Why Masca
Masca sits at about 600 m in the Teno mountains, in the north-west corner of Tenerife. What makes the ride famous is the way in: from the west coast you climb to a pass at just over 1,050 m, then drop into the village on a short, very steep road full of switchbacks, and you have to climb out again.
We have three road routes that take in Masca. Two start at our Puerto de Santiago shop, about 20 km from the village: a short out-and-back ride and a big loop over to Garachico on the north coast. The third is a long loop from our Las Américas shop on the south coast.
This guide puts them side by side: distance, climbing, how long and how steep the climbs are, and who each route suits. Every route has its own page with the GPX file and Strava link, so once you have chosen, you can load it on your computer and go.
The three routes at a glance
| Route to Masca Village | Epic Masca – Garachico Loop | Las Américas – Masca Coastal Loop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Puerto de Santiago | Puerto de Santiago | Las Américas |
| Distance | 39.5 km | 86.9 km | 88.8 km |
| Climbing | 1,471 m | 2,564 m | 2,272 m |
| Climbing per km | ~37 m | ~30 m | ~26 m |
| Highest point | ~1,060 m | ~1,140 m (near Erjos) | See the route page |
| Main climbs | 16 km at ~6.4% to the pass; 4 km at ~11% out of Masca | 16 km at ~6.5% to the pass; 22 km at ~5.2% from Garachico | See the route page |
| Shape | Out and back | Loop via the north coast | Loop from the south coast |
| Best for | Masca in half a day | The big day in the north-west | Riders staying in the south |
Climbing per km = total climbing divided by distance, a quick way to compare how hilly a route is. Main climbs are measured from our GPX files, with the average gradient over the whole stretch, so the steepest parts are harder than the average. For the Las Américas loop we only quote distance and climbing; open its GPX or Strava link on the route page for the full profile.
The routes in detail
1. Route to Masca Village: the classic out-and-back
39.5 km · 1,471 m · out and back · Route page, GPX and Strava →
You leave Puerto de Santiago and start climbing straight away, up through Tamaimo (≈470 m, km 6) to Santiago del Teide (≈930 m, km 14). The steepest kilometre of the climb, about 10%, comes just after Santiago del Teide, on the way up to the pass at about 1,055 m (km 16). From the shop that is 16 km at an average of 6.4%.
Then the road drops 450 m in 4 km into Masca (≈610 m, km 20), an average of 11%. Everything you descend you climb again on the way back: 4 km at about 11%, with the steepest kilometre close to 13%. Once you are back over the pass, it is 16 km downhill to the coast.
Choose it if you want to ride to Masca in half a day and you like short, steep climbing.
2. Epic Masca – Garachico Loop: over Teno to the north coast
86.9 km · 2,564 m · loop · Route page, GPX and Strava →
The first 20 km are the same as the Route to Masca Village: Tamaimo, Santiago del Teide, the pass and the steep drop into Masca. But instead of turning around, you carry on north through the Teno mountains. The road climbs again for about 4.5 km out of Masca, to roughly 810 m at km 24, with pitches over 11%. Then comes a descent of about 21 km to the north coast near Buenavista del Norte, and east along the coast through Los Silos (km 40) and Garachico (km 46, close to sea level) to Icod de los Vinos.
From the coast you climb back into the mountains: from Garachico it is about 22 km at an average of 5.2%, with the steepest kilometre around 10%, to the high point of the day at about 1,135 m near Erjos (km 67). From there it is downhill almost all the way home, through Santiago del Teide (km 73) and Tamaimo (km 81) to Puerto de Santiago.
Choose it if you want Masca, the north coast and Garachico in one day, and you are happy with two long climbs and almost 2,600 m of climbing.
3. Las Américas – Masca Coastal Loop: Masca from the south
88.8 km · 2,272 m · loop · Route page, GPX and Strava →
If you are staying in Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje or Los Cristianos, this is our Masca route from the Las Américas shop. It heads north along the coast past Adeje and Guía de Isora, climbs into the Teno mountains for the famous switchbacks around Masca, and comes back down to the south.
