8 Things to do in Tenerife

And I swear it’s not only cycling

Tenerife is the must-go place for cycling addicts and many of you probably know it better than the locals, but I will go with some advice from my trip the past December.

Let’s start with the basics: the weather. I was very lucky and despite being December the weather was always sunny, with temperatures easily reaching 27°C. I bathed, I rode in summer kits and I never used the coat I was wearing while leaving Milano.

It’s not always like this, and the roads can go high, so make sure to pack different kind of clothes for any convenience.

And now let’s go back to business with my list of things to do while visiting Tenerife and no, not only cycling I swear!

(Some extra tips and reccomendations at the end)

1. Rent a bike and climb the Teide, of course!
2. Visit Taganana (by bike) and chill in Playa de Benijo
3. Visit Masca
4. Explore the many Charcos (Charco del Viento, Charco de la Laja)
5. Pay a visit to Icod de Los Vinos, La Orotava and San Cristobal de la Laguna
6. Beach Time: Playa las Teresitas and a hidden gem
7. Hiking the Pico del Teide
8. Eat Local: some food & wine inspiration

1. Rent a bike and climb the Teide, of course!

Teide is one of those climbs every cycling addict should do at least once in a lifetime. The ride till the top is long and can be consuming. There are 5 roads that bring you up there and on the web you will find loads of recommendation on which one is easier, truth is the meters of climbing are always the same, so it’s not like it gets any easier, just climb it from your nearest access point.

I did it from Guimar area, I rode up in the silence and peace of mind only long gentle climbs can gift you. If you love cycling, it’s an experience you deserve.

I was lucky and the day was extremely warm, but being the top really high, bring a wind jacket with you. And water bottles. There aren’t fountains where to refill them, make sure you have everything you need to make it till the top.

There is no other advice rather then “just go for it”

2. Visit Taganana (by bike) and chill in Playa de Benijo

Taganana is easily one of the most spectacular roads I ever climbed.

If the Teide is a must do for its lenght and status, Taganana is an absolute must do for the eyes.
The road starts going up in the town of San Andrès, after 8 kilometers of gentle hairpins and spectacular views you reach the top but don’t stop because the best has yet to come: ride past the dark gallery, start descending towards the tiny and cute town of Taganana and enjoy the views.
From there I reccomend to continue towards Playa de Benijo. The beaches on this coast aren’t gentle or suitable for bathing (unless you are a surfer), the Ocean here shows all its power, but you will be amazed by the scenery. Along the road you will find many restaurant offering fresh fish, make a stop for some happy local meal and a cold beer, you will thank me later!

3. Visit Masca

 

One of my favourite on-the-road trips I did was in Morocco and in Masca I found the same vibes of the oasis I met along the way somewhere on a long empty Moroccan road. Masca is another of the many must-do climbs, but pay attention because it isn’t as gentle as the Canarian roads tend to be and it can be really harsh.

The town is so small and the view so stunning that it deserves a visit and a coffee stop. There is also a spectacular trekking towards the Barranco, but it was so closed so I hadn’t the chance to do it, might be one of the many reasons to come back!

4. Explore the many Charcos (Charco del Viento, Charco de la Laja)

The “Charcos” are natural swimming pools, small protected paradises where you can bath listening to the roar of the ocean waves. There is a perfect timing to visit and enjoy them and it is when the tide is neither too high or low, so have a look at the forecasts before planning your visit. 

There are many Charcos in Tenerife, my two favourite ones were Charco del Viento and Charco de la Laja (see picture below!)

5. Pay a visit to Icod de Los Vinos, La Orotava and San Cristóbal de la Laguna

I hate touristic resort areas, I am kinda allergic to the fake buildings and crowds so I always try to avoid them and this is the reason I can’t give you any advice regarding the most famous beach resort areas.  But I can suggest three towns that kept their charme and are perfect for an evening walk and a nice dinner: Icod de Los Vinos, with its Thousand-year-old Dragon Tree and the Malvasia museum (to be fair the wine I tasted here wasn’t that great, but the location is really cute and incredibly cheap, so it is worth a visit), La Orotava with its House of Balconies and the many historic buildings and San Cristóbal de la Laguna with its streets populated by the tapas bars. 

6. Beach Time: Playa las Teresitas and a hidden gem

No matter if you are visiting Tenerife in Summer or in Winter, you deserve some beach time to work on your cyclist tan and a bath in the Ocean. I have a thing for white sand and the colours it gifts to the sea, but white beaches are not a thing on a volcanic island like Tenerife, except made for Playa las Teresitas. It is one of the most famous beaches and therefore quite crowded, but if you are looking for calm clear waters, you should pay a visit. Plus, it is located where the climb towards Taganana starts, so it is quite strategic. 

The hidden gem in the title is Playa Diego Hernandez, located near Costa Adeje, one of the most touristic towns, yet so far from the bathing establishments. There are only small paths bringing you there and the walk takes around 20 minutes, depending on how many times you get lost. If you want to run away from the all inclusive life, make a stop there. 

7. Hiking Pico del Teide

Climbing Teide along the Montaña Blanca trail means more or less 8,5 km and around 1200 meters of climbing, the path is well signposted and I absolutely hate hiking, but this is a must do. Mind that to reach the Teide peak at more than 3,700 meters above sea level you need a pass, so remember to book it.

If you aren’t up to hiking there is a cable car that can bring you up (or down) but you would miss the chance to walk through several different environments in only 8 kilometers: from the dry land to the snowy summit. Your legs, your choice!

8. Eat local: some food & wine inspiration

I truly hope you reader aren’t one of those people who when travelling only look for the comfort of a well know supper or those fancy restaurants that look nice, but also taste the same in Milano, New York or Tokyo. Don’t get me wrong, I like fancy dinners and you can have really good ones in the island, but at the same time you must open up to tasting local and less known traditional dishes in hidden places forgot by the tourists, it is always a nice way to get more connected to another culture.

In Tenerife there are many “Guachinche”, traditional restaurants offering local dishes. Some are more famous among the tourists and some are frequented by locals only, the traditional dishes go from the famous papas arrugadas with the mojos (really tasty small potatoes with the traditional sauces, you can find them everywhere in Canary Islands), the ropa vieja canaria (chickpeas with meat), gofio, all the great local cheese and the superb cooked meat finishing with the most popular desserts, the quesillo and my beloved bienmesabe.

For your fancier dinners, don’t forget to taste one of the many Malvasia (even tho I must say I preferred the ones found in Lanzarote) and the Baboso Negro, a rich red wine that pairs amazingly with some jamón de bellota.

And don’t worry about it, you are riding a lot during this holiday, you deserve it!

Extra tips: bike rental

The most frequently asked question: what about the bike? I rented my bike at Bike Point Tenerife, they have different shops around the Island and a large fleet of bikes you can chose from. You will find options for different budgets and needs: from the entry level models to the high range ones. I rented a really nice BMC Roadmachine with DB and Ultegra, the service was great and the bike was perfectly on point. I would recommend booking it in advance on their website. There are many cyclists eager to conquer the Teide and you don’t want to be the only one without a bike!

Ok, folks, that’s it and it took quite much, hope it will help out and if you need any specific advice, let me know. Enjoy!