![panoramic view of cliffs of Roque de los Muchachos]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)
Ride 17.7 miles gaining 7,465’ at 7.4% average grade (9.7% climb only)
This is one of the most epic climbs in the world and ranked World #27 in difficulty. We made the two hour ferry ride from Tenerife and stayed two days just for this climb and Llano de las Animas (world #6). However, we feel like a solid five days riding on the island is justified.
![photo collage shows views of cliffs of Roque de los Muchachos, sign for Mirador el Serradero, sign for National park]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Roque de los Muchachos is truly one of the best bike climbs in the entire world.
Roque de Los Muchacho means “Rock of the Boys” and is a rocky mound at the highest point on the Island of La Palma. Also at the top of this climb are several observatories, with some of the largest telescopes in the world, constructed there because the altitude and dry climate provide for excellent observing conditions.
START
Mirador el Serradero
![photo collage shows climb start at Mirador el Serradero, aerial view of climb, looking down the cliffside at ocean below, PJAMM Cyclist rides bike across small bridge]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Climb begins at Mirador el Serradero at 256’ elevation.
![photo collage of coastal views of Roque de las Tabaibas]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Roque de las Tabaibas is a prominent focus from the Mirador at the start of the climb.
SEGMENT 1
Start to LP-1
![aerial drone view of switchbacks and curving road]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
11.75 kilometers at 7% average grade.
The first segment of the climb is from an unobstructed and spectacular view of the North Atlantic Ocean up a fun set of hairpins on LP 112 to its intersection with LP 1.
![photo collage shows KM markers 1 and 2, PJAMM cyclist rides on coastal highway]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
![Mirador de la Paz; terrestrial sphere with dove]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Mirador de la Paz at kilometer 4.8
Terrestrial sphere with dove as a symbol of peace.
![photo collage shows informational sign and Joshua Tree plants at Paqrue Tanausu]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Parque Tanausu at kilometer 8.
SEGMENT 2
LP-1 to LP-4 (Road to Roque de los Muchachos)
![mirror on roadway reflects tropical and evergreen trees, PJAMM Cyclist riding on two-lane roadway]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
3.3 kilometers at 6.6%.
![photo collage shows views from LP 1, two-lane highway roadway, sign for Sto Domingo]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
LP 1 circumnavigates the northern half of the island.
SEGMENT 3
LP-4 to Road to Roque de los Muchachos
![photo collage shows PJAMM cyclist riding on two-lane highway roadway, evergreen trees, sign reads "Atencion carretera de montana"]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
12.2 kilometers at 8.3%.
![photo collage shows alpine tree setting on two-lane mountain highway roadway]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
We are in an alpine setting the entire segment but for the last two kilometers before the turn to the observatories.
![photo collage shows PJAMM cyclist riding on switchback in roadway, alpine setting, road sign warns of falling rocks for 5 kilometers]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
![photo collage shows multiple informational signs reading "Reseva Starlight: La Palma," hairpin turn in roadway]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Placards on the hairpin at kilometer 25.3.
![photo collage shows PJAMM cyclist riding on two-lane highway roadway approaching the turnoff to Roque de los Muchachos Road; road signs]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Approaching the turn off to Roque de los Muchachos Road.
We pass the Visitor Center (15 euros for non-residents as of 2022) on our left just before turning onto Roque de los Muchachos Road.
SEGMENT 4
Start of Road to Roque de los Muchachos to Finish
![photo collage shows PJAMM cyclist riding on two-lane highway roadway approaching observatory on Roque de los Muchachos climb]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
3.9 kilometers at 7.3%
Learn about the Roque de los Muchachos telescopes at Instituto de Astroffisica de Canarias.
![photo collage shows PJAMM cyclist riding past three MAGIC telescopes on Roque de los Muchachos ride]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
3 MAGIC telescopes detect high energy gamma rays.
![photo collage shows distant views of telescopes; sign reads "Telescopio Nordico"]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
THE FINISH AND TOP OF THE VOLCANO
![photo collage shows PJAMM Cyclist standing next to monument and placard at climb finish past the observatories]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Climb finishes above the observatories - there are two fairly short hikes to viewpoints from the top.
![PJAMM cyclist rides on two-lane roadway with Gran Telescopio Canarias in distance]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
The world’s largest telescope - Gran Telescopio Canarias - 10.4 meters (34.1’).
“Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), the largest optical telescope in the world, with a mirror that has a diameter of 10.4 metres (34.1 feet). It is located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma (2,326 metres [7,631 feet]) in the Canary Islands of Spain. The mirror consists of 36 hexagonal pieces, which can be moved separately from each other, and the shape of each piece can be changed. These two types of movements can compensate for the changes in the observed light that are caused by turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere. The telescope is mounted in a system that moves both in altitude and in azimuth to observe any point in the sky. Construction of the GTC began in 2000; it made its first observation in 2007. The GTC is operated by a consortium of four institutions: the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics of Mexico, and the University of Florida” (Britannica.com).
![photo collage shows observatories sitting atop Roque de los Muchachos from aerial drone view]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Second best location for observatories in Northern Hemisphere behind Mauna Kea.
Established in 1985, there are roughly 16 observatories at the top of Roque de los Muchachos from countries including Spain, Britain, The Netherlands, and other countries.
![aerial drone views of cliffs of Roque de las Muchachos volcano]( "Cycling Roque de los Muchachos from the west (Canary Islands, Spain)")
Many of the observatories are near the steep cliffs of the Roque de las Muchachos volcano.
DangerousRoads.org writes of this magnificent climb:
“Roque de los Muchachos is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.423 m (7,949 ft) above the sea level, located on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain. It’s one of the highest mountain passes of Spain.
The road to the summit is called Carretera al Roque de los Muchachos. Fog, clouds and snow make the road dangerous. The road is 3.8km long starting in the LP-4 road. It’s asphalted and was built for access to the telescopes of an astronomical observatory near the summit. The road is really steep, with sections up to 12.0%.This immense climb is one of the best places in the world for stargazing. It is a drive-to summit, with a developed asphalt road right to the top, a parking lot right on the summit and an information booth right there. The drive is definitely worth it. There are many excellent photo opportunities. Don't forget your camera with lots of film/memory and fully charged batteries! The Roque de los Muchachos boasts one of the clearest skies on the planet thanks to the climatic conditions and its unique physical characteristics” (DangerousRoads.org).
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