It is the longest of the three, 88.8 km, but it has less climbing per kilometre than the Garachico loop: about 26 m per km against 30. It is still a full day out: take food, water and a light for the way home.
Choose it if you are based in the south and want to ride to Masca from your doorstep.
Which one should you ride?
- Masca in half a day: Route to Masca Village. The shortest of the three, under 40 km.
- The big day in the north-west: Epic Masca – Garachico Loop. Masca, the north coast and Garachico in one loop.
- Staying in the south: Las Américas – Masca Coastal Loop. It starts and finishes at our Las Américas shop.
- Not sure about the steep part? Ride the Route to Masca Village first. If the climb out of Masca felt fine, the Garachico loop is your next step.
Both Puerto de Santiago routes share their first 20 km, so after one ride you will know the climb to the pass and the descent into Masca.
Before you go: practical tips
The road around Masca is the crux. On every route it is the steepest part of the day. On the out-and-back route the climb back out of the village is about 4 km at 11%; on the Garachico loop the climb north out of Masca is gentler on average but has pitches over 11%. Ride the descent into the village calmly and save something for the way out.
The descents. The drop into Masca averages 11% and is full of switchbacks: brake before the bends, not in them, and stop if your hands get tired. The descents back to the coast are long: 16 km from the pass to Puerto de Santiago, and about 20 km from near Erjos at the end of the Garachico loop.
Water and food. The villages on the route are where to plan your refills: Tamaimo, Santiago del Teide and Masca, and on the Garachico loop also Los Silos, Garachico and Icod de los Vinos. Leave the north coast with full bottles, because the next 22 km are uphill. Carry gels or bars either way.
Gearing. With pitches over 10%, low gears make the difference between enjoying the climb and grinding through it. A compact chainset (50/34) with a large cassette is ideal. If you are unsure, ask us in the shop.
Layers. At the pass you are about 1,000 m above the coast, and it is usually cooler and windier. Take a gilet or arm warmers for the descents.
Start early. The climbs are cooler in the morning, and on the long loops you will be glad of the extra daylight.
FAQ
How hard is cycling to Masca?
From Puerto de Santiago you climb 16 km at an average of about 6.4% to a pass at about 1,055 m, then drop into Masca. The hardest part is the road around the village: about 4 km at an average of 11%, with the steepest kilometre close to 13%. Even the short out-and-back has 1,471 m of climbing in under 40 km.
Can I ride to Masca from Las Américas?
Yes. The Las Américas – Masca Coastal Loop starts and finishes at our Las Américas shop: 88.8 km and 2,272 m of climbing. For a shorter ride, start from our Puerto de Santiago shop instead: Masca is only about 20 km away.
Which route is best for a first ride to Masca?
The Route to Masca Village. It is the shortest, and from Masca you are one climb away from the long descent home.
Do I need to be very fit?
You need to be comfortable with steep climbing: around Masca the road is steeper on average than the main climbs up to Teide. If you want to test your legs first, try one of our shorter loops from Puerto de Santiago, such as the Warm-Up Loop or the TF-465 Loop.
Which way round do the loops go?
The Epic Masca – Garachico Loop goes to Masca first, then down to the north coast and Garachico, and back over the mountains past Erjos and Santiago del Teide. The Las Américas loop heads up the west coast first and reaches Masca from there. The GPX files on the route pages follow the same direction.
Start at KUDO Puerto de Santiago
Two of the three routes start and finish at our shop on Av. Quinto Centenario in Puerto de Santiago, near Los Gigantes: the closest of our shops to Masca. Book a road bike online and tell us which route you are planning.
Rent a road bike in Puerto de Santiago →
Staying in the south? The Las Américas loop starts at our shop on Av. Antonio Domínguez: rent a road bike in Las Américas.
More rides from the west coast
- Garachico without Masca: the Coast to Coast: Puerto de Santiago – Garachico Loop, 79 km and 2,267 m.
- Riding up the volcano: Cycling up Teide from Las Américas: 4 routes compared.
- All cycling routes in Tenerife