A Guide to Visiting Masca, Tenerife – A Secluded Mountain Village

The tiny mountain village of Masca is one of the most beautiful places you can visit along the north coast of Tenerife. Located within Teno Rural Park along an incredibly windy, narrow mountain road with steep drops, reaching Masca is an adventure in itself. In this guide, we’ll help you decide the best way for you to get to Masca based on multiple factors and list some of the top things you can do in the village during your visit.

If you’d like to see the drive to Masca, make sure to watch our dedicated Tenerife video which we’ve shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon.

About Masca in Tenerife

Masca is a tiny mountain village located at 650m above sea level in the Teno Mountains in north-west Tenerife. Thanks to its secluded location, Masca was hidden from the world up until recently. Despite that, it has a long history, originally settled by the Guanches before the Spanish conquest in the 15th century.

According to legends, Masca was also the perfect hideout for pirates who ruled the nearby waters. Up until 1972, when they built the first road, Masca was only accessible by foot. The winding road connecting Masca to Santiago del Teide allowed people to reach this stunning village and eventually turned it into one of the most popular places to visit in Tenerife.

Read Next: Where to stay in Tenerife? – Best Areas and Hotels

How to Reach Masca in Tenerife

The three main options to get to Masca are driving, taking the public bus or joining a tour. Below we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each option so you can decide which one is the most suitable for you.

1. Driving the Winding Roads to Masca

If you’re a confident driver and wish to visit Masca independently, then we suggest getting there with a hire car. Whilst the majority of roads in Tenerife are easy to drive on, the road to Masca is a different story. In fact, apart from a few areas within Anaga Rural Park, the TF-436 was easily the most challenging road we drove on during our stay.

Read next: Tips on driving in Tenerife

It’s also hands down the most scenic road, but with its barely 2 car length width, hairpin curves and steep drops, driving the TF-436 is not for the faint hearted. However, if you’re up for the challenge, then you can reach Masca either from Santiago del Teide or from Buenavista del Norte.

The quickest and most popular direction will be from Santiago del Teide, as it’s only a 5km (20-minute drive) from Masca. On the contrary, the road felt wider when arriving from Buenavista del Norte, although it’s a 17 km (40 minute drive) from the village.

Where to Park in Masca

Parking is quite limited in Masca and if you end up arriving around the time the tour buses and other hire car drivers do, then you’ll have a hard time finding a free spot.

The main car park is adjacent to the small roundabout (here on Google Maps). There are a few more spots for cars past Restaurante Aqui Me Quedo (here on Google Maps), but the majority of that section of the road is reserved for tour buses.

If there are no spots available at the main car park we suggest driving further along the road, as we saw more parking options on the road leading out to Buenavista del Norte. Just bear in mind that from there you’ll have to walk back down to Masca.

Tips on Driving TF-436 to Masca

Arrive early or later in the day. If you want to avoid being stuck in traffic and having to constantly reverse back at the curves, then drive to Masca early or much later in the day. Most large tour buses arrived between 3-4PM, so the road and the village itself can get quite congested.

Don’t speed. Whilst obvious, we suggest driving carefully, as you never know what’s coming towards you around the next turn. Whilst the local bus is a minivan, there will be full-sized tour buses driving this road too.

Local bus drivers are very experienced. Both the public bus and tour bus drivers know every turn of the road like the back of their hands. We noticed that they directed car drivers quite often, especially around tight corners. Just do as they show you, as they drive this road every day.

Coming across a big tour bus can feel intimidating. Trying to drive past a huge tour bus can feel a bit intimidating on the narrow road. Always look ahead and stop way before a bend as they’ll need more room to swing around.

Big tour buses arrive from Buenavista del Norte. We noticed that the big tour buses would use the road one-way, coming from Buenavista del Norte, stopping in Masca and then driving to Santiago del Teide. If you would rather get stuck behind the bus as opposed to trying to pass one, then we suggest you also drive to Masca the same way. (Or arrive much earlier or later in the day).

