The Canary Islands are a popular tourist destination in Europe and millions of people travel to the Spanish archipelago of volcanic origin every year. Tenerife is the largest and most popular island in the Canary Islands, which attracts tourists with its beautiful beaches, mild climate and good infrastructure.
Most visitors travel to Tenerife to relax on the countless beaches and enjoy the sun. But off the beaten tourist track, Tenerife offers a scenic paradise that is hard to beat in terms of beauty. Countless hiking routes allow you to experience Tenerife’s nature up close.
Even away from the famous Teide, there are numerous hiking routes on Tenerife that are technically and scenically attractive. The Teno Mountains and the Parque Rural de Teno nature reserve of the same name extend to the northwest, where fascinating views of the deep blue sea, steep cliffs and deep gorges await you.
The most famous attraction in this region of Tenerife is the remote mountain village of Masca, which is nestled between steep rock faces. Masca is an idyllic place and the destination or starting point of many hiking trails.
In this blog post, I present my scenic hike to picturesque Masca. For me, this hiking tour was an absolute highlight of my trip to Tenerife. I hope you enjoy reading it and I’m delighted that you’ve come across my travel blog.
My hike to Masca on Tenerife
If you click on a link below, you will be taken directly to the corresponding section of the route. This starts in the town of Santiago del Teide. The first section of the hike leads promptly and steeply uphill over rocky serpentines into the Teno Mountains. After the ascent, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view from the summit of Risco Verde. Via the PR-TF 51 hiking trail, the route passes through small sections of forest and repeatedly opens up magnificent views of the beautiful Tenerife landscape. The hike then follows PR-TF 59 along the slope and diverse flora downhill towards Masca. The destination of the hike is the picturesque village of Masca, from where you take the bus back to Santiago del Teide.
The entire hike to Masca is around 9 kilometers long. Our hike took us around 3 hours with breaks. There is a steep incline at the start of the route, which requires a good level of fitness. Furthermore, there is hardly any shade on the route, which is why it is essential to bring sufficient sun protection and water. There are only refreshment stops just before Masca and in the village itself. I have marked the route and all the important destinations on the map.
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9,5 km
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↑ 490 m ↓ 1100 m
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Medium
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Mountain road parking lot
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stony nature trails
If you are looking for more hikes on Tenerife, then take a look at this book. I personally really like this series of hiking guides. The book is small and handy, offers useful information about hiking, and detailed descriptions of the hikes. I’ve already discovered some great hikes that I wouldn’t have found without these books.
How to get to the Teno Mountains and Masca
Travel by car
A good starting point for the hiking route is the town of Santiago del Teide, which you can reach by car via the TF-1 and TF82. At Las Barreras, a mountain road leads uphill from the TF-82. After 800 meters, where the PR-TF 51 hiking trail crosses the road, you can park your car. Alternatively, a small hiking trail leads uphill to the north of Santiago del Teide, but this is currently closed as a new canal is being built. We walked cross-country there, but I can’t recommend it.
Mit dem Bus nach Masca
The Teno region is well connected to Tenerife’s bus network, so you can reach most places by public transport. Bus transport on the Canary Islands is generally very well organized and inexpensive. The main bus lines to Santiago del Teide are line 325, which commutes between Puerto de la Cruz and Puerto de Santiago, and line 460. Bus line 355 takes you from Masca to Buenavista del Norte or Santiago del Teide. Further information can be found on the website of the island’s transport company.
Hotels and accommodation in Masca
The best starting point for the hike to Masca is the town of Santiago del Teide, which offers numerous accommodation options* If you want to meet people to experience the hike together, I recommend the Arena Nest Hostel* in Puerto de Santiago, where I stayed myself. The town is located around 30 minutes from the starting point of the route, right by the sea.
Of course, there are countless other towns in the region that offer accommodation. Below you will find a selection for the entire Teno region:
Panoramic hiking tour from Santiago del Teide to Masca
Walk to the Teno Mountains from Santiago del Teide
Our hiking tour starts in Santiago del Teide. We decide on a small path north of the town, which leads from the TF-82 in a right-hand bend into the mountains. Unfortunately, we soon realize that a construction site is blocking the official path. We fight our way through pathless terrain and finally reach the official hiking trail, which takes us steeply up into the mountains. I can’t recommend this path as long as there is a construction site. You can find the alternative starting point of the route on the map.
Breathtaking views of Masca from the summit of Risco Verde
We hike uphill on the PR-TF 51 hiking trail until we reach a mountain pass. For the first time we see the sea in the north of Tenerife. We continue along the left-hand side until we reach the summit of Risco Verde. The view from the summit is breathtaking. Awesome, we have a 360-degree panorama of the spectacular landscape of the Teno Mountains. We can even make out Masca. The cover picture of the blog article was also taken there.
Short Facts for your Trip
In general, the north of Tenerife has a more humid climate than the south of the island, especially in the winter months. For hiking in the Teno Mountains, I therefore recommend traveling between March and November. If you can’t stand the heat, you should avoid the summer months. It is much warmer on the coast than in the mountains. I was in the Teno mountains at the end of October. The weather was sunny and hot. Due to the low season, it was very quiet and there were hardly any tourists on the hiking trails.
