Road Cycling Tenerife – Los Gigantes Route

Los Gigantes gives this ride its big moment: enormous cliffs above Tenerife’s southwest coast, fishing villages below, and La Gomera visible offshore. But the real test comes afterward, with a 10-kilometer climb averaging 7 percent toward Tamaimo. This is road cycling, not a casual bike outing.

I like the tidy package: carbon bike, helmet, pedals, shoes, drinks, snack, and transfers are included, so you can ride without hauling your own kit. I also like the small maximum of 10 riders, plus the guide’s use of music to keep spirits up during the hardest stretches. The catch is clear: you need to be over 18, reasonably fit, and experienced with road-bike cycling.

Key points before you book

• 57 kilometers through Tenerife’s southwest: The route combines coastal roads, cliff views, mountain climbing, and a long descent.
• Los Gigantes is the scenic centerpiece: You stop to admire the immense cliffs before turning inland toward the main climb.
• The climb is serious: Expect 950 meters of ascent overall, including 10 kilometers at about 7 percent.
• A proper road-bike setup is included: Choose from Look Keo, Shimano SPD-SL, or SPD pedals, with cycling shoes supplied.
• Small groups keep the ride focused: The maximum is 10 people, with an expert guide leading the way.
• The price covers useful extras: At $101.27 per person, you also get hotel pickup at selected hotels, route transfer, water or isotonic drink, and an energy bar or gel.

Why the Los Gigantes route earns its place

Tenerife is often sold as a beach-and-pool destination. This ride shows you a different island. You leave the resort center of Playa de las Américas and head toward Adeje, then follow the TF-47 along the southwest coast.

That road links a string of smaller coastal communities, including Playa de San Juan and Alcalá. These are working places with fishing roots, not just resort strips. The route gives you time to see Tenerife in motion: dry coastal slopes, villages, ocean views, and the volcanic mass rising inland.

The star is Los Gigantes. The cliffs belong to one of Tenerife’s oldest mountain ranges, and their scale is hard to grasp from a quick roadside glance. You stop here to take in the rock walls and the open view toward La Gomera. It is a useful pause before the physical work begins.

This is not a route designed around frequent sightseeing stops. The stop at Los Gigantes is the named scenic break, while the rest of the ride is built around moving through the island. If you want a relaxed day with long photo sessions, this will feel brisk. If you want a proper ride with scenery folded into the route, the balance works well.

Leaving Playa de las Américas for the coast

The ride begins at Bike Experience Tenerife, at Centro Comercial Paraíso del Sol on Avenida V Centenario in Playa de las Américas. Hotel pickup is offered from selected hotels, and a transfer takes you to the route’s starting point. That matters in a resort area, where finding a suitable road-bike departure point can be more trouble than it sounds.

The route heads toward Adeje before joining the TF-47. This opening section helps you settle into the bike and the group. You will want to pay attention to the guide’s instructions, especially if you are using supplied pedals or shoes rather than your own familiar equipment.

The included carbon bikes are Look 765 or Bianchi Sempre Pro models. You can also use Look Keo, Shimano SPD-SL, or SPD pedals. That range is useful, but pedal compatibility is worth confirming when you book if you have a strong preference or normally ride with a particular cleat system.

A helmet is included, as are cycling shoes. The practical advantage is obvious: you can arrive with ordinary travel clothing and still have access to the main equipment needed for the ride. You should still expect to bring whatever personal clothing or protection you prefer for a three-hour road outing, since the package details do not list a full clothing kit.

Playa de San Juan, Alcalá, and the view toward La Gomera

Once the route reaches the coast, the ride passes through Playa de San Juan and Alcalá. These villages give the coastal section more character than a straight run between resort centers. You get a look at the inhabited side of Tenerife, with the sea beside you and the island’s higher ground rising inland.

The view toward La Gomera is one of the rewards of riding this side of Tenerife. On a clear day, the neighboring island adds another layer to the horizon. The route description promises magnificent views, but visibility can still depend on the day, so treat that as a strong possibility rather than a guarantee.

This section is also where the ride can feel most generous. You are covering distance, but the coast keeps changing. The villages break up the road, and the eventual arrival at Los Gigantes gives the first half a clear goal.

Do not confuse coastal scenery with an easy ride. The complete route covers 57 kilometers, and the listed total includes 950 meters of ascent. Even before the main climb, you are using energy. The supplied water or isotonic drink and energy bar or gel are small but useful touches, especially if you are not used to riding in Tenerife’s conditions.

Los Gigantes: the pause before the hard work

At Los Gigantes, the group stops to admire the cliffs. This is the route’s clearest scenic payoff and a good point to reset before the inland climb.

The cliffs are not just a backdrop for a quick photograph. They show the rugged scale of Tenerife’s volcanic terrain, with the mountain range dropping dramatically toward the sea. From the bike, you experience them as part of a larger route rather than as an isolated lookout reached by bus.

The stop also creates a natural division in the outing. The first part follows the coast toward the cliffs. The second part turns upward, toward Tamaimo. If you are judging the ride by scenery, Los Gigantes gives you the headline view. If you are judging it by cycling quality, the climb that follows is the main event.

A little pacing helps here. It is easy to spend your early energy enjoying the coast and then discover that the mountain section asks for more than expected. You should arrive ready for sustained effort rather than treating the cliff stop as the end of the ride.

The 10-kilometer climb to Tamaimo

The route’s main challenge is the ascent to Tamaimo: 10 kilometers at about a 7 percent gradient. That is a substantial climb for a three-hour outing, particularly when combined with the total 950 meters of ascent.

