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Santiago del Teide – La Orotava

150 km road cycling loop3,635 m climbing9½–13½ hoursGPX

Santiago del Teide, Canary Islands, Spain · Road

A mountainous 150 km road cycling loop from Playa de la Arena, Canary Islands through Tamaimo, Cortelanado and Los Quevedos, with 3,635 m of climbing over Montaña Picón del Pelado and the La Zapatera climb. Most of it (104.5 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane. There is a 28 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 90–118).

Route contributed by Stefan · Created from a ride on Thursday 27th July 2023

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
149.9 km
Loop
Elevation gain
3,635 m
24 m per km
Riding time
9½–13½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
91% paved · 8% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic
Mostly main roads
104.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane
Food & water
Longest gap 28 km
208 cafés and restaurants · 46 shops · 13 water points · 15 petrol stations · 12 public toilets · 2 bike shops
Best months
Sep to Jun
Santiago del Teide climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Playa de la Arena

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Santiago del Teide – La Orotava, Santiago del Teide

Elevation profile

Total ascent
3,635 m
Distance
150 km
05001,0001,5002,0002,500m0 km50100150 km2,363 m · highest, at 95.4 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Playa de la Arena
  2. Montaña Picón del Pelado
  3. Tamaimokm 5
  4. Cortelanadokm 26
  5. Santa Bárbara climbkm 29
  6. Los Quevedoskm 36
  7. La Zamorakm 47
  8. La Zapatera climbkm 48
  9. La Vizcainakm 51
  10. Playa de la Arenakm 150

This 149.9 km loop starts near Playa de la Arena and Puerto Santiago before passing Tamaimo, Arguayo, and Santiago del Teide early on. The first 13.4 km climb gains 1033 m at an average gradient of 7.7%, with some maximum pitches up to 18.4%. The route continues through varied terrain, including locations such as Icod de los Vinos at 27.1 km and La Orotava at 52.1 km. Another notable climb of 8.1 km between 28.7 km and approximately 36.8 km gains 389 m at an average gradient of 4.8%. A shorter 2.3 km climb starts at 42.7 km with 71 m gain. From 48.4 km, a long climb of 34.5 km gains 1958 m averaging 5.7%, reaching a peak elevation of 2365 m at around 82.9 km, the highest point on the route.

The route comprises mainly main roads (78%), with 91% paved surfaces and around 8% gravel or unpaved. The longest main roads include TF-21 (38.7 km) and TF-38 (24.8 km). There are no cycle lanes on 104.5 km of the route. The profile features 46% climbing, 42% descending, and 12% flat, with 42.9 km above 5% gradient. The longest descent covers 36.8 km dropping 2033 m.

Refuelling and facilities are available at the start near Mirador de Archipenque and SuperDino supermarket, at places like Icod de los Vinos and La Orotava, and near the finish with cafés, a bakery, and shops. There is a 27.8 km stretch without café, shop or water from 90.1 km to 117.9 km. A taxi ferry bailout point is near 133.3 km.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs Montaña Picón del Pelado (13.4 km at 7.7 %), the Santa Bárbara climb (8.1 km at 4.8 %) and the La Zapatera climb (34.5 km at 5.7 %).
  • Tops out at 2,365 m, 82.9 km in.
  • A 36.8 km descent dropping 2,033 m.

Highlights

  • Climb of 13.4 km gaining 1033 m at 7.7% average
  • Highest point at 2365 m near km 82.9
  • Longest descent of 36.8 km dropping 2033 m
  • Views near Montaña Blanca viewpoint at 84.3 km

