| Option | Duration | Price | Needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorge descent (official site) | About 4 hours, 5 km | Entry from 40.66 euros, boat extra | Fitness, hiking shoes, ID, booking | Experienced walkers |
| Teide and Masca VIP tour from Puerto de la Cruz | See the offer page | See the offer page | Nothing special | No car, no hiking |
Prices read on 6 November 2026; they change with the date.
The gorge hike, step by step
- Book the slot on the official site, caminobarrancodemasca.com. Tickets are individual and need ID. Residents of Tenerife are admitted free; the site states that under-8s are not allowed and under-18s need an adult.
- Buy the return boat from Masca Bay to Los Gigantes: without a boat ticket you are refused entry. Three operators work in rotation by day, so buy from the one running on your date. The boat price is on their sites.
- Take bus 355 from Santiago del Teide (stop 4692), at least one hour before your slot. Arrival by any other vehicle is prohibited; with a car, park at the cemetery in Santiago del Teide.
- Check in at the Masca Visitors' Centre 30 minutes before your slot. A helmet is loaned and must be returned.
- Bring closed mountain hiking shoes (sandals and smooth soles are refused), at least 1.5 liters of water, food and a charged phone. There is no drinking water on the trail.
- Get back from Los Gigantes to Santiago del Teide by Titsa bus 325 or 462; it is not included.
The difficulty is rated high: uneven ground, steps and slopes, and the official site says rescues here have outnumbered those anywhere else in the Canary Islands. If the sea closes the jetty, you walk back up from where you are. On 6 November 2026 the trail and the jetty were shown as open; if the trail is closed for weather, you can change or cancel free of charge. For guided walks, see Tenerife hiking tours.
The village without the gorge
Masca is a cluster of four hamlets with a small main square and a visitors' centre. The day tour above only stops 30 minutes there, and a 9.5-hour day is mostly driving, so choose it for the overall circuit rather than for Masca itself. More on Teide, island excursions and boat trips.
FAQ
Do I need to book for Masca?
Yes for the gorge: a timed slot, ID, the return boat and bus 355 are all required. The village itself can be visited without the gorge ticket.
Can you walk back up?
Not as planned: the return is by boat to Los Gigantes. Walking back up only happens if the boat service closes for sea conditions.
Which option without a car or hiking?
The Teide and Masca VIP tour (4.7 from 762 reviews); check the duration and pickup on the offer page.
The Tenerife Authority editorial team, 6 November 2026.
