February 20-27, 2027
Gran Canaria
Bike all the way around Gran Canaria, the “miniature continent” — a fully supported, 8-day, 400 km journey around the island, from volcanic peaks and palm-filled canyons to Atlantic sea cliffs and harbor towns, in the warm sun of a Canary Islands winter. Hotel-based.
February 20-27, 2027
Grand Canary Island, Spain; Hotels
Fundraise or Pay $3,800
Event Details
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change; your Ride Guide will include full details.
Day 1 — Saturday, February 20: Arrival in Maspalomas
Accommodation: Hotel Dunas Suites & Villas, Maspalomas
Today you arrive in Gran Canaria. We’ll meet you with a private transfer for the 30-minute drive to Maspalomas on the island’s sunny south coast. Settle in at the hotel, take a swim in the pool, and shake off the travel. Tonight we’ll gather at the hotel to meet one another!
Day 2 — Sunday, February 21: Soria Loop
Distance: 70 km | Elevation gain: 1,170 m | Accommodation: Hotel Dunas Suites & Villas, Maspalomas
This morning we’ll pick up and fit rental bikes, then roll out along the coast before turning inland through a valley lined with lava cliffs. A steady 9 km climb takes us to the mountain village of Soria (600 m), where we’ll stop for lunch at Casa Fernando. We return the way we came, which means a long descent back to the coast. It’s a good first day to find your legs and get a feel for the island’s roads.
Day 3 — Monday, February 22: Fataga and Santa Lucía
Distance: 67 km | Elevation gain: 1,300 m | Accommodation: Hotel Dunas Suites & Villas, Maspalomas
Today we climb 7 km to the Mirador de Fataga for views over the Gran Canyon, continue 4 km to the village of Fataga, and then take on the Pipeline climb (4 km, 8% average) up to Santa Lucía (980 m) for lunch. A fast, twisting descent leads through the town of Doctoral, where we’ll stop at a local bike shop, before the last 15 km back to the hotel. With a tailwind, that stretch tends to turn into a group paceline.
Day 4 — Tuesday, February 23: Maspalomas to Agaete
Distance: 91 km | Elevation gain: 2,555 m | Accommodation: Hotel Roca Negra, Agaete
Today is the longest and most demanding day of the tour. This “playa to playa” stage crosses the island from the dry south to the green northwest, passing through several of Gran Canaria’s climate zones along the way. We finish in Agaete on the northwest coast, where we stay for two nights.
Day 5 — Wednesday, February 24: Agaete Valley (optional ride)
Distance: 20 km | Elevation gain: 511 m | Accommodation: Hotel Roca Negra, Agaete
Today is a recovery day, so you can ride or rest. The optional ride is short but steep, climbing into the Agaete Valley, home to Europe’s only coffee plantation, and finishing at the harbor in Puerto de las Nieves with a fish lunch. If you’d rather stay off the bike, spend the day at the natural sea pools or at the hotel spa.
February 25: Agaete to Mogán
Distance: 67 km | Elevation gain: 1,430 m | Accommodation: Hotel Mogán Valle, Puerto de Mogán
Today we ride the dramatic west coast, including 16 km of road that follows the cliffs above the sea. The route also goes through a 3.25 km tunnel that has a well-lit cycle track. After a steep descent through open country, we’ll have a late lunch in Mogán and then take a narrow road down to the harbor town of Puerto de Mogán.
Day 7 — Friday, February 26: Mogán to Ayacata to Maspalomas
Distance: 70 km | Elevation gain: 1,900 m | Accommodation: Hotel Dunas Suites & Villas, Maspalomas
The final day takes us into the high interior. From the coast we’ll climb 10 km back to Mogán, then ride the Serenity climb (9 km, about 7% average), which locals consider the island’s most beautiful climb. After a refuel stop at Barranquillo (980 m), we push on to Ayacata (1,303 m) for lunch. A long descent goes past Cruz Grande, Risco Blanco and San Bartolomé, down the Pipeline to Fataga. Then a last zigzag climb takes us to the Mirador de Fataga, which often becomes a friendly race to the top. From there it’s a 7 km descent to the bike center, and tonight we celebrate the week with a farewell dinner.
