Less than 200 miles off the coast of Morocco is a volcanic archipelago that reminds many of Tahiti. And while Tahiti is decidedly French, the Canary Islands are an integral part of Spain. A 3-4 hour flight from London, Paris, or Barcelona, the Canary Islands are to Europe what Hawaii is to the United States.

With cheap flights, smooth roads, and a subtropical climate with great year-round weather, European cyclists have been arriving in the Islas Canarias for decades. Notoriety came after various Pro Cyclists, including Team Sky, realized a competitive advantage by selecting a high-altitude hotel to serve as an early-season encampment. Following in the tracks of their heroes, who loved their early season rides through an exotic paradise, over a quarter-million enthusiastic cyclists now flock to the Canary Islands each spring for a warm week of early season conditioning.

Cyclists aren’t the only travelers with a fanatical love for the Canaries. Tens of thousands of hikers arrive for their spring week. Jan and I also met avid biologists and bird watchers in search of species that can’t be found in Europe or America. Outnumbering all others are the sun worshipers who arrive for a relaxing car-free week at one of the archipelago’s 500-plus beach resorts.

As we traveled between these islands in search of great cycling, Jan and I were amazed by the diversity of scenery and geography. The Canary Islands offer a greater range of diversity than any place we’ve previously experienced. Pristine beaches, dense jungle, pine forests, arid deserts, active volcanoes, towering peaks, banana plantations, deep gorges, sprawling vineyards, and red-rocked canyonlands. This will be, without doubt, the widest range of scenic cycling Santana has ever combined in a single event.

A Spanish “autonomous community,” Islas Canarias is a warm and friendly place where motorists travel at low speeds and are respectful of cyclists. While the Canaries have a few cities (none are half as large as Honolulu), most of the population resides in smaller coastal towns. Roads through island interiors link over 200 classic European villages where cyclists can easily find drinks and snacks.

Are there organized cycling tours of the Canaries? Surprisingly, no. As is the case with Hawaii, it’s simply too tough to transport bikes from one island to another. Nearly all who arrive for a week of cycling only experience rides on one island, which is a shame because the six largest Canary Islands have diverse scenery and extensive networks of paved roads.

What’s missing? Americans! Until this past year there were no direct flights from the U.S. to the Canary Islands. Even now, only a small percentage of your biking friends are aware of the #1 destination for European cyclists. How many Americans have cycled multiple Canary Islands? Less than one hundred.

Always on the lookout for new destinations, Santana Adventures has chartered a luxurious yacht-dimension cruise ship with 95 elegant staterooms, for a 9-day 2026 cruise that will allow at least one fabulous ride on each of the archipelago’s main islands—and two rides apiece on the islands we liked best. Moreover, Santana’s combination of a yacht and strategic pre-ride “boosts” not only get you to the next island, they allow a ride start that’s thousands of feet higher than the finish, which is always at the ship. You won’t need “pro” fitness to enjoy a healthy vacation in the exotic Canary Islands, where volcanic landscapes, golden beaches, and lush tropical valleys merge with the endless Atlantic blue.

Photo Itinerary

Canary Islands 2026

Embark and disembark will occur on the island of Tenerife, which receives nearly 200 flights from Europe each day. Americans can easily arrive via a quick connection offered by all three airline alliances.

Our embark day warmup ride leaves from the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to follow a low-traffic coastal road to reach its terminus at the blufftop village of Igueste de San Andrés (elevation 150’).

The serpentine ascent with lots of scenic turnouts passes a famous pair of contrasting beaches with Saharan gold or volcanic black sand. During this delightful warm-up spin our team of pro mechanics will be on hand to make sure your bike (or rental bike) is fully prepared for the following week of cycling.

Day 2 — The cyclists who joined Santana Adventures on the Island of Maui will always remember their descent from Haleakala Volcano National Park. The volcano at the center of Tenerife’s National Park is 2,000 feet taller and considerably more dramatic. From the high-altitude lodge where we start our second day’s ride we’ll fortify ourselves with a velvety barraquito served in a glass mug.

As with Maui’s most memorable ride, the choice of twisting descents from Teide will pass through a dozen or more microclimates, including lunar lavascapes and forests of canary pine, eucalyptus, African palm, giant agave, and cactus.

Back aboard the ship after a mostly downhill day, you can enjoy a beer or wine near the pool or one of the hot tubs before we depart Tenerife to sail into the sunset.

Day 3 — A third day of cycling showcases La Palma, the Isla Bonita of the Canary Islands, where nature’s spring artistry is on full display. Your day begins with a gentle ride through ocean-view villages with colonial-era architecture. The sweet scent of flowers and tropical fruit guide us to the famous vineyards of Malvasía. Originally planted by Romans, these small plots near the southern tip of La Palma are believed to be the planet’s oldest acreages of continuously cultivated wine grapes. Extolled by no less a wine expert than Shakespeare, we’ll pause at a classic bodega to sample the nectar and verify the playwright’s review.

