Please note: This site may contain affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Contents
Motorcycle is hands-down the best way to explore Tenerife. If you’re short on time and want to explore the island, follow this guide to see as much as possible in one day on this motorcycle itinerary for Tenerife.
Tenerife is located in the Canary Islands, and is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful islands! There is such a variety of nature: from beaches to forests to mountainous terrain to volcanoes! The island is perfect for discovering different beaches and exploring Tenerife’s various terrains.
One of the best ways to see the island is renting a motorcycle! The hilly landscape and amazing views make it both a fun and beautiful ride that any motorcycle enthusiast would be amazed by.
In the height of the pandemic, I decided to move to Tenerife for two months. It was an amazing experience with such a digital nomad community! I had the time of my life, and still had some time to explore the island a bit! Renting a motorcycle was a MUST for me, so I created this guide to tell you about my experience!
There are a few ways of starting your trip. This guide will start at the south side, but you can do the same route from any destination.
Motorcycle in Tenerife Tour
I rented a motorcycle near Playa de las Americas/Los Cristianos and started from there. They had a range of bikes, but I’m a bit on a budget so I rented a Honda CBR125. It was smaller and slower than my bike at home, but still got the job done!! The shop let me sit on a few different bikes and decide which suited me best (plus the red looked oh so cool!). There are also several motorcycle rental places in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz.
The motorcycle rental place had some suggested routes, so I semi-followed one on their website. This was my experience doing it
Start: Head up to Teide
Your route will start by heading up into the mountains, where you’ll find forests and lots of greenery. It was very foggy when I went, but still very beautiful and a bit whimsical with all the fog. Bring a jacket because even with a summer jacket and a sweater underneath, I was freezing my a** off. It’s interesting to see some of the local towns on the way up and you can easily stop to get a coffee, although I may wait on that a bit because you’ve still got a long way to go.
Teide National Park
Leaving the forest, you’ll turn the corner, see a sign for Teide National Park, and be astounded by this amazing view. Pull over for some pictures and to take in the views from this altitude.
Lava fields
As you head down the mountain you’ll reach a vast, desert-like landscape, where you can see the volcano along with interesting rock formations. These are the lava fields of Teide. Everything you see here is made of volcanic rock. Be sure not to take any souvenirs though, as taking one of the rocks is illegal!
The ride is through wide, open air with lava fields as far as the eye can see. You’ll feel as if you were transported to another planet.
Here you’ll see start to see civilization again, with scenic points to stop at and hikers beginning their routes. As you continue on your way, you will also see restaurants and cafés to stop at in case you need a break.
Back to forest
Heading back down, you’ll go into the forest again, but this time you’re doing downhill.
THIS WAS A FUN RIDE. Winding, fun curves but not too difficult. I had so much fun navigating the route. Now you’ll be headed to a small little town called La Orotava. Once leaving the forest you’ll take a twisty road back down to the coast with great views of the ocean.
La Orotava
This small town is colorful and historical. It’s quite easy to find a spot to park your bike and simply walk around the historical city centre for awhile. The bridge connecting the older part of the city to the newer is absolutely beautiful and I wish I would have gotten a photo.
Puerto de la Cruz
After La Orotava you can head down to Puerto de la Cruz, a beach town full of shops and great restaurants. This is a great place to stop for lunch and walk around. For a motorcycle, it’s way easier to find parking. I had already explored Puerto on my own another day, so I decided to skip it for now and head to my next destination: Garachico.
Garachico
Take the exit off the highway to Garachico so you can see the Roque de Garachico on the way into the city. You can stop here, but really it’s just nice to drive along the coast. If you want to stop, go past the rock and you’ll find an outdoor restaurant area.
I was stopping every 3 minutes to take photos because it was just amazing. I was in love with this hidden beach that had locals soaking up the sun on black sand (pictured below on the right side).
As you leave Garachico you will have to head uphill so you can come down on the other side. The curves are sharp and steep on the way up so take your time and be careful! Eventually you’ll find yourself back in beautiful forested area. The drive here is really fun too.
Los Gigantes
Once you’ve made your way down the mountain you have the chance to do one last stop in Los Gigantes. This is a beautiful place, but is very close to the home base of Playa de las Americas, so don’t stress too much about it if you don’t have time today. I drove through the town and took a few photos.
Playa de las Americas
Finally, make your way back to your starting point: Playa de las Americas/Los Cristianos. Home sweet home. If you time it right, you may be able to ride along the coast right at sunset.
I hope this post helped you plan your trip on motorcycle in Tenerife. Also check out my video for a condensed version of some of the amazing places listed.