across pro cyclist teams whilst cycling on this route! Most of them stay at 2,000 metres of altitude and can often be found at the Parador hotel. They are usually friendly.

The road surface in Tenerife is generally exceptional, especially in the Teide National Park. However, there are some stretches that are less well maintained where you will need to be a little more careful. See our advice for descending into Arafo above.

There are a few key factors to consider while riding in Tenerife:

  • Consider bringing warmer layers and items like a vest, arm warmers, and a buff. These items are especially useful if you are planning to tackle the ride during the winter months.
  • Don’t underestimate the climbing on this loop; there’s a lot of it early on in the day! Take your time and make the most of places to refuel.
  • The wind and temperature differences from the coast and up into the mountains can vary greatly. Check the weather forecasts at key places before setting off and be prepared.

Read our tips for cycling in Tenerife, before you set out.

Found this guide useful?

A massive thanks to Claude for this epic loop ride suggestion! We’d love to hear from you if you have tried it for yourself – comment below or drop us a line.

For further Tenerife inspiration check out Claude’s other ride suggestions from El Médano here and for cycling La Masca here.

You can also see our ultimate guide to Tenerife, as well as more ride suggestions below:

Please support Epic Road Rides

A huge amount of time and effort goes into the article you’ve just read, all with the aim of helping you!

If you found what you’ve read useful, I’d really appreciate it if you dropped something in the tip jar here.

It’s a way you can say thank you and help us carry on creating top quality content with no annoying ads and no pay wall.

Leave us a tip here!

Looking for an organised cycling trip?

If you want someone to help you plan and book your cycling holiday, fill out this form. We aren’t a tour operator/agent but we work with lots of people who are and will do our best to put you in touch with someone that can help (within 24 hours where possible)!

We will use this info to send the enquiry to Claude and/or their team. Our privacy policy explains more and here’s a reminder of our disclosure policy and terms and conditions.

Claude Léger

Claude is an avid cross-country skier and cyclist who is passionate about inspiring others to embrace a healthier lifestyle through sports. As a world traveller, he has enriched his experiences by participating in international skiing and cycling races across diverse cultures. Notably, he completed the Canadian Ski Marathon and several Worldloppet events between 1990 and 2000.

After a career with the UN and Canadian government, Claude shifted focus to the cycling industry. He has consulted for companies like Blade Carbon Wheels and Beet It, promoting their products in Canada and abroad. A pivotal moment came in 2006 when he completed l’Étape du Tour de France, igniting his passion for international road cycling.

Currently, Claude is an ambassador for Pactimo and is a contributor to Epic Road Rides. He is dedicated to discovering new cycling destinations and sharing his journey on social media, encouraging others to pursue their cycling passion.

Last Reviewed: 06 September 2024

All metrics in this article are approximate.

The contents of this website are provided for general information purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on it. You should carry out your own due diligence and risk assessments and take professional advice. Views expressed by interviewees or other users of this website do not necessarily represent our views. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our website is accurate, complete or up to date. If you use any information or content on this website, download from, or otherwise obtain content or services through our website, it is entirely at your own discretion and risk. Epic Road Rides Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the information and content on this website. Find out more here.