Masca: The Hellish Drive to Tenerife’s Famous Mountain Village
Masca is a tiny, scenic village in the mountains of Tenerife. Its views are the most stunning on the island (one of the Canary Islands), but there are several factors to consider before making the trip.
People call it a “hidden gem,” and they’re partially right. Masca is definitely a gem … and it *is* hidden in the mountains and hard to get to … but it’s well-known among the crowds of tourists that come to Tenerife!
Tours to Masca
Between the harrowing drive and the lack of parking in Masca, the easiest (and least stressful) way to get to town is by taking a tour. These are a couple of great options:
➡️ Click to Book: Tour to Masca (and more)
➡️ Click to Book: Masca Valley
The Dramatic Drive to Masca
First, if you’re renting a car and driving around Tenerife, I’d use Discover Cars. Their search includes the big international rental car companies… AND ALSO the local companies on the islands.
CICAR (Canary Islands Car) has a wide variety to choose from at good rates.
🚘 Click to Search Rental Car Rates
Driving to Masca from Garachico
Without traffic or any other issues, it’s about a 50-minute drive from the beautiful coastal town of Garachico (below) to Masca.
It’s less than 20 miles in all, but you’ll be crawling up around switchbacks for much of the drive.
Once you’re off the highways on Tenerife and the other Canary Islands, you’ll be driving up and over the mountain peaks on zig-zagging roads.
They often narrow down to one lane, forcing drivers who meet head-on to negotiate who has to back up to let the other pass.
From Santiago del Teide, the road narrows further, and the hairpin turns become even tighter!
The view from the road is stunning, but you’ll definitely need to keep two hands on the wheel! There are a few spots to pull off to take photos.
Parking in Masca
Masca’s scenic views draw big crowds each day. Its popularity creates bottlenecks on the road into the village, and a parking nightmare in town.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many options when it comes to parking in Masca.
There’s a small lot on the way into the village, plus a few street parking options. Unless you get lucky, you’ll have to loop around to compete for an open spot.
The internet is full of videos of people literally fighting over spots.
You’ll likely see local civil police on patrol just to keep the peace!
The Bus to Masca
Another option is parking your rental car in Santiago del Teide and taking a bus to Masca. It’ll be bus #355 from town.
There’s plenty of parking in Santiago del Teide, and the cost of the 15-minute bus ride is only 1 Euro. You can’t buy tickets in advance. While boarding, you’ll tap a credit card to the reader.
BUT … the bus seats fewer than 30 people.
You’ll have to line up early to snag a spot both going into Masca … AND … on the way out.
AND… the bus only runs about once an hour.
I’ve done this option, and had to wait a full 90 minutes for the bus, based on my position in line. And, predictably, people budge and try to shove their way onboard.
So, the bus is an option… just not ideal.
What You’ll Find in the Village of Masca
What more do you need than the views?
There are stone paths around the village, which lead to a small plaza, viewpoints, and the cafes.
I don’t want to oversell the activities in Masac. Other than strolling around, there’s not much to do.
If you’re planning in advance, make a reservation at one of the nicer restaurants, or plan to hike the famous trail down the gorge to the coast.
Restaurants and Cafes in Masca
I was concerned that all of the restaurants in Masca required reservations (which is what I’d been led to believe online).
That’s not the case.
There are several cafes that are open to the public, with no reservations needed, and that was a welcome surprise!
- La Piedra
- Bar Fidel
- La Fuente
Another surprise: just how friendly the wait staff was at the cafes! Sometimes at big tourist draws, you’ll find disgruntled or grumpy waiters, but that wasn’t the case in Masca.
PLUS… the glasses of wine were only 3 Euros! They could be charging anything they want in that location!
Reservations Needed
A few of the upscale restaurants, where reservations are required, are:
The Famous Masca Gorge Hike
The weather didn’t cooperate for us, but the next time I’m on Tenerife, I’d love to do this hike!
It requires some advanced planning … and recent reviews seem to suggest it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
You have to book a slot to hike, along with a boat to return you once you get to the coast. You also have to take the bus in from Santiago del Teide.
If I end up doing the hike on my next trip, I’ll update this post.
For now, you can find the confusing details here: Masca Hiking .
Info About the Trail
- Difficulty: Considered high for the descent, with steep slopes and uneven ground.
- Distance: 3+ miles
- Time: 4 hours down
- Elevation: From Masca (750m above sea level) to the coast
A Brief History of Masca
For centuries, Masca’s remote location and isolation made it one of the most difficult places to reach on Tenerife.
The area was originally inhabited by the island’s indigenous people, the Guanches, before the Spanish conquest of Tenerife in 1496. After colonization, Masca developed as a small agricultural settlement where residents farmed the steep terraces and raised livestock.
Because the village was so remote, legends grew that Masca once served as a hideout for pirates who supposedly used the nearby gorge to reach the sea.
A road connecting Masca to the rest of Tenerife wasn’t built until the 1960s, transforming the village from an isolated farming community into one of the island’s most famous scenic destinations.
Is Masca Worth It?
Don’t get me wrong: it’s a *hassle* to get to Masca.
I’d still say a tour is the best way to visit!
I can’t figure out why they don’t run more buses. It would cut down on cars and parking confrontations. Maybe crowd control?
Regardless, if you’re on Tenerife, Masca is a unique destination with unbeatable views and friendly people. It’ll be worth your efforts!
