El Teide

Riding up from the sea to the clouds was always going to be a pretty mad experience, but then continuing on past the clouds and seeing them from above is something else entirely.  

El Teide is a monster. But it’s an incredibly rewarding climb and a huge achievement once you’d ticked it off.

Where: Tenerife, Canary Islands

Best time of Year: September - December

Total Ascent: 2,095m

Length 32.7km

Av. Gradient: 6.5%

Segment: Check it out here

Early On

The day starts with a hearty hotel breakfast, and preparing for all weather by putting on suncream as well as packing a waterproof. The high mountains of the Canaries can be changeable all year round so always be prepared. 

The ride out from Los Cristianos has you on the pedals straight away, as the climbing begins in earnest from the very bottom. The first long sweeping right hand bend opens out to a view of the rocky landscape speckled with white buildings below running into the ocean beyond.

Settle in, this is going to take a while. 

The Climb

For one thing, navigation on this route is pretty straightforward and could be done by following the road signs alone. But be wary, after you’ve already been climbing for a while and take the left turn in Arona, it will tell you there are still 40 kilometres left to climb… Not strictly true, but demoralising if you’re not on a good day that’s for sure. 

It keeps on going up, with little to break up the sections between towns other than some music in your ears and ticking off the switchbacks as you go. 

Vilaflor

If you’re wanting to stop on the way up, Vilaflor is ideal and there are coffee stop or corner shop options. Refill the bottles, don’t buy the sugar free sweets from the counter that was a mistake, and off you go. 

This is where it really starts to get good, you leave Vilaflor and it becomes less barren, more forested. The tarmac throughout is perfect, but this section feels particularly nice to ride. 

Into the Clouds

As you wind through the trees you will almost certainly have been climbing for over an hour by now, which is a long time to be going uphill. But thankfully the scenery is spectacular and the sun usually is shining. 

Once you reach the top you’re greeted with the perfect sign to stop and have a picture at, as well as some pretty spectacular viewpoints. But the final kicker is the slight descent and then final few metres of climbing before you’re into the crater of the national park proper. As if all that climbing wasn’t enough. 

El Teide

Take it all in, it’s a truly spectacular place and once that never feels quite real. Choose to carry on and descend the Western side or head back down the way you came which is more technical but I prefer it at least. 

Back before lunch all being well, and now to spend the afternoon by the pool… Same again tomorrow? 

For more information about cycling in Tenerife, or to chat about your next trip, get in touch below.