Less than 60 years ago, the vineyards were nearly uprooted by the birth of Teneguia, a “baby” volcano that extended the spine of the island by finding a spot between the aforementioned bodega and a pair of lighthouses at La Palma’s southern tip. From where we sample wine it’s a mild downhill ride to the National Park Visitors Center at the upper edge of Tenegua’s crater. From there, a short yet vertiginous hike along the volcano’s ragged crown reaches the viewpoint where you’ll get an eagle’s view of the lighthouses, 2200 feet below.

Strong riders will love today’s extra-miles option that descends through fields of ripening grapes and bananas to pass the lighthouses before returning via a different switchback route up through Tenegua’s rugged field of black lava. An easy return to the ship uses corniche roadways reminiscent of those carved into the Mediterranean Coast near Monaco.

What could be more magical than a resort with gourmet dining that casts off each evening to transport you to a distinctly different cycling paradise while you sleep and dream?

Day 4 — At the edge of an archipelago that hosts millions of visiting cyclists, the tiny airport and short runway of La Gomera has prevented 99% of the connoisseurs of Canarian cycling from reaching this island and adding it to their top-ten list of favorite days spent on their bikes. Fortunately, our small ship will have no trouble transporting us and our bikes to this rare destination for a fourth fabulous day of unforgettable cycling.

The entire Island of La Gomera is the ancient remnant of a single gargantuan volcano. As with other days on Santana’s more challenging cycling cruise itineraries (and many of the days on this amazing itinerary), a few early-morning minutes in the reclining seat of a touring coach provides an easy way to reach an inland summit for a day that would otherwise start with two hours of rigorous climbing. Arriving at the center of La Gomera is a bit like stepping into a slightly tamer version of Jurassic Park. All three of today’s “mostly downhill” routes will traverse a primeval jungle with tall hardwoods and giant ferns. Descending out from Garanjonay National Park to reach the island’s tall edge, the expertly graded road weaves in and out of rocky canyons that fall to the sea.

Along the way, even the shortest route passes through at least one of the cliff-hugging villages perched over the ocean. At this village we’ll pause to discover a pair of world-famous specialties that are unique to this island. The first is almogrote, which will be spread on freshly baked bread. The second is Silbo Gomera, a whistled language developed by early inhabitants to communicate across the island’s wide ravines. Still useful for La Gomera’s rural inhabitants, this Unesco-protected language is taught in the island’s schools.

Days 5 & 6 — While Tenerife has the tallest volcano and hosts the most pro racers, Jan and I prefer the slightly smaller island of Gran Canaria. We are particularly proud of two days of routes we developed that string together a dozen picture-perfect villages during gradual day-long descents from starting points that are twenty miles inland and a mile higher than the port.
GranCanaria-2-scaled image

On this magnificent pair of days, the first few miles feature dense pine-scented forests. Longer options include more miles and easy ascents. The longest option on the first day climbs the island’s highest stretch of asphalt to obtain rewarding views from Pico de las Nieves (Peak of Snow). The other day’s longest option loops through rugged red rock canyons with tall spires to allow a break at the center of historic Tejeda.

All route choices for both days feature smooth pavement and an abundance of scenic overlooks. One particularly awe-inspiring viewpoint allows you a downward gaze across the gaping maw of a mile-wide crater that’s backlit by a sparkling sea.

Shortest options allow plenty of time to explore the variety of colorful villages without the need to worry about steep climbs. This pair of full-day rides on one island were so spectacular that we negotiated a longer charter so we wouldn’t need to choose between them—or skip the diversity of one of the other six islands.

Another benefit is that both of our days on Gran Canaria finish at our ship’s dock in the small city of Las Palmas, where our overnight stay is near the lively beachfront boardwalk, and a short stroll from the finest shopping and dining districts in all of the Canaries.

Day 7 — Whereas our previous days cycled volcanic islands that are younger, Fuerteventura’s eruptions and tall peaks have gone missing for millions of years. Unrestrained by mountains, the tradewinds blow across without forming clouds or leaving precipitation. This decidedly flatter island feels like Southern Arizona, complete with arroyos, dunes and cactus.

Pedal past picturesque windmills and sleepy Spanish hamlets, where locals smile and time slows down. Why do millions of European tourists prefer this Canary island to all of the others? Cloud-free skies plus a dizzying array of accommodations sharing endless stretches of sandy shore.

