Teno massif · Buenavista del Norte, Tenerife

Mirador de Masca

Everything you need to know before you go: Getting there, parking, prices, best time.

Last checked: September 2026

Does it cost anything?No, €0Viewpoint and village are free. Gorge trail from €40.66.

How do I get there?~20 min from SantiagoThe narrow TF-436 with hairpins. Bus 355 also stops in the village.Where do I park?Village car parkFree, about 25 spaces, 2-hour limit from 8:00 to 14:00.When is it best?Early in the dayThere are still spaces then. Check for a fire alert before you go.

Masca village and the ravine down to the sea — Photo: Spaccafito, License: CC BY-SA 4.0

The viewpoint sits at the bend by the bus stop, right above the rooftops of Masca. No ticket, no gate.

Straight talk

What to know before you go.

One road in, one road out. When a campervan broke down on the TF-436 in March 2026, traffic stood still. Plan extra time and use the car parks, not the verge.
The viewpoint is a bend in the road. There is no platform, just the edge of the bend by the bus stop. For a second view into the valley with its own car park, stop at Cherfe just before the village.
The car parks are small. About 30 spaces across two car parks for one of the best-known places on the island. The bus is often the calmer choice.
The gorge is not a spontaneous walk. You need a booked slot, the bus from Santiago del Teide and a boat ticket back. You can't drive to the trailhead or walk back up.

Getting there

One road leads to Masca, the TF-436. You can come from the south via Santiago del Teide or from the north via Buenavista del Norte.

By car

From Santiago del Teide

~20 min

From Los Gigantes

~25 min

Road

Narrow, hairpins, one road in and out

01From the south coast drive up to Santiago del Teide and turn onto the TF-436 towards Masca. From the north the same road starts in Buenavista del Norte and runs via El Palmar.
02Coming from Santiago del Teide you pass the Cherfe viewpoint shortly before the village. It has its own free car park and a view over the valley.
03The road then winds down in hairpins to Masca. The viewpoint is at the bend by the bus stop.
04Park in the village car park about 100 m away and walk the last stretch to the viewpoint.

The TF-436 is narrow with tight bends. Buses longer than 10 m have been banned since May 2025, and in March 2026 a broken-down campervan blocked the road. Drive slowly and let oncoming buses pass.

Route to the car park

Other

Bus 355 from Santiago del Teide
About 20 minutes over the pass. From Wednesday to Saturday extra morning buses run, but passengers with a gorge ticket board first.
Bus 355 from Buenavista del Norte
From the north via El Palmar, about 30 minutes to Masca. Buenavista is linked to Puerto de la Cruz by bus 363.
Taxi
About 25 minutes from Los Gigantes on the same narrow road. Agree the price and the ride back beforehand.

Check before you go

During a fire alert the Cabildo can close the TF-436 to tourist and rental cars; bus 355 keeps running. This last applied from 30 July to 9 August 2026. Tenerife ON shows whether an alert is in force today.

Parking & arriving

Village car park

~25 spaces · 0 €

About 100 m from the viewpoint. OpenStreetMap lists a 2-hour limit between 8:00 and 14:00; check the signs.

Small car park at the bend

~6 spaces · 0 €

Around 60 m from the viewpoint.

Cherfe viewpoint

0 €

Shortly before the village on the road from Santiago del Teide, with a second view over the valley.

On site

From the bend you look over the rooftops of Masca, into the gorge and across the rocky ridges of the Teno mountains, on clear days as far as the west coast. The village is a few steps below.

Time there: ~30 min, longer with a walk through the village
Walk from car park: ~100 m from the large, ~60 m from the small car park
Toilets: At the visitor centre in the village
Food & drink: A few bars and restaurants in the village. Travel reports say they close around 17:30.

When is it worth it?

Masca has no opening hours. What matters is the crowds and the visibility.

Crowds based on travel reports; there are no official visitor figures.

Early in the day

Fewer cars on the TF-436 and free spaces in the village.

Clear days

Only then does the view reach through the gorge to the west coast.

Wed – Sun

Gorge descents run, and hikers arrive in the village by bus in the morning.

Forecast

Facts

Viewpoint and village: Source: Cabildo · 09/2026; Free, openly accessible
Road: Source: Cabildo · 09/2026; TF-436 Santiago del Teide – Masca – Buenavista del Norte
Bus: Source: TITSA · 09/2026; Line 355 Buenavista – El Palmar – Masca – Santiago del Teide, daily, 55 min end to end, more often Wednesday to Saturday
Bus Sun – Tue: Source: TITSA · 09/2026; From Santiago del Teide at 8:00, 9:00, 11:45, 13:25, 14:35, 17:00, 18:20 and 19:30
Car parks: Source: OSM · 09/2026; Free, about 25 and 6 spaces. 2-hour limit from 8:00 to 14:00 on the larger one
Gorge trail (Barranco de Masca): Source: Booking site · 09/2026; Booking only, from €40.66 for non-residents, free for Tenerife residents. Wednesday to Sunday, minimum age 8
Gorge trail rules: Source: Booking site · 09/2026; Descent only, slots 8:30–13:00. Mandatory bus 355 from Santiago del Teide, return by boat. Bus and boat not included
Visitor centre: Source: Booking site · 09/2026; Monday to Thursday 9:00–17:00, Friday to Sunday 8:00–18:00