Self-Guided Masca Gorge

What you will do

• Explore one of the most emblematic treks in Tenerife at your own pace.
• Immerse yourself in the local history, nature, and culture with the interpretive audio guide.
• Contemplate unique volcanic landscapes during the descent.
• Reach a remote cove under the impressive Los Gigantes Cliffs.
• Return by boat enjoying the views from the sea.

Transportation

Starting Point. Bus Stop No. 4673. Our service includes a bus transfer from Santiago del Teide. The first pick-up is at 7:30 a.m., with a frequency of every 20-25 minutes and an estimated duration of about 20 minutes. It is necessary to be at the pick-up point at least 1 hour before the reserved session time to descend the trail. You must present the general purchase ticket to use this service. You cannot arrive at the start of the Masca Gorge Trail in another vehicle other than the one used for the transfer included in the ticket.

Boat Transfer. The ticket also includes the boat transfer once the trail ends at the beach with the vessel that provides the daily return service. You must present the general purchase ticket to use this service.

Return transportation to Santiago del Teide. The final return transfer from Los Gigantes (disembarkation port) to the pick-up point in Santiago del Teide is NOT included. You can take the public transport service or a taxi from this point. There are 2 public transport lines (buses) to the starting point from Los Gigantes: Line 325: Puerto de la Cruz – Icod – Los Gigantes, Line 462: Guía de Isora – Valle Santiago – Los Gigantes

Very Important

Access Control at the Masca Visitor Center

Before starting the tour, you must go to the Masca Visitor Center to pass the mandatory control. There, they will check:

• Your purchase ticket.
• An identification document (ID, NIE, passport…).
• That you have the required equipment with you.
• That you are aware of the difficulty and risks of the itinerary.
• That you have the necessary physical condition to do it.

Please note that, if you do not meet any of these requirements, you will not be able to access the trail and there will be no refund.

The route in detail

Audio guide on your mobile
Start the experience by downloading our audio guide in the app, available in Spanish, English, and German. From it, you can check the requirements, details, and characteristics of the trail and access key safety information, while discovering the history, geology, and biodiversity of the Masca Gorge at your own pace.

Starting point: Santiago del Teide
The experience begins in the square of Santiago del Teide, from where you will take the bus included in your ticket to the hamlet of Masca. During the journey, you will enjoy a preview of the volcanic landscape of the Teno Massif.

Panoramic route to Masca
The road trip is already part of the experience: a winding route through the mountains that offers breathtaking views and postcard-perfect landscapes at every turn.

The hamlet of Masca: a village with a soul
Before the descent, you will have the opportunity to discover the essence of Masca. A small rural nucleus of volcanic stone houses, surrounded by terraces and cliffs, which preserves the memory of traditional life in these mountains intact.

Access Control at the Masca Visitor Center
Before starting the tour, you must present your ticket, identification document, and mandatory equipment. It will also be checked that you are aware of the difficulty of the trail and have the necessary physical condition. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not be able to access it, nor will the amount be refunded.

Descent of the Masca Gorge: nature and history among cliffs
The trail descends about 5 kilometers through a unique gorge in Tenerife. With the help of your audio guide, you will discover the history of the hamlet, the Guanche footprint, the volcanic geology, and the surprising biodiversity that inhabits its cliffs. A route that combines effort, learning, and unforgettable landscapes.

Masca Cove: a hidden corner
After about 3.5 hours of walking, you will reach the small cove at the foot of the Los Gigantes Cliffs. Although swimming is not allowed, the feeling of having reached this remote enclave is indescribable: pure nature in its wildest state.

Return by boat: views of Los Gigantes from the sea
To complete the experience, you will board the boat included in your ticket that will take you to the Los Gigantes Marina. During the trip, you will enjoy a unique perspective of the cliffs, with volcanic walls that rise more than 400 meters above the ocean. A golden finishing touch to your adventure in Masca.

Transfer to the starting point
At the end of the experience, you will have to take a taxi on your own to the starting point in Santiago del Teide.

Not suitable for

• Children under 8 years of age are not allowed, and minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
• People with cardiorespiratory problems.
• Pregnant women.
• People with reduced mobility.

Additional Information

• We will take care of managing the access permits to the gorge on your behalf and will notify you if any inconvenience arises.
  This is a Medium Difficulty activity, so some hiking experience is recommended.
  Tickets are personal and non-transferable, so you must prove your identity.

Cancellation Policy

72 hours or more in advance:

• The change or cancellation will not entail any cost. In case of cancellation, 100% of the charged fee will be refunded.
• A maximum of two changes will be allowed.

Less than 72 hours in advance:

• Changes are not allowed with less than 72 hours notice, only cancellations.
• In case of cancellation, 100% of the charged fee will be retained.
• No refunds will be made in case of not showing up at the time of the reservation without having previously requested a change or cancellation.

Special circumstances:

The reservation ticket will be invalid when the Masca Gorge trail or the pier is closed due to adverse weather conditions or other causes of force majeure, conservation, or maintenance. Notice will be given on the website of the Booking Center and particularly to the affected people through the contact methods established in the reservation, with as much advance notice as is technically feasible.

In this case, you can decide whether to change the date of your reservation or request a refund of the amount paid.

In very exceptional cases, the departure by sea vessel from the Masca cove to the destination port may be unexpectedly closed for safety reasons due to sudden or unexpected changes in sea conditions, which forces the visitor to return on foot to the starting point at the Masca Visitor Center. In this case, the users will start the way back from the point where they are at the time of notification. Therefore, good physical condition is required.