Bike infrastructure

Biking is a big topic on Tenerife, but the focus is clearly on road biking. There are numerous rental stations, particularly in the south, some of which also offer mountain bikes. However, mountain biking is a niche here, even though there are many very good trails - but they are all forbidden. There is no other region in the world with such a high density of no-biking signs. But obviously nobody cares. Only at weekends do you occasionally get snapped at by locals. As a rule, however, you are completely alone on the trails - which makes the prohibition signs irrelevant. There are only two trails built by or for mountain bikers on Tenerife (as of winter 2024).

If you need a bike store on Tenerife, you will find one in the south in particular. Here there are very high-quality specialist dealers with competent mechanics and available replacement equipment in almost all areas.

Bike character

In the center of the island lies the 3715-meter-high Teide. This is surrounded by a national park in which biking is strictly prohibited and enforced by numerous rangers. The island can be divided into four regions around the national park: the dry south, the volcanic west, the wooded north and the wild east. In terms of trails, the west and the north are the two most attractive regions for mountain bikers.

• West: The region is characterized by lava fields through which attractive single trails run. The descents to the north coast in particular are very good (and less frequented). The descent to Garachico, for example, which is considered one of the most beautiful coastal villages in Spain, is outstanding. There are virtually no hikers in this region.
• North: In the forests between the national park and the (heavily) populated north coast, there are many well-developed trails and the options are almost inexhaustible. A major forest fire raged here in the summer of 2023, but the trails suffered virtually no damage or were quickly repaired. The region is characterized by large and impressive pine forests. There are virtually no trails in the densely populated area below the tree line, while the area above the tree line is part of the national park. Bike activities are therefore concentrated in the forest belt, with a few exceptions. There are virtually no hikers in this region.
• East: In the east, in the region of the capital Santa Cruz, the focus is on the Anaga Mountains. There are many great and flowing routes with city access here. The further east you go and the closer you get to the sea, the rougher the trails become. Hikers are primarily out and about here at the weekends, usually locals.
• South: The south coast is the island's tourism hotspot. This is where you will find the big hotel castles, and almost all racing cyclists start from here. In terms of mountain biking, this is the roughest area of the island as it is very rocky. The higher up, the smoother the trails are. In the unspoilt coastal regions between the individual towns, you will find an extensive network of flowing trails, which are also very popular with local mountain bikers. Most hikers can be found in the south, but they are generally easy to deal with. They are usually holidaymakers from the coastal region. On Tenerife, it is often the locals who tell the mountain bikers off.

All regions of Tenerife are easily accessible by car. There is a highway around almost the entire island and the roads into the mountains are well developed. For mountain bikers, it is advisable to set up a base in a well-developed location and then drive to the individual bike spots in a rental car. The towns of Los Cristianos, Las Américas and Costa Adeje are not recommended, as they are dominated by an ugly and hideous form of tourism.

Season

In principle, Tenerife is a year-round island. In the summer months, however, it gets very hot in the southern coastal regions, and mountain biking is then concentrated at higher altitudes or in the northern regions. The entire winter and spring have established themselves as the ideal period for mountain bike trips.

More tips

• There are direct ferry connections from Tenerife to Gran Canaria, La Gomera and La Palma. A short trip of several days by rental car to one of the neighboring islands is an interesting option.
• The island of Tenerife has been comprehensively prepared in the Ride Trail Map and all possible bike trails are marked with difficulty. In total, the web map contains a route network for Tenerife of over 1500 kilometers.