Our shortest routes on this seventh day of cycling trace Fuertaventura’s Riviera, passing thousands of resort rooms facing dozens of miles of white sand beach. Along the way you’ll pass dunes and stop to watch kite surfers. Plenty of places where you might pause to enjoy a warm swim, refreshing ice cream, or tropical cocktail. Longer routes loop inland to find weathered hills, ancient windmills, and bright fields of aloe.

Day 8 — Did we save the best for last? While pro cyclists love Tenerife for its variety of volcanic ascents, and beachgoers love Fuerteventura for its sprawling sandy shoreline, the top-rated Canary Island destination for cycling enthusiasts is Lanzarote.

Cycling in Lanzarote is like riding through an artist’s wildest dream, where the earth is painted with volcanic fire and the ocean sparkles like liquid silver. Start your day gliding along smooth roads carved into black lava fields, the stark beauty of Timanfaya National Park stretching around you like a scene from another planet. The wind whispers secrets of the island’s fiery past as you climb gentle hills, and are promptly rewarded with sweeping vistas of golden sands along turquoise waters.

Pedal through whitewashed villages, their charm heightened by the contrast of the cobalt-blue sky. Stop at a hidden bodega for a taste of local wine, where each vine is lovingly nurtured in a volcanic micro-crater that seems to defy nature itself. As you return to the ship for dinner and we sail into the sunset, you’ll take one last gaze over the surreal landscape of Lanzarote.

Day 9 — Cruising into Tenerife in the early morning hours, participants will be able to reach Tenerife’s TFS or TFN Airports in time for a late-morning departure.

The world of cruising has changed. After decades of ever-larger ships, the newest and most innovative ships are distinctly smaller, and designed for travelers instead of tourists. By design, these yacht-size cruise ships are able to reach niche destinations that larger ships can’t enter. Perfect for a hand-tailored cycling experience.

In late 2020 we heard about a new cruise line being launched by a wizened group of cruise veterans from around the world. Synthesizing decades of experience on cruise ships with countless stays at stylish hotels, these worldly travelers created something entirely their own. Atlas Ocean Voyages has developed a new concept for cruise travel. They’ve taken the sophistication and luxury of a boutique resort hotel and transformed it into a marriage of modern and vintage in their new fleet of “luxe-adventure” cruise ships.

We are proud to announce that we have chartered Atlas’ World Navigator for our 2026 Canary Islands Cycling Cruise!

Each of the 95 staterooms and suites are tastefully finished with the finest materials. Mahogany trim and modern bathrooms are softened with elegant carpets and luxurious bedding.

All of the staterooms are comfortably spacious, and most have room to socialize. Nearly two thirds of the staterooms have a private balcony with table and chairs—a perfect place to relax and watch the port sink into the horizon while enjoying the champagne and a snack delivered by room service. The small collection of super-suites are especially large, and most include the service of a butler.

The lounge is a great place to relax and recount the day’s ride while getting to know your fellow adventurers.

The largest of the six dining options is Porto, a beautiful salon where you can savor the inspiration of Atlas’ Portuguese heritage as you experience regionally inspired favorites of our journey in the Canary Islands.

Prefer to dine al fresco? Porto’s refined-dining menu is also available on the ship’s aft view-deck. Start with a savory appetizer, move onto a mouthwatering main course and finish with a delicious dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. Relish it all with a fresh ocean breeze

and expansive horizon views.

7-Aft, a New York style BBQ grill chophouse specializes in jospering, a grilling method originated in Barcelona and now considered a legendary form of gourmet charcoal cuisine. Satiate your hunger with choice burgers, ribs, lamb and many more.

The Dome has a delightful array of snacks, teas, cookies, and finger sandwiches alongside an open bar or opt for a late, light lunch. Complete with 270-degree and overhead views, it’s a feast for all the senses.

The Pantry is where you can grab a fresh-pressed juice or hot cup of Milano coffee on your way to exploring. Go for a quick breakfast or snack, be it a tasty specialty sandwich or delightful cupcake, for a satisfying and refreshing meal on the go.

Or, for a more intimate dining experience, the ship has a room service menu and provides 24-hour service.

The Zephyr Lounge is one of the best places to sit with friends while watching the port get smaller and smaller as you sail towards the next day of your cycling adventure. Other great spots are the ship’s pool and pair of hot tubs, L’Occitane Spa, and open bridge.

Unless you’d rather “attend” by watching from your stateroom’s TV, the ship’s Forum is where you’ll learn about the next day’s choice of routes and activities. On those days you elect to cycle, it’s also the place for our morning route talks.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is leading the way with some of the smallest luxury-expedition ships at sea. Combining a style defined as simple elegance with invigorating immersions, they provide a luxe-adventure travel experience made for seasoned explorers like you.