If you are still unsure about a good destination for training or for a beautiful holiday with guaranteed high-altitude experiences in every ride, then definitely take a look at Tenerife. This Canary Island has good conditions all year round for training, and you can also climb the magical El Teide there. That is not a walk in the park, of course. If you are going to cycle on Tenerife for a week or even five days, then the ideal rest day is also important. Training gets tiring, and recovery is of great importance. We wrote in collaboration with our partner Tenerife Some great ideas to make the most of your rest day. Cycling in Tenerife: the ideal way to spend a day of rest. Are you joining in?
Read also the experiences of Ruth: Cycling in Tenerife: from lighthouse magic to the Vuelta al Teide
Discover the most beautiful animals around Tenerife
On a day off, you should especially not want to do too much. If you’re not the type who likes to sit still, you can go whale watching or bird watching on the island. The south-west coast of the island is the ideal place to watch whales. In Tenerife, there are many companies that organize excursions so that you can admire the whales in the wild. Boats depart from the harbors of Los Cristianos, Puerto Colón, and Los Gigantes. You can choose between a short excursion (about three (3) hours) and a long excursion (five (5) hours). Whatever you want. You can discover 21 (!) different types of whales and yes, that includes dolphins! Through this link you can choose from the many companies that offer excursions.
Watching birds
There are about 70 different species of birds that live on the island, some of which are endemic. There are 21 different spots where it is ideal to spot these birds. These spots are distributed throughout the island.
Cycling in Tenerife: the ideal day for rest is a day at the beach
If you are going on a cycling holiday in Tenerife, you also want to experience a piece of island life. The best way to do that is on the beach. If you then want a real day of rest, you can place your parasol in the sand and enjoy beautiful sand and a view that you won’t be able to take your eyes off. In terms of location, the south is always recommended. It is definitely nice weather there anyway. The beaches on the north side are certainly beautiful too, but if you want guaranteed sunshine. Of course, always check the weather forecast on the Tenerife website. There you can search for your favorite beach. There are almost 100 beaches to choose from, so there is something for everyone! Our tips:
- El Duque Beach: quiet, a beach with the blue flag (clean water), sand and with all the amenities. This beach is close to Costa Adeje with good connections to the whole island
- Charcos Beach: these are of course pools created by nature (due to volcanic eruptions. For more information on this see the next section). link.
- In Arona you will find the sandy beach of El Camison. Here you can completely relax, although you will have to deal with a bit more people. If you like being around people, this is a good choice.
You can find all the beaches and filter options here here
Visiting Teide
The Teide and the national park can also be visited by non-cyclists. That is to say: you can take beautiful walks (a bit less suitable for a day off), go up the cable car (very nice views), or visit the observatory. You have to do this through the company Volcano Life. They provide guided tours (in Spanish, German and English). The botanical garden on this volcano is also definitely worth a visit. All in all, you can spend days in this beautiful area. Even if you don’t cycle. Or, if you don’t cycle. Ideal for a relaxing day out. Just make sure to apply for a permit if you’re going on the marked trails. Do this in time! You can get the special access here to questions
Into the woods
On the north side of the volcano you can find the forests of Corona Forestal. What’s in a name? Perhaps the best region to truly retreat into nature. You are guaranteed shade, because you are in the forest. It is the largest protected area of the Canary Islands, a haven for the most beautiful populations of pine forests and mountain vegetation of Tenerife. With an area of about 50,000 hectares, it is the ideal place to discover the rich indigenous flora and fauna.
Enjoying the view
If you can enjoy any part of the view, it’s on the Teide. But there’s so much more. In the north, you have the most beautiful view of the Teide. But you can also see the beautiful Atlantic Ocean from other places on the island, or you can look at the other islands, like Gran Canaria and the relatively nearby and unknown La Gomera. On the website of the Tenerife tourism office you can find all the beautiful viewpoints in a row. There are more than 40 (!) of them. And if that still doesn’t calm you down, then we don’t know what else will.
Ultimate peace and quiet: a day in Spa
Many hotels on the island have their own spa or relaxation area. That’s definitely a must-try, for example in combination with a nice massage or another treatment. There’s hardly anything more relaxing than that. The Bahia del Duque spa That’s the most relaxing place to be at that point. If you’re in the area, book a day in this wellness area. Pure luxury, but you’ve earned it after such a strenuous effort.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.