Masca Beach lies at the foot of the Masca Gorge (Barranco de Masca) in the municipality of Buenavista del Norte, in the Teno massif of northwest Tenerife. The gorge runs down to the Atlantic from Masca, a mountain village at 650 m that began as a Guanche settlement before the Spanish conquest of 1496. No road reaches the beach. It is the end point of a strenuous trail through the gorge and a landing for boats from Los Gigantes.
Masca Beach
Local name: Playa de Masca
Remote Atlantic cove at the mouth of the Masca Gorge, reached only by a gorge trail or by boat.
- Entrance
- Gorge descent €40 per adult, booked in advance; the compulsory boat transfer from the beach to Los Gigantes costs €25 per adult.
- Accessibility
- No road reaches the beach: access is on foot down the gorge trail or by boat. The trail is not passable for wheelchairs or anyone with limited mobility.
- Parking
- No parking at the beach. Two free car parks at Masca, about 2.8 km away in a straight line, but hikers must arrive by bus to be let onto the trail.
- Difficulty
- Strenuous: the trail drops from Masca village at 650 m to sea level through the gorge, about 8 km and roughly three hours on foot. Hiking boots are compulsory.
- Transport
- Bus from Santiago del Teide to the Masca stop at the head of the gorge; out from the beach by boat transfer to Los Gigantes.
- Advance booking
- Required: both the gorge descent and the boat transfer from the beach to Los Gigantes must be booked ahead. Places on the descent are limited and sell out.
- Address
- Masca Beach, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
What makes it special
After hours between the walls of the Masca Gorge, the trail simply runs out at the sea: sheer cliffs on one side, the open Atlantic on the other, and a stony shore where the gorge meets the surf. No road comes anywhere near, and it shows. There is nothing on the beach but rock and water.
The walk starts in Masca, a village at 650 m, and drops through the gorge for about 8 km, around three hours on foot. Most people reach the bottom hot and tired, and the first swim is the reward. Others arrive from the water, on boat trips that pull in so passengers can swim off the cove.
Good to know
- No toilets and no drinking water at the beach or nearby — carry enough water for the whole descent.
- Places on the descent sell out, so book the hike before you plan the rest of the day around it.
- The walk ends at the sea and the boat drops you in Los Gigantes: plan your onward trip from there.
- Allow about three hours for the descent. The gorge is strenuous and unforgiving for anyone who comes unprepared.
- Without the hike, the beach is still reachable by boat — trips along the coast stop here for a swim.
Getting there
The approach starts at the top. A bus from Santiago del Teide climbs the mountain road to the Masca stop, about 2.9 km from the beach in a straight line, and the trail drops from the village through the Masca Gorge to the sea — about 8 km and roughly three hours on foot. Keep the bus ticket: it is checked before you are let onto the trail. There are car parks in the village, but hikers have to come by bus.
The way out is by sea. A booked boat transfer carries you from the beach to Los Gigantes, and boat trips along the coast also call at the cove.
Best time to visit
Best: early in the day, with the descent started in the morning.
Avoid: the days after heavy rain, and days of rough sea.
An early start puts more of the walk in the shade of the gorge walls before the midday heat settles on the floor, while wet rock slips and loosens, and the boat that takes you out needs a calm landing.
Access & restrictions
Entry to the gorge trail is controlled, and four conditions apply:
- Booked descent: the walk down must be reserved in advance, and places are limited.
- Booked boat: a boat transfer from the beach to Los Gigantes must be reserved as well; without it you are not allowed onto the trail.
- Bus only: arrive by bus from Santiago del Teide to Masca and keep the ticket. It is checked at the entry point, and without it access is refused.
- Hiking boots: proper boots are compulsory, and anyone without them is turned away.
Things to do nearby
All tours in Buenavista del Norte on GetYourGuide
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Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Masca Beach on the map
Rock falls from the gorge walls and the cliffs above the beach, and the shore takes open Atlantic swell. Do not linger under the cliffs, and never turn your back on the sea when you swim.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you hike down to Masca Beach without booking?
No. The descent through the Masca Gorge has to be booked in advance and places are limited, so it can sell out. A boat transfer from the beach to Los Gigantes must be reserved too.How long is the hike from Masca to the beach?
About 8 km from the village at 650 m down to the sea, and around three hours on foot. The route is strenuous, and hiking boots are compulsory.Can I drive to Masca and start the hike from there?
There are car parks in the village, but hikers must arrive by bus from Santiago del Teide. The bus ticket is checked before entry, and without it you are turned back.How do you get back from the beach?
By boat. The booked transfer takes you from the beach to Los Gigantes.Are there toilets or drinking water at the beach?
No, neither at the beach nor nearby. Carry all the water you need for the descent.