Day 8 — Saturday, February 27: Departure
Today the adventure comes to an end. Airport transfers depart from the hotel about 2.5 hours before your flight. If you’d like to stay longer, Gran Canaria is easy to extend. More information will be available in your Ride Guide.
FAQs and More Info
What is included? Not included?
Included:
- Airport transfers
- 7 nights’ accommodation (all 4*)
- 7 breakfasts, lunches, 6 dinners
- Support vehicle
- Daily luggage transfer between hotels
- GPX files
- Amazing camaraderie and life-changing cycling, of course!
- Ocean swims (swimportunities)
- The joy and satisfaction that you’re helping support vital non-profit work
Not Included:
- One dinner
- Travel to/from Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and extra snacks
- Pre- and Post-trip accommodations
- Single supplements ($700)
- Travel/supplemental medical insurance (required for international trips)
What level is this ride? Can I do it?
This tour is rated Intermediate to advanced. It suits riders comfortable with guided multi-day touring, variable coastal wind and weather, steep climbs, and daily distances up to 100 km. E-bike rental is available if you want to do every mile!
Arriving & Departing (Important Information)
Arriving
On February 20, please arrive at the Gran Canaria Airport (LPA).
Departing
On February 27, the trip concludes, and we’ll offer transfers to the airport.
What kind of bike do I need?
A road or road e-bike is recommended. Rental bikes (including e-bikes) are available. There are multiple rental options that cost ~ $300 for the week.
Options include:
- Cannondale Synapse Carbon 2 Ultegra Di2 (endurance geometry): €44/day
- Cannondale SuperSix EVO Ultegra Disc Di2 (race geometry): €44/day
- Specialized Tarmac SL8 Expert, SRAM Rival eTap AXS (race geometry): €45/day
- BH SL1, Shimano 105 Di2 (endurance geometry): €35/day
- Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3, Shimano 105: €32/day
- E-bike: Specialized Turbo Creo 2 COMP Carbon 320Wh: €43/day
What’s the weather like in Gran Canaria in late February?
Late February is a great time to ride in Gran Canaria. On the coast, daytime highs are usually around 20–21°C (68–70°F) and nights cool to about 14–15°C (57–59°F). The island gets about seven hours of sunshine a day in February and only around three days of rain all month. Sunrise is around 7:30 am and sunset is just after 7 pm, so there’s plenty of daylight for riding.
The weather can change a lot within a single ride. The trade winds keep the north of the island greener and cloudier, while the south, where we start and finish, is dry and sunny. Temperatures drop as you climb, and on Day 7 we reach Ayacata at 1,303 m, where it can be noticeably cooler and sometimes cloudy or misty. The highest peaks get close to freezing on February nights and see the occasional dusting of snow, though our route stays well below them. Long descents can feel chilly even on a warm day.
What to pack: bring a packable wind jacket, arm and knee warmers, and full-finger gloves for the climbs and descents, plus sunscreen for the coast. The ocean is about 19°C (66°F), which is refreshing for a swim after a ride, and the hotels have heated pools if you’d like something warmer.
What are the travel documents/passports required for traveling to Gran Canaria?
You will need a valid U.S. or E.U.passport (valid for at least 3 months, or you can be denied entry). If you are a passport holder from another country, please check your country’s regulations.
Accommodations & Single Supplements
This is an all-hotel, double occupancy trip. The single supplement fee for the entire tour is $700.
Is my U.S. medical insurance valid while traveling outside the U.S.? Should I get travel insurance?
Travel/supplemental medical insurance on international Climate Ride trips is required. Many domestic health insurance companies do not provide coverage outside of the United States, and before leaving for the event, travelers should speak with their healthcare providers to determine if they will be covered. Several private insurance companies offer short-term travel/medical insurance. Check out Allianz Travel Insurance, World Nomads, or other comparable companies.
