Quad Biking from Playa de las Américas: Teide Tours & What to Expect

How tours usually work

A typical guided tour begins with check-in, a check of each driver’s physical licence, a safety briefing and a short demonstration of the controls. The group then follows a guide inland in convoy, with planned stops at viewpoints, before returning to the base the way it came.

On the tours we compared, the riding is broken up by three or four stops. The La Escalona double-quad tour, for example, lists about an hour of riding to the Pino Gordo pine at Vilaflor, a 10-minute photo stop, then another hour and a half into the national park with a second stop. Expect the briefing to take place before the clock on the ride starts, and arrive early: some bases ask for 30 minutes, the Granadilla late-morning tour asks independent arrivals for 45.

Pickup and meeting points

A tour marketed to guests in a particular resort does not necessarily start there. Some operators include hotel or meeting-point pickup, while others require you to arrive at a base elsewhere in the south of the island. Check this before comparing prices, because a cheaper fare with no transport can end up costing more once you add a taxi.

This is how the main options work from Playa de las Américas:

The Granadilla tour lists its pickup at €5 per person in one part of the listing and €6.67 in another, so check the figure at checkout. The Chío operator arranges the transfer by message after you book, so ask about any charge before you confirm. Ratings are GetYourGuide’s live figures, checked 6 October 2026.

The Las Américas shop tour is the only Teide route we found that starts in the resort itself, but it has 19 reviews so far, so its rating rests on far less feedback than the others in the table.

What the route can include

Teide-oriented routes commonly combine mountain roads, villages, pine forest, viewpoints and volcanic terrain. Not every tour reaches the same altitude or enters the same part of the national park, so the itinerary matters more than the product name.

From the coast the climb runs up through Arona and La Escalona to Vilaflor, at about 1,400 metres the highest village on Tenerife, and on through the pine forest into the park. The Las Américas shop route describes more than 70 km of uphill riding with stops below Arona, at the Pino Gordo and at Boca Tauce, at about 2,100 metres beneath the peak. The Granadilla tour says it reaches about 2,400 metres. None of these are summit trips: Mount Teide itself rises to 3,715 metres, and the cable car is a separate ticket.

A route can climb through the pine forest and turn back before it enters the park, so read the stops listed in the itinerary, not the title.

Road vs off-road

Many Teide quad tours are mainly road-based, and inside the national park all of them are. The park’s visitor rules allow vehicles only on the authorised roads and tracks, so protected volcanic terrain is not an off-road playground.

If dirt tracks are what you want, look at a route that is sold as off-road and does not go to Teide. The 100% Off-Road Quad Adventure includes pickup from Playa de las Américas and spends about an hour and a half on tracks through lava fields and along the coast in the south, not in the park. It has 19 reviews, averaging 4.5. Our guide to off-road quad biking in Tenerife explains the difference in more detail.

Who can drive or ride

Drivers commonly need a valid licence, and operators add their own age and licence-history rules. In Spain a road-registered quad of the kind these tours use is driven on an ordinary category B car licence, according to the DGT. On top of that:

• The Granadilla tour asks for drivers aged 18 or over who have held a category B licence for at least a year, and does not accept provisional licences.
• The Las Américas shop tour lists itself as not suitable for drivers under 21.
• The La Escalona tour accepts only a physical licence, refuses a photo on a phone without a refund, and asks non-European licence holders for an International Driving Permit.

Many tours offer double quads for one driver and one passenger, which suits couples where only one person drives. Passengers usually start at age 6 or 7, and some operators add a minimum height of 120 cm. Read the licence guide before you book for a young driver.

Why Las Américas works well

The resort is close to the same excursion network as Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos. La Escalona and Granadilla sit inland from the south coast, on the way up towards the park, while Chío is on the west side of the island. The tours that offer pickup from the south coast list Las Américas among their stops, so you rarely need a car.

A good tour may still use a base well away from the resort, so judge convenience by the actual meeting point. If you are comparing quads with other ways up the mountain, see our guides to Teide tours from Costa Adeje and things to do in Playa de las Américas.

The temperature difference

The weather in Las Américas tells you little about the weather at the top of the ride. AEMET’s 1981–2010 averages give January highs of about 22°C at Tenerife South airport, near the coast, and only about 7.5°C at the Izaña observatory at 2,369 metres, with average lows near 1°C. Even in July, Izaña averages highs of about 23°C and lows of 14°C. On a quad you also have the wind of the ride on top, so a warm morning on the beach can turn into a cold hour at Boca Tauce.

Some tours include a jacket and gloves, among them the Granadilla and Las Américas shop tours, while others list warm clothing as your responsibility. See our guide to what to wear on the ride. The sunset departures finish in fading light, when it gets colder quickly.

What to Check Before Booking

Route

Confirm where the tour actually goes rather than relying on the word “Teide” in the title. Look for named stops inside the park, such as Boca Tauce.

Duration

Check whether the advertised time includes pickup, briefing and stops, and look for actual riding time where the itinerary lists it. Add the transfer from Las Américas at each end.

Pickup

Verify that your hotel or a nearby point is covered, whether transport is included or costs extra, and how early you need to be ready.

Driver and passenger rules

Check minimum ages, how long the driver must have held a licence, passenger limits and whether a passenger may take a turn driving.

Terrain

If off-road riding matters to you, look for a specific description of the unpaved section rather than assuming it is included. On Teide, assume tarmac.

Weather and clothing

Dress for high-altitude conditions, not the temperature at your hotel, and check the operator’s weather policy. Long trousers and closed-toe shoes are the minimum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do tours start in the resort?

Not always. One Teide quad tour starts from a shop in Las Américas; most others either pick you up and drive you to a separate base, or ask you to meet them at La Escalona, Granadilla de Abona or Chío.

Is there a Teide quad tour with pickup from Playa de las Américas?

Yes. The Late Morning Teide Quad Tour from Granadilla offers pickup from Las Américas as a paid extra chosen at booking, and the Chío tour arranges a hotel transfer after you book. The cheapest La Escalona and sunset departures include no transport.

Do I need experience?

No. Many guided products are designed for beginners and start with a briefing and a demonstration. Our guide to is quad biking in Tenerife safe for beginners covers the common mistakes and the passenger option. You do need a full car licence to drive, and you should be comfortable on public roads.

Can two people share?

Often yes, with one driver and one passenger on a double quad. Only the driver needs a licence.

Does a quad tour include the cable car?

Usually not, unless it is explicitly listed. The quad routes stop at viewpoints below the peak, and the cable car needs its own ticket.

How cold does it get on a Teide quad tour?

Much colder than the coast. In January the average high at the Izaña observatory, at 2,369 metres, is about 7.5°C, against about 22°C near the coast. Bring a warm layer even if your tour includes a jacket.

Final Thoughts

The starting resort matters mainly for pickup and transfer time. Once the ride begins, route quality, riding time, altitude and scenery matter much more. From Las Américas, decide first whether you want to be collected or can get yourself to a base, then choose the route that reaches the part of the park you want to see, not the nearest-sounding title.

Still comparing? See quad biking from Costa Adeje, quad hire or a guided tour and what a Teide sunset ride is like.