The Masca Trail, Tenerife
Posted by outdoormole on Dec 10, 2008
The Masca Trail is a hidden gem in Tenerife, which as a holiday destination is generally regarded by most Brits as a good place for a warm, inexpensive beach holiday – however the island has much to offer walkers and hikers. This trail follows the Masca Gorge between the beach and the village and is roughly 17 km in length.
As a rule, people begin the walk at the village of Masca, which for a number of years remained virtually inaccessible from the rest of the island due to its position on top of a significant hill. However, a taxi journey to the village along a daringly engineered road (get ready for hair-pin bends) arrives into a pretty and bustling settlement with some lovely restaurants and market stalls.
The starting point is not obvious but once the walk begins it’s totally mesmerising. The geology and flora along the unique terrain make for a breathtaking descent which takes around 3 hours. When you plan this walk, you have the option of walking down and then back up again to the village, or pre-arranging a water taxi or boat to pick you up where the gorge meets the beach and clear blue sea. Alternatively you can start at the bottom and walk up to the village and arrange transport back to your hotel or apartment from there, which is definitely easier on those with weaker knees.
