Road Cycling from Las Palmas: Routes into the Hills
From city loop to Pico de las Nieves: tours with map and profile
Road cycling from Las Palmas ranges from a short city loop to Teror, Arucas, the Pinos de Gáldar and Pico de las Nieves. The routes use rougher roads for slow climbing and better roads for descending. You also get maps, elevation profiles and tips on gravel bikes, brakes and punctures.
Overview
Road cycling from Las Palmas starts on the coast. After a few kilometres, you are already in the hills. The routes here were planned for beautiful scenery and for roads with as little traffic as possible. You can choose from four tours into the interior of the island: the Teror loop, the climb to Cruz de Tejeda, the Pinos de Gáldar and Pico de las Nieves.
How the Routes Are Planned
Roads with a rougher surface are used mainly for climbing. Speed is low there, so bumps do not matter much. For the fast descent, the routes use the better roads. There you can ride safely and relaxed, even at high speed. We also prefer links with little traffic.
What Is Special About Road Cycling on Gran Canaria
- Climbs: The best routes lead into the mountainous centre of the island. Most have at least 500 metres of climbing, and some climbs and descents are very steep.
- Gearing: A low gear ratio works well, for example 50/34 at the front and 11–34 at the back. On gravel bikes it is even lower, at 46/30.
- Brakes: On long descents, use both brakes. The front brake should do most of the work. If you brake only with the rear brake, it overheats and the rear wheel can lock. This can cause a fall.
- Punctures: Spines from the prickly pear cactus (known locally as tuna) often lie on the road. On gravel tracks, sharp volcanic rock is another risk. Carry a spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump.
- Traffic: Outside the towns there are no cycle lanes. Most visitors find that drivers are considerate and keep their distance when they overtake.
- Route planning: Choose route suggestions from local people. Strava routes from locals are often training routes and may not suit visitors. Google Maps is not very good for cycling routes. Special cycling apps work better.
Gravel Bike Instead of Endurance Road Bike: The Light Alternative
Besides classic endurance road bikes, light carbon gravel bikes are a very good alternative. On Gran Canaria, steep climbs of more than 20 per cent are not unusual. A very low gear ratio makes these steep sections rideable. The slightly larger brakes and the wider tyres give you more comfort and control on fast descents and on poor road surfaces. Gravel bikes are not made for long off-road routes either. Mountain bikes are better for that.
Getting There and Transport Connections
All tours are planned around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and several of them include Vegueta, the old town. The short loop to the botanical garden starts there.
From Gran Canaria Airport (LPA), you can reach Las Palmas by Global bus, by taxi or by private transfer. If you bring your own bike, check the luggage space before you book a transfer.
If you prefer to rent a bike, Bikestation Las Palmas 24 is in the Santa Catalina hotel zone. It rents carbon endurance bikes and gravel bikes.
Nearby Attractions
| Place | Why visit | Related tour |
|---|---|---|
| Vegueta | Old town of Las Palmas and start of the botanical garden loop | Botanical Garden – Vegueta |
| Botanical garden | Garden with Canarian and exotic plants | Botanical Garden – Vegueta |
| Bandama | Volcanic crater area with far views | Zardo – Bandama – Vegueta |
| Arucas | Town with a large neo-Gothic church | Arucas – Firgas – Teror |
| Firgas | Town known for its spring water | Arucas – Firgas – Teror |
| Teror | Historic town with the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pine | Arucas – Firgas – Teror |
| Pico de las Nieves | The highest point on the island | Las Palmas – Pico de las Nieves via Teror |
| Pinos de Gáldar | Stop in the hills on this tour | Valsequillo – Pinos de Gáldar – Tamaraceite |
The short loop to the botanical garden is the best start. It begins in Vegueta. Use it to test your gearing, your brakes and your own pace before you ride into the hills. The other tours lead into the mountains and are demanding.
Often, yes. Light carbon gravel bikes have a lower gear ratio for climbs of more than 20 per cent, slightly larger brakes and wider tyres. This gives more comfort and control on fast descents and poor road surfaces. Gravel bikes are not made for long off-road routes.
Outside the towns there are no cycle lanes. Road cyclists share the road with cars. Many visitors find the drivers considerate and report that they keep their distance when they overtake.
Use both brakes and let the front brake do most of the work. If you brake only with the rear brake, it overheats, the rear wheel can lock and the tyre can wear down to the fabric layer.
A spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump. Prickly pear spines often lie on the road, and sharp volcanic rock is common on gravel tracks. Punctures can therefore be more likely here than in many other regions.
Not always. In snow or ice, the roads GC-130 and GC-134 near the summit can be closed, as happened in December 2025. Before you ride up, check the current notices from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria.