Canary Islands 2018 - Volcanos, Beaches and Mountains

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

SUMMARY: This  tour was first offered in 2014 and has been restructured to make it somewhat easier.   It includes 14 days of cycling, starting in Lanzarote and ending in Tenerife. The tour will be assisted by Simon Proffitt of IberoCycle who has assisted other BAC tours quite successfully (www.iberocycle.com). Take an island ride through the southernmost part of Europe. The Canary Islands belong to Spain, yet are a long way south -- around 1000 miles from Madrid. The archipelago is of volcanic origin, and on some of the islands the volcanoes are still active. The climate is subtropical; the islands enjoy mild winters and pleasant summers. The tour travels across 4 of these islands; Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife. Ferries will be used from island to island, thus guaranteeing a constantly shifting panorama. In Lanzarote there are fascinating volcanoes and lava flows of recent origin cycling through the Parque Nacional de Timanfaya. The volcano here is used as a natural barbecue for the park's restaurant. The ochre landscapes of the island of Fuerteventura are a reminder just how close the Sahara Desert is. Gran Canaria has some spectacular scenery, with lush vegetation and forests. Here the hotel is in the center of the island, surrounded by fruit trees in blossom. The final island is Tenerife with the marvelous Teide volcano, Spain's highest mountain, more incredible scenery, and also the winter training ground of many professional cycling teams. Lodging will take place in a variety of settings. Some are seaside hotels.  Others are in colonial cities such as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristobal de la Laguna. In Gran Canaria the hotel is in a charming village high in the center of the island, and in Tenerife in the shadow of the Teide itself. This ride is a great combination of sea, sun, volcanoes, beaches, boat trips, cities, desert, and forests.

RIDE RATING: RIDE RATING: The tour is rated 2A. Two days exceed the “A” distance rating: 44 and 59 miles. 

WEATHER: For early June the average temperatures are 79F for high and 66F for low. There is minimal to no rainfall. During the 2014 tour there were no rain days.  Lanzarote and Fuerteventura tend to be windy.  The ride routes in these two islands are designed to minimize wind riding conditions by riding from the north to the south.

OVERNIGHTS: One night each: Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura,   Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz and La Laguna in Tenerife. Two nights each: Costa Tequise and Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, El Teide and Puerto de Santiago in Tenerife. Three nights: Tejeda, Gran Canaria.

LOGISTICS: The ride starts in Costa Tequise, Lanzarote at 6:00pm Friday, June 1st. The ride ends in Puerto de Santiago, Tenerife on Saturday, June 16th after breakfast.  Arrive in Lanzarote via Arrecife Airport (code ACE) or via ferry boat from Tenerife and depart via Tenerife South (TFS) or Tenerife North (TFN) airports in Tenerife. Bike rental arrangements should be made directly with IberoCycle.

COST AND ADMINSTRATION:  The estimated tour cost is $3,250, based on an exchange rate of one € = $1.25 and includes a 5% contingency fee.  Included in the tour price are 15 nights lodging, all breakfasts, 5 dinners, maps & cue sheets, daily social hours, luggage transfer, vehicle backup for support, ferries, and bike box storage.  Not included in the tour cost is the non-refundable $100 BAC fee. The final payment of $2,000 is due by February 1 2018 and is to be paid on-line by credit card.  A single supplement is estimated to be an additional $460 (due by February 1 2018) and paid by check directly to Nelson Diaz at 1931 Emerald Dr. Longmont, CO 80504). Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be some minor changes in the amount of the final payment.

SINGLES AND SOLOS: We welcome single participants, whether you share a room with another single or you choose to pay a solo supplement.  If you wish to share a room with another single, it’s preferable that you try to find your own roommate, and then notify the Ride Leader of your intended roommate.  If you do not have a roommate in mind, the Ride Leader will assist you by providing names of other singles looking for roommates.  If you sign up for this tour and pay the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be given until October 1, 2017 to find a roommate.  If you are unable to find a roommate, you will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the $100 BAC fee and processing fee) or pay the $460 single supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, you may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  Single supplement payments will need to be made directly to the Ride Leader.

CANCELLATIONS: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that tour participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report is completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, the cancelling roommate may be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. 

BAC encourages members to purchase personal trip cancellation insurance. Note that trip cancellation coverage is NOT included in the international accidental medical and repatriation insurance policy

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP:  To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the $100 non-refundable BAC ride registration fee online and $1400 tour deposit by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.