Only stop at dedicated parking spaces. The curves are often enlarged to allow more space for turning vehicles. There were a couple of passing places too. If you park there, even briefly, you’ll risk other drivers not being able to pass each other safely.

Weather conditions. Thick fog and low clouds are very common in the north of Tenerife, which is why it’s very green. We had zero visibility on our first drive to Masca, so check the weather conditions before your visit.

2. Taking the Local Bus to Masca

If you wish to visit Masca independently, but don’t want to drive there, then just take the local bus. Tenerife’s public bus company is called Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife (TITSA). Bus line 355 provides frequent bus services between Buenavista del Norte and Santiago del Teide, stopping at Masca.

Depending on where you’re coming from, below are a few bus line options to Santiago del Teide:

• Los Gigantes: bus line 325 (journey time: 30 minutes).
• Costa Adeje: bus line 460 (journey time: 1 hour).
• Puerto de la Cruz & Icod de los Vinos: bus line 325 (journey time: 1.5 hour / 30 minutes).

See all timetables, routes and maps here.

Taking the bus is also the only option if you want to do the Masca Gorge hike, as from Masca Bay you’ll need to take a boat to Los Gigantes. It’s also a requirement to arrive in Masca by bus. (We’ll give you more information on the hike further below). If you already have a hire car, then just drive to Santiago del Teide and take the bus from there to save time.

3. Joining a Day Tour to Visit Masca

Since Masca is a popular place to visit along the north coast of Tenerife, there are a huge variety of organised tours available to book. Joining a tour won’t only get you to the mountain village but the guides will also give you plenty of information about its history. Most tours also have other stops on the itinerary, such as Teide National Park, Garachico or Icod de los Vinos.

🎫Below we’ve listed our top Masca tour choices:

• Masca, Wine Tasting & Tapas Tour. This is a great small-group tour departing from Costa Adeje. After a visit to Masca, you’ll then attend a wine tasting experience and try some delicious tapas.
• Icod, Teide, Garachico and Masca Day Tour. We would book this day tour if we also wanted to visit the stunning Teide National Park on top of other scenic small towns such as Garachico and Icod. They offer several pick-up locations, both in the north and south of Tenerife.
• West Tenerife’s Coastline Day Tour. This is a great small-group tour that takes you to the most beautiful small towns including Icod de los Vinos, Garachico and Masca. You have the option to depart from either Puerto de la Cruz or Costa Adeje.

Things to Do in Masca

Mirador de Cherfe

If you’re approaching Masca from Santiago del Teide, then the first official viewpoint you can stop at is Mirador de Cherfe. There are a few spaces available on either side of the narrow road.

You can enjoy sweeping views of the lush mountains and settlements dotted around in the distance. From here, you can also get your first glimpse of what the road ahead of you is going to look like.

Note. After seeing the winding road, you may feel a thrill and be ready to drive more of it. On the contrary, after watching two vehicles passing each other on the narrow road, you may feel less confident in driving further. If you think driving to Masca may be too much for you, this is a good place to turn around and take the public bus instead.

Mirador de Masca

Just a few turns further along the road we stopped at Mirador de Masca as well. There are a few parking spots, although just on one side of the road. Initially this viewpoint didn’t look like much, but we could walk out to a viewing area where we were treated with some insane views of the valley. Therefore, if you stop at one viewpoint, make sure it’s this one!

We got an even better view of the zig-zagging road below us, and saw some less confident drivers struggling to pass both public buses and bigger tour buses.

Mirador Carretera Masca

The iconic view of Masca village is from just across the car park next to the roundabout. We recommend stopping here briefly before you head down to the village. From here, you can see Roque de Catana, the iconic rock formation that’s sometimes referred to as the Machu Picchu of the Canary Islands. We have to admit, the rock does look very similar to the World Wonder, just on a much smaller scale.

Be careful here, as the pedestrian section is quite narrow and there’s a constant stream of traffic on the road.

Masca Square & Masca Church

As we made our way down to the village, we came across the main square (Plaza de Masca). It’s a lovely plaza with a huge Indian laurel tree standing in the middle, providing some well-needed shade on a hot and sunny day.