Unfortunately, I only spent one day in the Teno mountains. However, it’s worth staying longer in this area of Tenerife, as there are more highlights waiting for you. For example, beautiful beaches such as Playa Punta de Teno, picturesque mountain villages such as Valle de Arriba or El Tanque, and countless viewpoints. Above all, the Teno Landscape Park offers great hiking opportunities, which are described, for example, in this great hiking guide*
The best starting point for the hike to Masca is the town of Santiago del Teide, which offers numerous accommodation options* If you want to meet people to experience the hike together, I recommend the Arena Nest Hostel* in Puerto de Santiago, where I stayed myself. The town is located around 30 minutes from the starting point of the route, right by the sea.
The easiest way to get around Tenerife is by car.
It is also possible to travel by bus, but you will need to allow considerably more time. Bus transport on the Canary Islands is generally very well organized and also inexpensive. The main bus lines to Santiago del Teide are line 325, which commutes between Puerto de la Cruz and Puerto de Santiago, and line 460. Bus line 355 takes you from Masca to Buenavista del Norte or Santiago del Teide. Further information can be found on the website of the island’s transport company.
Some of the hikes lead along rooted forest paths and stony nature trails, which is why hiking boots are a must. The Teno Mountains are known for changeable weather, so make sure you pack rainproof clothing. Don’t forget sunscreen and a hat.
There are endless opportunities to use your camera during the hike. Especially landscape photography of the vastness of the coast or the mountains of Tenerife. It’s therefore best to think about a telephoto or wide-angle lens and a lightweight travel tripod. In the photography section of the blog, you can find information on travel cameras, camera equipment and helpful tips for better pictures.
Tour on the PR-TF 51 hiking trail towards Masca
We descend from the summit and follow the marked hiking trail PR-TF 51, which runs between Los Llanos and Punta de Teno. The section runs slowly downhill through bizarrely shaped trees and repeatedly opens up magnificent views of the rugged cliffs of Tenerife. We also have our destination, Masca, in view all the times.
Hiking in the oldest region of Tenerife
The Teno Mountains extend over the geologically oldest part of the island. It is characterized by deep ravines of volcanic origin that drop steeply down to the coast. This has created extreme differences in altitude over a very short distance, giving the Teno Mountains their rugged landscape. In summary, an absolute highlight on the Canary Islands for all nature lovers.
If you are looking for a travel guide for Tenerife, then take a look at this book. I personally really like this series of travel guides. The authors give travel tips especially for individual and low-budget travelers. In addition, not only the well-known sights are described, but lesser-known places are also mentioned.
On the PR-TF 59 hiking trail towards Masca
We change to the PR-TF 59 hiking trail and hike towards Masca. The path often runs along the slope and a variety of green plants adorn the edge of the path. Indeed, the picturesque landscape of the Teno Mountains is unique and makes hikers’ hearts beat faster.
Palm trees adorn the landscape, landscaped terraces in the mountainsides cross our paths and small houses and huts are dotted along the way. At the Mirador La Cruz de Hilda, many tourists sit in the café. We approach Masca.
If you prefer to travel in a group, you have the option of joining a guided tour. You don’t have to worry about getting there, planning excursions or catering, but can concentrate fully on the beauty of Tenerife. I recommend booking a tour via the Viator portal, where countless activities around the world can be booked easily and securely.
A visit to the mountain village of Masca
We walk alongside parked cars at the side of the road, coaches, and tour guides. Masca is a real tourist magnet and the village is correspondingly crowded. The holidaymakers are well catered for, as Masca is a true idyll nestled between the steep rock faces of the Teno Mountains. After a meal in a restaurant with an incredible view of the rock faces, we take bus 355 back to Santiago del Teide.
If you are looking for more hikes on the Canary Islands, then take a look at this book. The book is small and handy, offers useful information on hiking and detailed descriptions of the hikes.
Conclusion on hiking in the Teno mountains on Tenerife
The route to Masca is beautiful and I really enjoyed it. Anyone who appreciates mountains and nature will love this hike. The alternation between green vegetation and magnificent views of the picturesque landscape of Tenerife makes the hike something special. The paths are well marked, but also demanding and require a certain level of physical fitness. You should have respect for heights and be sure-footed. The area around the Teno mountains is ideal for hikers looking for new challenges, but also for beginners and families with children who simply want to enjoy nature.
I hope you enjoyed my travel report about the hiking opportunities in the Teno-Mountains. On my travel blog, I show you other beautiful destinations on the Canary Islands and share valuable tips and experiences for your trip to Spain. Did you like my blog post? Was I able to help you? Then I would be delighted if you would recommend my travel blog, leave a comment or follow me on Instagram. Thanks for reading and have fun on your Canary Islands vacation.
The references marked with an asterisk (*) are so-called commission links. If you click on such a referral link and buy something, I get a small commission from the provider. For you, the price does not change! I see it as a small thank you for my work and look forward to any support.