Remember, travel insurance can only cover expenses you have paid for (flights, additional hotels, etc). It cannot cover your fundraising. Be sure to read the fine print on the travel insurance that you buy.
Can I use my U.S. debit or credit card?
Yes, credit cards and debit cards are accepted in towns and tourist areas. But don’t expect to use your credit card everywhere. When we are in smaller villages, you may want local currency to purchase incidentals.
Where do my proceeds go?
This is a special Climate Ride Funders Trip, and your fundraising goes directly to the programs that drive our mission. It underwrites Green Fondo events, funds scholarships that put young sustainability leaders in the saddle, and powers our Justice & Access Grants. It also supports our bikepacking program, which gives grants to trail coalitions and helps cyclists build independence and grit.
Riding the miniature continent is half the fun. The other half is helping grow Climate Ride into an advocacy powerhouse for active environmental philanthropy and lasting sustainable solutions.
Climate Ride holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator (its highest) and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar). All donations are tax-deductible. Grantee selection is not available on this trip.
Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
| $500 | 10/20/2027 |
| $2,300 | 11/19/2027 |
| $4,600 | 12/22/2027 |
Transfer Deadline: There are no transfers for this event. Donations are non-refundable.
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!
Photo Gallery
Full Event Story
Your Canary Islands Adventure Awaits!
Join us on a cycling tour all the way around Gran Canaria, an island in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa with mild, sunny winters. Trade the cold for warm days on the bike as we ride from sandy beaches into the volcanic mountains and back to the sea.
This 400 km, eight-day loop is a great trip for riders who love to climb. It packs nearly 9,000 m of elevation gain into six riding days. Gran Canaria is often called a “miniature continent” because its landscape changes so quickly: dunes and beaches in the south, canyons full of palms, pine forests in the high interior, and steep cliffs along the west coast. It’s also a well-known winter training base for professional cyclists, thanks to its smooth roads, long climbs and dependable sunshine.
We start in Maspalomas on the sunny south coast and warm up with a ride inland to the mountain village of Soria. Next we climb through the Fataga canyon and up to Santa Lucía, then head out on the longest stage of the week, which crosses the island from the dry south to the green northwest. In Agaete we stay two nights, with a recovery day to swim in the natural sea pools or ride through Europe’s only coffee plantation. From there we follow the west coast, along cliffside roads high above the Atlantic, to the harbor town of Puerto de Mogán. On the last day we take on the Serenity climb, one of the island’s most beautiful, up to Ayacata at 1,303 m. Then we descend through San Bartolomé and Fataga back to Maspalomas for a farewell dinner.
Ride Highlights
- Circle the island: one of the only fully supported tours that loops all of Gran Canaria.
- Famous climbs: Serenity, Soria, and the Fataga “Pipeline,” all well known to cyclists who train on the island.
- Changing landscapes: beaches and dunes, palm-filled canyons, pine forests, and Atlantic sea cliffs, sometimes all in one day.
- Winter sun: coastal highs around 20°C (68°F) and about seven hours of sunshine a day in February.
- Fully supported: a support vehicle carries water, snacks and spare parts, and your luggage travels between hotels for you.
- Recovery day in Agaete: ride a short optional loop or spend the day at the sea pools and spa.
Is This Ride For You?
This tour is rated challenging. Riding days are 67–91 km with 1,170–2,555 m of climbing, which works out to about 4–5 hours in the saddle each day, plus one optional 20 km day. Riders should be comfortable with multi-day riding, long sustained climbs, and long, winding descents. A support vehicle travels with the group every day. E-bike rental is available for riders who want extra help on the climbs. This is not a beginner ride.
This is a Climate Ride Funders Trip — every dollar you raise goes straight to work for Climate Ride, no grantee selection required. Your fundraising directly supports the programs that drive our mission: underwriting Green Fondo events, funding scholarships that put young sustainability leaders in the saddle, and powering our Justice & Access Grants. Winter sun on Gran Canaria’s climbs is only half the adventure. The other half is helping build Climate Ride into an advocacy powerhouse for active environmental philanthropy and lasting sustainable solutions.