There’s also the lovely Ermita de la Inmaculada Concepción Church. This small church was built in the 18th century and is a fantastic example of Canary Island architecture.

Masca Visitor Centre

We also popped into the Visitor Centre, where we could read more about Masca Gorge and Teno Rural Park. The information was focused more around Masca’s natural environment, such as its geology, geomorphology, flora and fauna.

We could head outside here, where we could enjoy views of the village and rock formation from a slightly different angle. Plus, the Visitor Centre had free toilets.

Masca Gorge Trail Hike

If you enjoy hiking and outdoor activities, then we suggest completing the Masca Gorge trail. It is a 5km long path that starts from Masca Village and ends at Masca Beach. You can either book a guided hike or do it independently.

In order to hike this trail, you need to obtain a permit from the official website. The permit is 40 EUR per person and the money is used to cover the upkeep of the trail. On top of the permit, you’ll also need to arrive to Masca Village by public bus (line 355). You won’t be allowed on the trail if you’ve driven to Masca. Plus, you also have to buy a boat ticket from Masca Bay to Los Gigantes, that you can pre-book on the website. The logistics of the hike are very similar to the Samara Gorge hike we did in Crete, Greece.

Whilst it’s a short distance to hike, you’ll have to descend over 700m, which can be quite tiring. In addition, the trail is very rocky and uneven, which requires you to pay closer attention to your steps to avoid injuries. You’ll have to wear appropriate hiking gear, as well as have sufficient water and food on you. They will check if you have everything on their equipment checklist before you’re allowed to start the hike.

It’s also worth noting that the trail can be closed due to bad weather conditions. Even if you can do the hike itself, the boat that would pick you up from Masca Bay may not operate due to adverse sea conditions. This means that you’ll have to be ready and fit enough to hike all the way back up to Masca Village if this is the case.

Mirador La Cruz de Hilda

If you decide to drive to/from Buenavista del Norte, then definitely stop at the Mirador la Cruz de Hilda viewpoint. You’ll find a restaurant & bar there with panoramic views of the area. There’s also plenty of parking spots available around the viewpoint. We even saw a few hiking trail signs, so it’s an option if you want to do something more active.

Of course, you can also just grab a drink from the bar and enjoy the breath-taking views with way less people around you.

Other Places to Visit Near Masca, Tenerife

There are many charming small towns, bigger cities and natural areas to visit along the north coast of Tenerife. Most of them are no more than an hour’s drive from Masca.

• Garachico. Its landscape was shaped by a destructive volcanic eruption, so Garachico is one of the most picturesque places you can visit along Tenerife’s north coast. Its historic centre is full of traditional Canarian houses with wooden balconies, historic buildings and landmarks.
• Icod de los Vinos. This small village is only a 15-minute drive from Garachico. Here, you can see an ancient Drago tree and visit a cool banana museum.
• Teide National Park. Home to the mighty Teide Volcano, a visit to Teide National Park is a must if you’re in Tenerife. From cable car rides to scenic hikes and viewpoints, Teide offers a fantastic day out.
• Puerto de la Cruz. With quaint cobbled streets, historic buildings, street art, lush botanical gardens and black sandy beaches, a day trip to the city is definitely worth the 40-minute drive.
• La Orotava. If you made it to Puerto de la Cruz, then you can’t skip a visit to the small mountain town of La Orotava. It may be small, but it’s packed with interesting museums and picturesque historical buildings.

Final Thoughts on Driving to Masca in Tenerife

We actually ended up visiting Masca twice during our Tenerife trip due to thick clouds the first time around. Whilst the road was incredibly busy and parking was a bit of a nightmare, in the end we almost had the whole village to ourselves, as the tour buses were just departing. Although there wasn’t too much to do in Masca compared to the other small towns we visited along the north-coast of Tenerife, we were absolutely blown away by the scenery surrounding it.

We hope this guide has given you a good overview on what to do in Masca and what to expect from the drive. If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.