Masca Gorge — Local services in Buenavista del Norte

(May 2021) The hiking was really good but the entire organization was failing on multiple levels. We booked our spots on Friday at 12. You can do the Masca hiking only on weekends and bank holidays. Spots are available on the English website (we couldn't see them on the Spanish one) two days before at 12. Total places available per spots (there are 3 spots - 830, 930, 1030) only 25. What you need to do in order to avoid entering 1h30 after your hiking time - like it happened to us!!! + useful information: Leave your car next to the church in Santiago del Teide and take the bus (you can either pay by card or you can go to the gas station and buy the bus card - per person the price is 1.15 euro). The bus hours are not adapted to the hiking times but they will not make problems at the hiking entrance if you arrive a little bit later than your booking. Book earlier hours (you will not be stressed in doing the hiking quickly) After 11 you will not be able to enter in the park. Go there with hiking shoes - you will not be allowed to enter with sneakers or flip flops, they will make you pay hiking shoes on the spot for 30 euro. Bring food and water for the trip, you will be able to eat them along the hike or at the beach There 3 main hours you need to keep me mind - 13 after that time you will not be allowed to go to the beach, 14 you will need to leave the beach, 18 the park closes. Go down faster (it took us 1h20) and take your time on the way back (it took us another 2h). In total, if you do it calmly it will take you 2h/2h30 going down and 3h going up. it is pretty physical, but super double and you will see incredible sightseeing. I would suggest to be at the bus on the way back before 14, because the bus after at 15.15 will be full and you might need to call a taxi or wait 1h30 for the next bus. if you are more than 3/4 i would suggest you to take a taxi (it will cost around 20 euro and you will not need to wait in the cold at the bus stop)

Incredible hiking, i really enjoyed it but needs improvement on the...

It is a beautiful but it's getting worse. We are residents on Tenerife, working and living in Spain for 14 years. This is why I think it is getting worse: Originally this experience used to allow visitors just to descent, than it was possible to take a ferry that would take you to Puerto de Santiago. On the way you could admire dolphins and Los Gigantes. It was friendly for older people that not necessary can climb up again (like my parents) but would love to experience this track. Now this is not possible and you have to turn back at the beach and climb up again. Another thing - helmets, I understand it's for safety etc. but there are many more trails that are way more demanding and do not require helmets. IMO they should only be required in certain spots (narrow passages etc.) that could be market by a sign. They remove half of the joy and also during the heat they just make you feel less comfortable and make people sweat. Now even more: access is now permitted only during weekends that means that it is almost impossible to find a slot at all, and I am a person living on the Island, if you travel to Tenerife it means booking it weeks in the advance, and if your flight is delayed or changed, you might miss it. IMO is just pure management, not really visitor friendly, I get the restrictions, and safety but all that can be done better. Also mind some of those trials can be closed due to rain warning as well. Once,we were turned back cause it became cloudy, ofc there was no rain in the end but all these factors make the whole experience (especially the booking part) extremely stressful. Still, don't get me wrong, it is one of the most beautiful places on the Island. BTW. be mindful the parking nearby is only allowed for very short period of time as they want people to depend on buses, which makes weekend access and booking specific time even more ridiculous....Unless you want to pay for a taxi (see what they did there...). Unfortunatelly I can see this becoming a trend on the islands...not only on Tenerife which...

Visited at the beginning of March 2022, booked tickets in January for the hike, the available slots were limited then. If you're planning to drive then get there very early and you'll have to park either before Masca or after it. The allocated parking is for 2 hours only. We saw cars parking further down the road where the bus parking is but there's only a handful of spaces and it's right when traffic tries to pass. There are buses but it is recommended to check the timetables. All that said, it's a fabulous walk. Initially you have to go to the visitor centre to verify your pass with some form of government ID. Your shoes will be checked to ensure they're suitable, the website has photos showing what is appropriate. You can be refused entry if your footwear isn't suitable. After a brief safety talk and the collection of your helmet you're free to begin. There are wardens at the beginning, middle and end of the trail. Your name is verified to track your arrival and exit. The route is 5km each way and is estimated to take between 2-3 hours each way. The trail changes a lot and consists of steep gradients, uneven stone, rock strewn small water crossing, small chain link guides/grab rails, loose gravel and occasionally solid ground! Definitely take drinks and food with you as there are places to stop and soak up the views of the vast walls above. The trail has many marked waypoints for emergency assistance guidance plus signage of the distance so you can track your progress. It's hard work and definitely...