This natural spectacle is located in Tenerife and offers breathtaking views.
Alba Armida – 26/5/2023. Original article: Viajar. El Periódico
Getting to Masca is not easy. The bends in the road 436 that connects Buenavista del Norte with this small village in the northwest of the island of Tenerife may discourage the traveller who is more susceptible to car sickness. Even so, both the journey and the destination are well worth it.
Tenerife receives around 5 million travellers a year and although they mainly come to enjoy its beaches, more and more people are choosing to visit what is known as the Spanish Machu Picchu. The hamlet of Masca is almost certainly the most beautiful village on this Canary Island. Only about 80 inhabitants live hidden in this beautiful valley, surrounded by cliffs, palm trees and prickly pears. Its setting is as idyllic as it is inaccessible, because, as we have already mentioned, there are countless bends and curves that will have even the most novice driver’s soul on tenterhooks.
Winding along a narrow, seemingly endless zigzagging road, we reach an altitude of about 700 metres above sea level. In some parts of the road, it is so narrow that two cars cannot fit together and we will have to pull over to the side of the road to make way. With patience, we will reach our destination, a place that was once a favourite hiding place for pirates so as not to be found. This picturesque spot has always been a narrow corner lost to civilisation.
Masca looks like a picture postcard scene; time stands still and forgetting about rushing and stress becomes an obligatory mantra. Strolling through the streets, talking to the locals while having a drink in a café or stopping in a corner to take a few photos is a pleasure that is often more than forgotten and is where you really get the pulse of a destination.
What to see in Masca?
Perhaps the most interesting thing to do is to start the visit from the Cherfe viewpoint, which offers a unique perspective of this hamlet, its location in the middle of the mountains, and the sea, which is only a few kilometres away. After taking a few photographs, it is worth descending to explore every nook and cranny. It won’t take long, but it’s almost legal to do so without haste because the steep streets are tricky and can play tricks on you. The hermitage, located in a small square, welcomes the visitor with its charming stone façade. Built in the 18th century, it is dedicated to the Purísima Concepción.
Hikers can also enjoy a museum and a craft centre, which have been set up inside one of the houses in the village. The hamlet of Masca is considered an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Historic Site. If you have a little more time, it is also worth visiting other farmhouses in the area, such as Las Portelas or Teno Alto, which are not as spectacular, but do have interesting and curious corners. The few remaining inhabitants of Masca (around 80, but the number is steadily decreasing every year) are mainly dedicated to tourism, with the hotel and catering trade, handicrafts and restaurants being their main livelihood.
Canarian friendliness is at its best here.
The jewel in the crown: an unparalleled experience in Masca
The jewel in the crown for the explorer arriving at Tenerife’s Machu Picchu is the trekking route known as Barranco de Masca. It is a very popular route and its estimated time (if we count only the outward journey) is approximately three hours and about 5 kilometres. Of course, we have to face a significant slope that will take us from the mountains to the water of the sea.
This route starts in this hamlet in the municipality of Buenavista del Norte. You need to be in good physical condition to tackle the descent, but the arrival at the beach is, without a doubt, the perfect culmination of this dream route. Some say that it is the most spectacular of all the Canary Islands and we at Revista VIAJAR believe that this may be true.
Once on the beach, we can contemplate one of those sunsets that will remain forever in our minds. You can also take a boat from there to the most south-western part of the island: the port of Los Gigantes. Of course, to take the ferry, you must have arrived at Masca by public transport, or else returning by car will be a real headache.
We are often unaware of the treasures hidden within the Spanish geography and, although it is true that Tenerife conquers above all for its beaches, spending a day in Masca will be the plus that every traveller needs to be able to say that they have combined the perfect mix of beach and mountain on their holidays.