Masca Viewpoint

Masca, Buenavista del Norte

The most iconic viewpoint of TenerifeVillage nestled in a deep ravineStone houses clinging to the cliffs

The most iconic viewpoint of Tenerife, with views of the village of Masca dramatically nestled in a deep ravine at about 600-750 meters altitude. The village, with its stone houses clinging to the cliffs, looks like something out of a fairy tale. The ravine descends to the ocean between vertical rock walls.

It is the most photographed viewpoint in the west of Tenerife and a must-see stop. It's best to visit early in the morning or at sunset to avoid the crowds of tourists.

Gallery

The hamlet of Masca perched among the crags of the Teno massif, seen from the viewpoint. — Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de (CC BY-SA 3.0 DE)

Traditional houses of the historic hamlet of Masca, Buenavista del Norte, set on the slope above the gorge. — Veronika Bashak (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Masca gorge descending between the vertical walls of the Teno massif toward the sea. — H. Zell (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Essential information

Accessibility

By car via the mountain road TF-436 (Buenavista del Norte–Santiago del Teide), with very tight curves; parking near the hamlet is very limited and restricted to a maximum of 2 hours between 8:00 and 14:00, so public transport is recommended (TITSA bus lines 355 Buenavista–Masca–Santiago del Teide and 365 Buenavista–Masca). Visiting the village and enjoying the views is free and does not require a reservation (reservation only applies to the descent of the ravine).

Risk Level

Access is via a narrow mountain road with very tight curves and very limited parking: drive with caution and do not park outside designated areas.