An Iconic Paved Road to El Retamar in the Canary Islands

An Iconic Paved Road to El Retamar in the Canary Islands

Spain, europe

Length

21 km

Elevation

2,100 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

# El Retamar: A Mountain Adventure in Tenerife

Ready for some seriously scenic elevation? El Retamar is a stunning high mountain pass sitting pretty at 2,100m (6,889ft) on Spain's Canary Islands, specifically on the island of Tenerife. You'll find it tucked away in the south-central part of the island, just south of the iconic Teide volcano.

The 21-kilometer (13-mile) drive along TF-21 runs north-south between Paradores Cañadas del Teide and Vilaflor, and trust us—it's not your average Sunday drive. The entire route is paved, which is great news, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a smooth cruise. You're looking at plenty of hairpin turns, some seriously narrow stretches, and steep sections that max out at 11.9% gradient. Your hands might be white-knuckling the steering wheel, but the payoff? Absolutely worth it for the incredible mountain scenery surrounding you the whole way up.

Where is it?

An Iconic Paved Road to El Retamar in the Canary Islands is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 41.5228, -3.1049

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Road Details

Country
Spain
Continent
europe
Length
21 km
Max Elevation
2,100 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
41.5228, -3.1049

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