Masca and Los Gigantes

The ravine was once the hamlet's road to the sea, and following the stream down through the Teno mountains is still one of the most spectacular walks in the Canary Islands. Walls of rock close in on both sides, and near the mouth you pass some of the oldest rocks on Tenerife before reaching the old jetty in Masca bay.

The route is about 5 km one way. Allow about 4 hours to walk down and at least 4 hours if you choose to walk back up. The ground is rocky and slippery in places, and the official rating is high difficulty, so it suits fit walkers with proper footwear.

Access is managed and every walker needs a timed ticket from the official Camino Barranco de Masca website. Prices started at €40.66 when read on 17 October 2026; Tenerife residents and Canary Islands mountain federation members go free, and there are reduced rates for other Canary Islands residents and under-18s.

The ticket includes your descent slot, a helmet to borrow, information and monitoring from the visitor centre to the jetty, first aid and accident insurance. Slots run from 8:30am to 1pm for 25 people every 30 minutes, with 50 at 9am. Arrive at the visitor centre 30 minutes before your slot. Changes and cancellations are free up to 72 hours ahead.

Children under 8 are not allowed, and under-18s must be with a parent or carry a signed authorisation.

You cannot drive to the start. Park at the cemetery car park in Santiago del Teide, walk about 10 minutes to the stop and take TITSA bus 355 to Masca, a ride of about 20 minutes. Be at the stop at least an hour before your slot.

At the bottom, boats run from Masca bay to the port of Los Gigantes. Boat tickets are sold by the boat companies, not on the trail website, and must be for no later than 4 hours after your descent slot. From Los Gigantes, TITSA buses 462 and 325 take you back to Santiago del Teide for your car.

A guided trip takes care of the slot, the bus and the boat in one booking, which is the easiest way to do the ravine on a short holiday. If you would rather see Masca without the full descent, half-day hikes through the Teno mountains finish in the hamlet itself.

Los Gigantes takes its name from the sea cliffs that rise straight out of the water on the west coast, and seeing them from a boat is the classic way to take them in. The small resort around the marina is relaxed, with the cliffs filling the view.

Whale and dolphin trips leave from the port, and some combine the cliffs, a swim stop and time with the pilot whales that live off this coast. Puerto de Santiago and its beaches are just to the south.