Spain Mount Teide (Puerto de la Cruz)
Mount Teide (Puerto de la Cruz) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

42.1
PDI
29.2 mi
DISTANCE
7,970 ft
GAINED
5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland; Ron Hawks, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

INTRO

This is known as the northern approach to that of several extraordinary segments to Tenerife's incomparable Mount Teide. 

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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Ride from the very popular tourist town of Puerto de la Cruz to the highest point on a paved road on Tenerife. Puerto de la Cruz is the 7th largest city on Tenerife and the 10th largest in all the Canary Islands. 
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ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
215.8
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DISTANCE
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ELEV. GAIN
Tenerife
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ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
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CLIMB SUMMARY

panoramic view of Mt. Tiede from the Puerto de la Cruz climb

Cycling Mount Teide from Puerto de la Cruz, Spain

Ride 47 kilometers gaining 2,429 meters at 5% average grade.

photo collage shows views of Mt. Teide along the Puerto de la Cruz north climb, including gorgeous sunrise over craggy mountains, moonscape landscape of the mountain

This is one of several climbs that end at the trailhead to the path to the top of Mt Teide and the highest paved road in Tenerife.

SIX POPULAR ROUTES UP MOUNT TEIDE

PJAMM Cycling map highlighting six of the most popular routes up Mt. Teide

PJAMM Google Map with six of the most popular routes up Mount Teide.

The routes in counterclockwise order beginning with Mount Teide in El Medano (Southeast):

  • El Medano: 38.3 kilometers gaining 2,289m at 5.7% average grade ending at the park sign on TF-21
  • Los Cristianos: 33.2 kilometers gaining 2,109m at 6.4% ending at the park sign on TF-21
  • Los Gigantes: 36.6 kilometers gaining 2,068m at 5.6% ending at highpoint on TF-38
  • Puerto de la Cruz: 47 kilometers gaining 2,429m at 5% ending at the highpoint on TF-21
  • Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 62.5 kilometers (longest climb in Europe) gaining 2,827m at 3.7% ending at TF-21 highpoint
  • Guimar: Ride 48.9 kilometers gaining 2,508m at 4.4% ending at the highpoint on TF-21

RIDE FROM PUERTO DE LA CRUZ TO TF-21 HIGH POINT

bike parked against retaining wall, beach and ocean in distance, Puerto de la Cruz

The climb begins at the beach in Puerto de la Cruz.

It’s a chore getting out of Tenerife’s seventh largest town and tenth largest in all the Canary Islands.  After a brief stretch coming up from the beach, we merge onto TF-31 until crossing under busy TF-5 and then turning onto TF-21.  This segment is 6.6 kilometers at 4.4% average grade.

high desert landscape on well-paved, two-lane highway roadway, Mt. Teide in distance

TF-21 is the only highway on the island that passes over Mount Teide and is the access road for the southern approach, as well as the Puerto de La Cruz northern approach, to the top of the volcano. Soon after turning onto TF-21, we encounter a series of nine hairpins, some quite long, that span 17 kilometers at 6.1% average grade.

photo collage shows high desert and rocky landscape on the way up to Mt. Teide  

At kilometer 38.7, TF-24 which services the routes from Santa Cruz and Guimar, run into TF-21 and the final 8.5 kilometers are through lava fields and the volcano’s caldera, ending at the highest paved point on the island.

photo collage shows lava rock, high desert landscape 

There are many great views of Mount Teide along the final kilometers of the climb.

panoramic view shows the El Teide caldera

The Teide caldera and the final kilometers of TF-21 to the finish.  

climb finish at Lomo Tiesco, the highest paved point on the island

The sign outlining the hike to Montana Blanca is our finish -

the highest point on any road on Tenerife.

This is also Montaña Blanca and the trailhead for the hike of 8.3 kilometers (5.16 miles one way) gaining an incredible 1,188 meters (3,897’) to Mount Teide Peak.  Note: To hike to Mount Teide summit you must have a permit (apply here).  The Teide Cable Car parking lot is just past the finish of our climb - Google Map of Teide Cable Car.  With a cable car ticket, one can hike to the top and ride the cable car down, but you’ll have to hike 2.3 kilometers back to the trailhead if you don’t have a ride at the bottom of the cable car.

FINISH TO VISITOR CENTER

panoramic view of craggy, rocky mountains in distance, scrub brush in foreground

Six kilometers from the finish to the Visitor Center; 2.3 kilometers to the Mount Teide Tram.

PJAMM Cyclist riding on two-lane highway roadway with Mt. Teide in background

The trip from the high point to the Visitor Center is generally down hill.

VISITOR CENTER

photo collage shows views inside and outside of Teide Visitor Center

Food, beverages, bathroom, and extraordinary views from the VC.

photo collage shows monument outside of visitor's center

TRAM

photo collage shows tram up Mt. Teide  

The tram is accessed 2.3 kilometers past the finish of this climb.  The tram will take you to near the top of Mount Teide.  If you wish to hike to the highest point in Spain, get those tickets well in advance of your trip - we were told two months at the information booth in October 2022 (Official Website).  Because of an unseasonal rainstorm the tram was not running during our trip.

informational signs for the tram up Mt. Teide

view of snow-covered Mt. Teide in March

Wintery conditions on Mount Teide in March.

photo collage shows PJAMM Cyclists with Tenerife Cycling Tours

Bike Point - five locations on Tenerife.

Center Photo - Alberto Delgado (center) - Tenerife Cycling Tours - HIGHLY recommended!

Bike rentals on Tenerife can be obtained via: (a) Bike Point (five locations), and (b) Free Motion which has Specialized, Cannondale, and Pinarello rentals and is endorsed by our cycling friend Bo Jensen, who has significant experience cycling the Canary Islands.

photo collage of Paradores hotel

Paradores are Spanish government owned luxury hotels.  The Parador on Tenerife is located at the Visitor Center and is the best location to stay, albeit pricey, for cycling the many routes up to Mount Teide.  The professionals stay here because it also provides altitude acclimation (situated at 2,100 meters).  The cost of Parador de Las Canadas del Teide was about twice the cost of our Vilaflor hotel (Villalba Hotel Spa; 85 versus 160 euros).