5 Reasons to Cycle on Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is a land of eternal spring with a wonderful warm and mostly dry climate all year round. It is an ideal cycling destination, especially during the European winter! The volcanic geography of the island gives it a rich variety of landscapes to explore on two wheels. Both road and mountain bikers will find a mixture of easy and challenging cycling across the island. There is no chance of getting bored with such varied terrain! With the help of Gran Canaria Mountain Bike we have brought together 5 reasons why Gran Canaria should be your next cycling holiday destination!

#1 Varied terrain

Formed by volcanic activity, Gran Canaria, is an exciting jumble of steep inclines, smooth winding roads and coastal beauty. If you want a new challenge every day of your trip, Gran Canaria is the destination for you! The highest point of the island is around 2000 m and as you get higher the arid rocky landscape is transformed into a green pine clad paradise. Much of the island is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and you are sure to see much flora and fauna as you cycle. It is a wonderful place to explore by bike. There are monster inclines of 20% gradient or more and many also have difficult road surfaces, just to make scaling them a bit more difficult… For mountain bikers there are mixed rocky and soil trails with plenty of different terrains to explore.

 

#2 Quiet routes

Gran Canaria is a popular holiday destination, but it is not so well known as a cycling destination. While this is set to change as this unique gem becomes more well known, for the time being it is easy to have many of the routes to yourself. This is especially true if you visit outside of the peak season (February to Easter), when the weather is still ideal for cycling! It is a great feeling to be soaring down the winding roads without too much competition for the road.

#3 Stunning scenery

The island offers a unique mix of golden sand beaches, high mountains and green valleys set against the deep blue of the Atlantic all around. Whether you begin your cycle from the coast or from one of the mountain tops you will see how the landscape gradually changes from sand to rock to green or vice versa. Birds of prey will circle above you and you will see many different species of bird and lizard as you explore the island and its unique habitats.

 

#4 Perfect Climate

Gran Canaria enjoys spring and summer weather all year round with temperatures ranging between 18 °C and 24 °C. It provides the ideal conditions for cycling with November and December having between 4 and 5 days of rain on average with fewer for the rest of the year. The weather at lower temperatures tends to be better with more rainfall in the mountains, so it is a good idea to be prepared if you come later in the year.

#5 Things to do

If you want a break for cycling during your stay, there is plenty of other activities and things to do on this holiday island. Most visitors gravitate to the south of the island where you will find the resort towns of Maspalonas and Puerto de Mogan. Here you will find some of the best beaches and water sports to match! Gran Canaria is also a fantastic hiking destination and it gives you the chance to see some of the island’s unique flora and fauna up close. You can also easily visit one of the neighbouring Canary Islands or go on a whale and dolphin watching tour.

We hope you have been convinced to visit this fantastic island for your next cycling adventure! Make sure to check out Gran Canaria Mountain Bike and find out all about their tours. They know the best spots and will ensure you get to see the best of what the island has to offer.