Cycling Holiday Guide: Gran Canaria
Overview
Gran Canaria has quietly become one of the most complete cycling destinations in Europe. It is an absolutely stunning place to ride a bike. Much more than a winter sun escape, the island feels traditional, well-kept and is full of breathtaking vistas. You can start rides at sea level, climb to nearly 2,000 metres, and be back for a late lunch without needing a car or a long transfer.
If you’d rather take the hassle out of arranging it yourself, I plan and book cycling holidays in Gran Canaria — from flights and hotels to routes and bike hire.
Practical info
Fly into Las Palmas Airport (LPA)
Flight time is around 4 hours from the UK
Transfers from the airport to resorts take 20–40 minutes
Stay for 7–10 nights (you lose a day either side for travel)
Fly with or hire a bike - plenty of hire options
Best time to go is winter in the Northern Hemisphere (Oct-Mar)
Bring climbing gears (52/36 and an 11-30+ cassette at least) as the climbs are long and can get steep in places
Bring kit for varied weather, it can be very changeable especially in winter
When to go
Best time for a cycling holiday in Gran Canaria
The best time for a Gran Canaria cycling holiday is October to March. Temperatures average 19–24°C on the coast, cooler at altitude. The winds can be strong across the Canaries, but the Autumn should see calm days and plenty of sun.
Summer is good, it’s a year round destination but be aware it can get windy.
Where to stay
Where to stay for a Gran Canaria cycling holiday
For cyclists, the south of the island works best. Areas like Maspalomas and Meloneras (my particular favourite and often where I’ll base my clients) offer warm, dry conditions, quick access to climbs, and a good range of accommodation. Staying here keeps logistics simple and maximises riding time.
Be aware that there are some long term road closures on the island, the GC-500 for example has been closed between Taurito and Playa de Mogán at the time of writing for quite some time, you can get the ferry with your bike from Puerto Rico.
The Lopesan Costa Meloneras is a stunning hotel and a perfect base for the trip.
Gran Canaria cycling hotels and accommodation
Some fantastic options in Gran Canaria, particularly in Meloneras which is a quiet resort next to the larger Maspalomas and has a very upmarket feel to it.
Accommodation options are plentiful all along the southern coast whether you’re looking for a self-catered apartment or a bit of 5* luxury.
Bike hire in Gran Canaria vs bringing your own bike
Bike hire in Gran Canaria is very good, and you’ll see lots of cyclists out on hired road bikes including plenty of electric bikes.
If you’re bringing your own make sure you have compact gearing, and a climbing-friendly setup as the climbs are long and in some places pretty steep.
Also recommended are shallower wheels due to the high winds that whip across the island. Up to about 45mm depth you should be comfortable, but any deeper and you might find your bike starts to get very twitchy.
Where to ride
Gran Canaria cycling routes, climbs and road quality
So much climbing to choose from. But in contrast to it’s larger, more brutal neighbour Tenerife, Gran Canaria does at least give you some flat valley roads to warm up on.
The rolling coast road from Maspalomas to Puerto Rico is lovely, and the interior is incredible to ride in.
Road surface is what you’d expect from good Spanish tarmac, with the exception of a few sections of road (the section after Soria in particular) which have not been resurfaced in an age and are worn away.
The climb up to Pico de las Nieves is a must-do, Serenity is perhaps the most scenic climb in the Canaries and Valley of the Tears is a full day adventure.
Gran Canaria cycling routes and the Big Day Out ride
The Big Day Out ride - Pico de Las Nieves
Classic Gran Canaria cycling routes:
– The incredibly scenic Serenity climb
– Full day adventure to Valley of the Tears
– Mountain towns of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Tejeda.
Big Day Out:
– Sea level from Maspalomas to Pico de Las Nieves (read about this ride on the blog here)
Must-Do
When planning trips for my clients, route planning and itinerary scheduling is included as standard. Through a mix of real-world experience, state of the art heatmaps and plenty of time on Google Street View you can focus on enjoying the riding knowing you’re on the best routes around.
Rest Day
Off the bike
Things to do on your rest day
Puerto de Mogan - a beautiful harbour town on the south coast.
Puerto de Mogan
Beautifully well-kept, charming harbour town on the south coast. Hire a car and park up on market day, or get the ferry from Puerto Rico.
I recommend Restaurant Bolero for a spot of lunch and to watch the world go by.
Visit Tejeda
Winding mountain roads take you into the very heart of the island, and Tejeda is surrounded by stunning vistas and winding streets.
Burro Safari (Donkey Safari)
Hands down my favourite thing we did when we visited. It’s a family owned restaurant, where you sit down to a warm welcome from the owners on long wooden tables and food starts arriving course by course. It’s not expensive, at all. Just make sure you bring cash!
And they have loads of donkeys and I love them so I was well happy.
Summary
Who a Gran Canaria cycling holiday is best for
Best suited to
– Sun-chasing climbers
– Long days out
– Pro-Spotting in the Winter
Less suitable for
– Easy spins
– Summer escapes
Typical Canarian villages are nestled in the spectacular mountains
Planning a cycling holiday in Gran Canaria
I offer a comprehensive planning and booking service for cyclists wanting to take the hassle out of their next trip.
Flights with bikes included, cycling friendly hotels, easy airport transfers as well as a whole host of extra services such as complimentary route and itinerary planning for your trip.
For expert advice and to take away the hassle in planning your next cycling holiday, get in touch on the button below.
About me
I plan and book cycling holidays for individuals to large groups, handling all the details so you get a better trip without the hassle.
I run my own travel business through Travel Counsellors and have access to over a million hotels, villas and more worldwide.
You can reach me on the below, get in touch today to start planning your next cycling holiday.