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Tamaimo 5.2 km
  2. Arguayo 6.5 km
  3. El Retamar 8.5 km
  4. Las Manchas 9.2 km
  5. El Molledo 9.7 km
  6. Santiago del Teide 10.7 km
  7. Casas Altas 12.7 km
  8. Valle de Arriba 12.9 km
  9. Las Hoyas 12.9 km
  10. Los Partidos de Franquis 14.6 km
  11. Erjos 15.2 km
  12. San José de Los Llanos 16.2 km
  13. Ruigómez 16.5 km
  14. La Montañeta 20.5 km
  15. Los Majanos 22.5 km
  16. La Vega 23 km
  17. Las Canales 24.1 km
  18. Boquín 24.5 km
  19. Cruz del Camino 25.3 km
  20. El Amparo 25.6 km
  21. Cortelanado 25.6 km
  22. Icod de los Vinos 27.1 km
  23. San Felipe 27.6 km
  24. Santa Bárbara 29.2 km
  25. La Mancha 30.4 km
  26. Buen Paso 31 km
  27. Hoya Ana Díaz 31.9 km
  28. Las Sorribas 32.5 km
  29. Hoya Los Pablos 32.8 km
  30. Las Longueras 32.8 km
  31. Las Crucitas 32.8 km
  32. El Convento 32.8 km
  33. Las Montañetas 32.8 km
  34. Llano de Méndez 33.2 km
  35. El Pinalete 33.5 km
  36. La Cañada 34 km
  37. El Farrobo 34.5 km
  38. La Guancha 35 km
  39. Lomo Blanco 35.2 km
  40. San José 35.5 km
  41. Lomo Guanche 35.5 km
  42. Los Quevedos 36.4 km
  43. La Vera 36.9 km
  44. Fuente del Bardo 38.7 km
  45. El Mazapé 40.3 km
  46. Icod El Alto 40.6 km
  47. El Terrero 40.6 km
  48. La Gallinera 40.6 km
  49. Lomo Márquez 40.6 km
  50. Lomo de los Ajos 41.1 km
  51. El Lance 41.6 km
  52. Tigaiga 42.2 km
  53. Barroso 42.5 km
  54. La Alzadilla 43 km
  55. Madre Juana 43.2 km
  56. Palo Blanco 43.8 km
  57. La Azadilla 44.3 km
  58. Realejo Bajo 45.3 km
  59. Los Realejos 45.3 km
  60. La Carrera 45.3 km
  61. El Jardín 46.7 km
  62. La Cruz Santa 47 km
  63. La Zamora 47 km
  64. La Grimona 47 km
  65. La Puente 47.2 km
  66. La Cartaya 47.2 km
  67. La Marzagana 47.5 km
  68. Casa Nieves 48.1 km
  69. La Zapatera 48.4 km
  70. El Moñigal 48.4 km
  71. La Perdoma 48.6 km
  72. La Luz 48.8 km
  73. La Arbeja 48.8 km
  74. El Calvario 49 km
  75. Las Candías 49.3 km
  76. El Majuelo 49.3 km
  77. El Ratiño 49.9 km
  78. La Habanera 49.9 km
  79. La Quinta 50.2 km
  80. San Antonio 50.5 km
  81. San Miguel 50.8 km
  82. Cruz de los Martillos 50.8 km
  83. El Monturrio 51.1 km
  84. La Vizcaina 51.1 km
  85. La Orotava 52.1 km
  86. Dehesa Baja 52.1 km
  87. El Mayorazgo 52.1 km
  88. Dehesa Alta 53 km
  89. La Florida 53.2 km
  90. Hacienda Perdida 54.3 km
  91. El Sauce 55.1 km
  92. Colombo 55.6 km
  93. Pinolere 56 km
  94. Los Cominos 56 km
  95. El Bebedero 56.3 km
  96. Cañeño 57.4 km
  97. Chasna 58.6 km
  98. Bebedero Alto 60.7 km
  99. Cruz de Tea 61 km
  100. Aguamansa 61.5 km
  101. El Portillo 76.5 km
  102. El Portillo Alto 78 km
  103. Chío 123.8 km
  104. Los Gigantes 133 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Montaña Picón del Pelado0 km13.4 km · 1033 m · 7.7 % · max 18.4 %13.4 km · 1033 m · 7.7 %1136 m
Santa Bárbara climb28.7 km8.1 km · 389 m · 4.8 % · max 7.3 %8.1 km · 389 m · 4.8 %662 m
Unnamed climb42.7 km2.3 km · 71 m · 3.1 % · max 9.1 %—461 m
La Zapatera climb48.4 km34.5 km · 1958 m · 5.7 % · max 9.5 %34.5 km · 1958 m · 5.7 %2365 m
Unnamed climb95.3 km2 km · 46 m · 2.2 % · max 3.1 %—2082 m

