Teide

Mount Teide offers one of the most unusual motorcycle rides in Europe. The route climbs from Tenerife’s lower landscapes towards the volcanic heart of the island, gaining altitude until the familiar coastal scenery gives way to an almost extraterrestrial landscape around Parque Nacional del Teide.

What makes the ride special is the constant change in scenery. Forested mountain roads gradually open into volcanic terrain, with dark lava formations, vast calderas and distant peaks replacing the greenery below. The road itself becomes part of the landscape, flowing through a setting that feels completely different from the Mediterranean island you left behind.

For riders, Teide delivers a rewarding combination of flowing corners, elevation and spectacular visibility. The higher sections offer long stretches of open road with sweeping bends, while the changing altitude keeps the ride interesting from beginning to end. On a clear day, the views extend far beyond the volcanic plateau towards the Atlantic.

This is not a mountain pass. It is a ride through an entire volcanic world.

Conditions on Tenerife can change significantly with elevation. It can be warm at sea level while temperatures around the Teide plateau are considerably colder, particularly outside the summer months. Visibility can also change quickly in cloud and mist. The roads around the national park are popular with tourists, rental cars and cyclists, so expect more traffic around the main viewpoints and visitor areas. Check local road conditions and access restrictions before riding, particularly after unusual weather.

The Ride Beyond Teide route begins in the lower elevations of Tenerife before climbing steadily towards the volcanic interior of the island. The road winds through changing vegetation as the altitude increases, with increasingly open views appearing between the mountain sections.

Higher up, the landscape changes dramatically. Forest gives way to volcanic rock, lava formations and the enormous caldera surrounding Mount Teide. The road becomes more exposed, with long sweeping sections that allow the scale of the landscape to take over.

At around 2,356 m, the route reaches its highest accessible point by road. From here, the volcanic plateau provides a completely different riding environment from the lower sections of the route, with Pico del Teide dominating the landscape above.

Leave the coast behind. Climb into the clouds. Ride into the volcanic landscape.