Puerto de la Cruz Recovery Ride

The route

This is a recovery ride by Tenerife standards - at 66km with 1,300m of elevation, it’s significantly easier than tackling Mount Teide, but still a substantial ride. Perfect for active recovery days when you want to keep the legs moving without the extreme demands of the island’s epic mountain climbs.

The route leaves from Puerto de la Cruz and follows essentially the same route as the Punta del Hidalgo ride, but stops at Valle de Guerra instead of going all the way to the coast. The tarmac is butter smooth and the route is undulating with climbs, including the same climb to El Portezuelo Alto near the airport before returning the same way via the same loop.

This would be a pleasant recovery ride if it wasn’t for the traffic. Like the longer Punta del Hidalgo route, it’s quite unbelievable how much traffic there is at any given point in time, since this road goes nowhere apart from the small towns along the way. The traffic issue impacts what should otherwise be a nice recovery spin.

Perfect for those rest days between big Teide efforts, or for cyclists who want to experience Tenerife’s roads without the extreme physical demands of the high mountain passes. The 1,300m of elevation is manageable and allows you to ride at a comfortable, conversational pace - if you can ignore the traffic.

Fueling up

There’s plenty of civilization along this route, with populated areas and small towns where you can find cafes and restaurants for refreshments.

At 66km with 1,300m of climbing, you’ll still want to carry water and snacks, but refueling opportunities are readily available throughout the ride. While this is considered a recovery ride compared to Teide, it’s still a proper workout. As with other Tenerife routes, bring some cash as you may not find fuentes along the way.

Tips

Safety first: As mentioned in the warning section on the Tenerife starting page, traffic is insane on this island, not in small part caused by the endless hordes of irresponsible and reckless tourists. This route suffers from the same heavy traffic as the Punta del Hidalgo ride. Make sure to be as visible as possible with reflective gear and lights, and keep your wits about you. When - not if - a mad person does something incredibly dangerous, you need to be ready to react.

This route is all about keeping the intensity manageable. With 1,300m of climbing, you’ll still get a workout, but focus on spinning easy gears and riding at a conversational pace. The goal is active recovery, not training stress.

Consider riding during the cooler parts of the day, either early morning or late afternoon. Given the elevation gain, you’ll still work up a sweat, so stay well hydrated and take your time enjoying the scenery along the way.