High point 2365 m at 82.9 km; low point 64 m. Passes beneath Ñifa, Guama, Risco de la Punta.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Montaña Picón del Pelado · full ascent, starts at 0 km

13.4 km at 7.7% · 1033 m
2004006008001,000m9.0%18%9.4%7.3%6.9%7.5%6.6%2.8%6.1%9.8%3.7%0%0 km12345678910111213.6 km1,128 msteepest 17.6%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Santa Bárbara climb · full ascent, starts at 28.7 km

8.1 km at 4.8% · 389 m
300350400450500550600650m6.4%5.8%2.7%3.2%6.0%6.0%0 km12345678.1 km662 msteepest 6.4%

La Zapatera climb · full ascent, starts at 48.4 km

34.5 km at 5.7% · 1958 m
6008001,0001,2001,4001,6001,8002,0002,200m0 km23456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313234.7 km2,355 msteepest 8.5%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 70% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
78% main road · 8% quiet street · 6% path · 4% track · 4% other roads and tracks
Main roads
104.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Main roads used
TF-21 (39 km), TF-38 (25 km), TF-82 (9 km), TF-342 (9 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 91% is mapped as paved, 8% as unpaved or gravel.
Gradient
46% climbing · 42% descending · 12% flat
Steep sections
42.9 km over 5% · 4.2 km over 8% · 1.3 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 13.8% at 0 km
Longest descent
36.8 km from 113 km, dropping 2033 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 28 km, from km 90 to 118. Along the route: 208 cafés and restaurants, 46 shops, 13 water points, 15 petrol stations, 12 public toilets and 2 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0 kmMirador de Archipenque · café · 90 m off route
  2. 0.4 kmRepair stand · 80 m off route
  3. 5.2 kmPharmacy · on the route
  4. 11 kmDrinking water · on the route
  5. 16.8 kmToilets · 130 m off route
  6. 24.5 kmSpring · 120 m off route
  7. 33.8 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route
  8. 36.1 kmAltesa · supermarket · 40 m off route
  9. 39.7 kmDisa · petrol station · on the route
  10. 45.3 kmLos Remedios · pharmacy · 30 m off route
  11. 50.3 kmRepsol · petrol station · 120 m off route
  12. 51.9 kmLa Torrita · supermarket · on the route
  13. 55.9 kmCentro de Salud de Barroso · clinic · 50 m off route
  14. 58.6 kmWater tap · on the route
  15. 69.5 kmToilets · 40 m off route
  16. 78.1 kmemergency station SUC 112 · hospital · 120 m off route
  17. 86.8 kmToilets · 170 m off route
  18. 128.2 kmUnide · supermarket · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 133.3 km — Ferry, 630 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 0.4 km — Mirador de Archipenque (viewpoint)
  • 68.1 km — Mirador Piedra la Rosa (viewpoint)
  • 84.3 km — Montaña Blanca (viewpoint)
  • 92.3 km — Mirador del Llano de Ucanca (viewpoint)
  • 96.8 km — Mirador de Boca Tauce (viewpoint)
  • 100.1 km — Mirador de las Narices del Teide (viewpoint)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Playa de la Arena. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
Mirador de Archipenque (90 m), Vista Mar (150 m), Mamma Lucia (30 m)
Shops
SuperDino (160 m)

Know before you go

  • 104.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 27.8 km without café, shop or water from 90.1 to 117.9 km
  • 8% of route is gravel or unpaved surfaces
  • Some steep gradients up to 18.4% over 500 m at start

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

11 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Stefan
Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Santiago del Teide (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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