Road biking tours

There is very little traffic on most roads, and the highway system is considered to be the most extensive in the Canaries. None of the tours involves complex navigation through towns. Roads are numbered and are posted with kilometer markers, and intersections have clear directional signs.

Road cyclists are still a relatively rare sight on the island, so a degree of caution and disciplined group riding are recommended on some stretches of the north-south axis on the eastern coast. Fortunately, almost all of these hazardous locations can be circumvented via alternate routes. The pleasure of the ride is otherwise unmarred by the presence of heavy traffic.

One notable factor is the wind, which is omnipresent and usually blows from the northwest. It ranges from barely perceptible to a major influence on performance. On the positive side, it is almost always steady, with no gusting.

Tour 1: Prologue
Circular tour; 52 km, about 2 to 2.5 h; elevation gain/loss about 600 m
Las Playitas - filling station - Tesejerague - Tuineje - Las Playitas
Introductory; our "prologue." A great way to get in trim for an active week after travel.

Tour 2: La Pared
Circular tour; 83 km; about 3.5 to 4 h; elevation gain/loss about 1120 m
Las Playitas - Tuineje - Pájara - La Pared - Cost Calma - La Lajita - filling station - Las Playitas
This tour heads south along the west coast and presents a much more substantial gradient.

Tour 3: La Oliva "Kings' Tour"
Partly a circular tour; 130 km; 5 to 6.5 h; elevation gain/loss about 1430 m
Las Playitas - Tuineje - Antigua - Llanos de la Concepción - Tefia - La Oliva - Vallebron - Tefir - Triquivijate - Antigua - Tuineje - Las Playitas
A first relatively strenuous outing in terms of distance covered and riding time. The long ride time notwithstanding, the elevation gain is not out of the ordinary for Fuerteventura
-- considerable, but still within reasonable limits.

Tour 4: Las Hermosas
Circular tour; 84 km; 3.5 to 4 h; elevation gain/loss about 900 m
Las Playitas - filling station - La Lajita - Costa Calma - La Pared - Las Hermosas - Tesejerague - Tuineje - Las Playitas
Heading south, we approach the ascent to Las Hermosas from the west coast. Once there, we have two options: taking the direct way home along the highway, or following the scenic route past the plantations of Tesejerague.

Tour 5: Las Hermosas Extended
Circular tour; 100 km; 4.25 to 5 h; elevation gain/loss about 1500 m
Las Playitas - filling station - La Lajita - Costa Calma - La Pared - Las Hermosas - Cardon (Go Karting) - Pájara - Tuineje - Las Playitas
This trip begins with the same passage across the range of hills to Las Hermosas, but we then make our way directly back across the same ridge to the west coast. This second climb is very challenging and calls for solid advance training at home, or at least a front triple shifter.

Tour 6: Caleta de Fuste
Circular tour; 94 km; 3.5 to 4.5 h; elevation gain/loss about 765 m
Las Playitas - Tuineje - Antigua - Caleta de Fuste - Triquivijate - Antigua - Tuineje - Las Playitas
A somewhat flatter tour that takes us in the direction of the airport. An ideal stopover here would be Caleta de Fuste cove.

Tour 7: Betancuria Kings' Tour
Circular tour; 100 km; 4.5 to 5.5 h; elevation gain/loss about 1600 m
Las Playitas - Tuineje - Antigua - Betancuria - Pájara - Las Hermosas - filling station - Las Playitas
The Alpine tour. The goal is to conquer all the routes of interest over the hills in one day. A high fitness level is a necessity. This tour is definitely one of the absolute highlights among the many that we offer.

Tour 8: Ajui
Out-and-back tour; 70 km; 2.75 to 3.5 h; elevation gain/loss about 870 m
Las Playitas - Tuineje - Ajui - Tuineje - Las Playitas
The slightly longer "prologue." A cup of coffee in Ajui gives you the chance to forget your exertions and the return trip that lies ahead.

Tour 9: Central Plain
Partly a circular tour; 107 km; 4 to 5 h; elevation gain/loss 1050 m
Las Playitas - Tuineje - Antigua - Triquivijate - Llanos de la Concepción - Antigua - Tuineje - Tesejerague - filling station - Las Playitas
Deserted, one-lane asphalt roads lead to the striking landscape at the center of the island. A strong headwind on the first leg of the journey means a fast ride on the way back.

Tour 10: Betancuria, Variant 2
Circular tour; 120 km; 4.75 to 6 h; elevation gain/loss 1650 m
Las Playitas - Tuineje - Antigua - Ampuyenta - Llanos de la Concepción - Antigua - Betancuria - Pájara - Cardon (Go Karting) - filling station - Las Playitas
Crossing the central plain, we ease into the up-and-down grades around Betancuria. The nice thing about this tour is that it can be broken off at any time, if the idea of relaxing in a deck chair starts to seem too appealing. 

Tour 11: Betancuria the Hard Way
Circular tour; 120 km; 4.75 to 6 h; elevation gain/loss 1650 m
Las Playitas - filling station - Cardon (Go Karting) - Pájara - Betancuria - Antigua - Llanos de la Concepción - Ampuyenta - Antigua - Tuineje - Las Playitas
The climb up to Cardon from this side is an endurance test par excellence. If you haven't ridden enough during the winter, there's a good chance you'll wind up walking and pushing. Anybody who can zip up the relentless grades around Betancuria in a headwind has really done their prep for the summer season.

Emergency numbers
Playitas: +34 928 860 400
Emergencies: 112