Mount Teide Guided Quad Tour at Daytime or Sunset Tenerife

Chío and the Western Slopes of Tenerife

Chío is a farming village in the municipality of Guía de Isora, set among terraced fields of tomatoes and almonds, edged by dry stone walls, on the sunny west side of Tenerife. Behind it, the TF-38 road climbs steadily from the coast to the edge of the national park, one of the most scenic mountain drives on the island and a favourite with cyclists and riders.

The quad base sits at the start of this road, around 20 to 30 minutes from Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje. Here the team fits your helmet, thermal jacket and gloves and spends about 30 minutes explaining how the quad works and the rules of the road, so this quad bike tour in Tenerife is open to first-time riders who are confident on public roads.

Mirador de los Poleos and the Lava Fields

The first leg climbs for about 30 minutes through forests of Canary Island pine to Mirador de los Poleos. The viewpoint looks over a sea of dark lava from the eruptions on the western flank of Pico Viejo, including the 1798 eruption of Chahorra, whose vents are known locally as the Narices del Teide, Teide's nostrils. Beyond the lava, the coast and La Gomera stretch out on the horizon.

This is the first photo stop of the ride, about 10 minutes, and a good place to feel how quickly the scenery changes on a Mount Teide quad excursion. The black and rust-red flows look almost fresh, while young pines are slowly colonising the rock. On clear days the cone of Pico Viejo and the summit of Teide rise side by side above you.

Mirador de Samara

Mirador de Samara sits beside the TF-38 near Montaña de Samara, a cinder cone wrapped in fields of black lapilli and scattered pines. It is one of the most photographed viewpoints on the west side of Teide National Park, with a broad view of Pico Viejo, Mount Teide and the volcanic cones that line the ridge towards the north-west.

The quad route visits Samara twice, on the way up and on the way back, with about 10 minutes for photos each time. The contrast between the black volcanic gravel, the green pines and the blue sky makes it a classic spot for pictures with your quad. A short marked trail starts here for those who want to return another day to walk among the craters.

The Queen's Shoe and Las Cañadas

The highest point of the ride is the Queen's Shoe, known in Spanish as Zapato de la Reina, an eroded rock formation on the edge of the Ucanca plain inside the Las Cañadas caldera. Its curved outline, carved by wind and frost out of old volcanic rock, recalls an elegant heeled shoe. Around it, the floor of the caldera opens out at more than 2,000 metres, with Mount Teide rising above at 3,715 metres.

You ride about 15 minutes to reach it and stop for around 10 minutes of photos. Teide National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and all quad routes here follow paved roads, because off-road riding is forbidden to protect the fragile landscape. Temperatures at this height are much cooler than on the coast, which is why thermal jackets are part of the kit.

Sunset or Daylight: Choosing Your Ride

The default option leaves Chío in the early afternoon, when the light is bright and the views across to La Gomera are usually at their clearest. The morning ride offers calm roads and fresh air, while the sunset departure is timed for golden hour, when volcanic rock turns deep amber and long shadows stretch across the plateau.

Whichever time you pick, the ride ends back in Chío after about 35 minutes of descent, with a snack and a soft drink at the final stop. Riders who choose the Tenerife sunset quad tour should bring a warm layer under the jacket, as temperatures drop quickly once the sun goes down. Hotel transfers are not included, but our team can help you arrange one after booking.