From 18th April, access to the popular Masca Valley in Buenavista del Norte will be restricted to visitors arriving by official shuttle bus only, as part of a new mobility and conservation plan introduced by the Tenerife Cabildo.
The initiative is designed to reduce traffic congestion on the narrow access road, manage visitor numbers, and enhance the safety and sustainability of tourism in the Teno Rural Park.
The announcement was made by Island President Rosa Dávila, who outlined a series of measures aimed at easing pressure on the gorge and surrounding areas. These include visitor caps, restricted vehicle access, increased police presence, and efforts to preserve the area’s fragile ecosystem.
Under the new system, only visitors holding a stamped ticket purchased through the official website www.caminobarrancodemasca.com, and using the designated shuttle service will be permitted to enter the gorge. Tickets include both entry to the hiking trail and the shuttle journey. Access will be denied to anyone without a valid ticket, and private vehicles or unauthorised buses will no longer be allowed entry.
The shuttle service will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between 7:00am and 2:00pm, with four 18-seater minibuses departing every twenty minutes from a stop in Santiago del Teide. Visitors are advised to park in the town centre and walk approximately five to eight minutes to the bus stop.
Ticket pricing is tiered: Tenerife residents may access the gorge for free, Canary Islands residents pay €5, while non-residents are charged €38 for adults and €19 for children. Those who do not complete the round-trip hike may exit the gorge by boat to Los Gigantes, from where taxis or a reinforced Titsa bus service will be available to facilitate their return.
To further alleviate congestion, the Cabildo is working with traffic authorities to establish a one-way system for authorised buses, entering from Buenavista del Norte and exiting toward Santiago del Teide. Discussions are also underway regarding infrastructure improvements, the creation of new lay-bys along the road, and potential land expropriations if needed.
Dávila highlighted the importance of maintaining the character of Masca as a real community and not a "theme park," insisting that locals deserve peace, respect, and protection from the pressures of mass tourism. She described the management plan as a pioneering model for Tenerife, with potential applications in other sensitive areas such as Anaga and Teide National Park.
Since July of last year, daily access to the gorge has been limited to 275 visitors, a dramatic reduction from previous figures that exceeded 100,000 annually. The site will continue to offer guided descents, with around 11 groups per day, each capped at 25 people.