The wording matters. This is not a short hill followed by a gentle roll. You will be climbing for a sustained period, so your ability to ride steadily is more important than a burst of speed. A moderate fitness level is required, but the operator also specifically requires road-cycling experience. Those two points belong together.

If you are comfortable changing gears, holding a steady cadence, and managing a longer ascent, the climb should feel like a demanding but sensible target. If your cycling experience is limited to flat bike paths or short rental-bike trips, this is the wrong introduction to road riding.

The guide stays with the group and can help set the rhythm. A published comment highlights music from the guide as a useful boost during the hardest sections. That detail gives the ride a more personal feel, though you should not count on music replacing pacing, water, or fitness.

After reaching Tamaimo, there are only 3 more kilometers of climbing. That final section may sound minor, but it comes after the long ascent. The reward is knowing the route soon turns downhill through Chío and Guía de Isora.

The descent through Chío and Guía de Isora

The route then drops through Chío and Guía de Isora. The listed distance for the full outing is 57 kilometers, with 1,175 meters of descent. That is more downhill distance than uphill distance, so the return portion should feel quicker, though not necessarily effortless.

A long descent is still active cycling. You need to manage speed, corners, braking, and your position on the road. The guide’s presence is valuable here, especially in a group where riders may have different comfort levels on descents.

This section changes the feel of the day. After the sustained climb, you get the pleasure of moving back down through the interior toward the coast and the starting area. Chío and Guía de Isora help mark the transition from the mountain section back toward the resort side of Tenerife.

The route ends back at the meeting point in Playa de las Américas. The experience lasts about three hours, although the exact pace can depend on the group, stops, and road conditions. A transfer to the route’s starting point is included, and selected hotel pickup and drop-off are also available.

What the $101.27 price really covers

At $101.27 per person, this is not simply a guided ride where you bring everything yourself. The fee includes a carbon road bike, helmet, pedals, cycling shoes, expert guide, water or isotonic drink, and an energy bar or gel.

The pickup and transfer arrangement add value for visitors staying in the resort area. You do not need to arrange a separate vehicle to reach the route’s departure point, at least if your hotel is among those served. The route also ends back at the meeting point, which keeps the transport plan fairly simple.

Lunch is not included. That is not a major flaw for a three-hour activity, but it is worth remembering if you are planning a full morning around the ride. You receive a snack and drink, not a meal.

The strongest value comes if you are visiting Tenerife without your own bike. Renting a carbon bike, arranging pedals and shoes, finding a suitable route, and organizing a support vehicle would take time and could cost more. If you already have a high-end road bike with all your preferred equipment, the price may feel less compelling, though the guide and route planning still have value.

Who should book this ride

I would recommend this route to an adult cyclist who wants a proper road ride and sees the climb as part of the appeal. You should be comfortable on a road bike and able to manage a sustained mountain ascent.

It suits you especially well if:

• You want to see the southwest coast beyond Playa de las Américas.
• You prefer a guided route to planning roads and transfers yourself.
• You are traveling without your own road bike.
• You like a small group rather than a large cycling convoy.
• You want a mix of coastal views, cliffs, climbing, and descent in one morning.

It is less suitable if you want a gentle holiday ride, a family outing, or a sightseeing trip with frequent stops. The minimum age is 18, and the operator asks for moderate fitness and road-cycling experience. Those conditions should be taken seriously.

The maximum group size of 10 is a useful middle ground. It is small enough for the guide to keep an eye on the group, but large enough to provide company on a demanding route. You should still ask about bike fit and pedal choice before setting off, particularly if you are used to a specific setup.

Timing, meeting point, and cancellation

The listed meeting point is Bike Experience Tenerife at Centro Comercial Paraíso del Sol, Avenida V Centenario 2, local 5, in Playa de las Américas. The activity is listed for Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with operating dates shown through March 21, 2027.

Because the stated opening information is narrow, check the date and pickup details before booking. Confirmation is provided at the time of booking, and the tour is offered in English.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not refunded, and changes during that period are not accepted. The cut-off uses Tenerife local time.

Should you book the Los Gigantes ride?

Book it if you want Tenerife by road bike rather than from a coach window. The Los Gigantes stop gives you the memorable scenery, while the climb to Tamaimo supplies the real cycling purpose. The package is especially practical for visitors who need a quality bike, helmet, shoes, refreshments, and transport.

Skip it if you are not already comfortable with road cycling or if a 10-kilometer climb at 7 percent sounds unpleasant rather than rewarding. For the right rider, $101.27 is a fair price for a guided 57-kilometer route with equipment and transfers included. For a casual cyclist, the same route could turn a pleasant holiday morning into a very long one.

FAQ

How long is the Los Gigantes cycling experience?

The ride lasts approximately 3 hours.

How far is the cycling route?

The route covers 57 kilometers.

How much climbing is included?

The route includes 950 meters of ascent and 1,175 meters of descent.

How difficult is the climb to Tamaimo?

The main climb is 10 kilometers at about a 7 percent gradient, followed by another 3 kilometers of climbing.

What bike is provided?

A carbon road bike is included. The listed options are a Look 765 or Bianchi Sempre Pro.

Are pedals and cycling shoes included?

Yes. The available pedal types are Look Keo, Shimano SPD-SL, or SPD, and shoes are included.

Is a helmet provided?

Yes. Helmet use is included in the activity.

Are food and drinks included?

You receive bottled water or an isotonic drink and an energy bar or gel. Lunch is not included.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available from selected hotels, and a transfer to the route’s starting point is included.

What are the age and fitness requirements?

You must be at least 18 years old, have moderate physical fitness, and have road-bike cycling experience.