Masca loop

Highlights

The section from the mountain village of Masca to Santiago de Teide is stunning and takes place on a sinuous road. This 3.9 kilometre stretch has an average slope of 11%, with a maximum of 17%.

The curving road offers a breathtaking view of the Masca valley and its deep ravines. You cannot help but feel in awe of the impressive volcanic landscapes that tower above you in this part of the island.

Route notes

1. Chío to Santiago del Tiede: 0-11 km

You take the TF 82 from the village of Chío and ride around 6 kilometres on the side of the mountain. It’s mostly downward to Tamaimo.

The ride from Tamaimo to Santiago del Tiede continues on the TF 82; it is around 8 kilometres, with approximately 355 meters of climbing.

2. Santiago del Tiede to Buenavista del Norte: 11-48 km

It’s a 3 kilometre climb up to Puerto de Erjos which rises to 1,117 meters of altitude.

After this, you descend for about 13 kilometres to San Juan del Reparo. Before you reach San Juan del Reparo you turn left on TF 421, riding for 8 kilometres to Las Cruces.

From Las Cruces, you take the Trans. Guía de Isora road which I think is safer than continuing on the TF 421 to reach the TF 42 road. The section from San Juan del Repara to Garcahico has a stunning view of the ocean. The road descends with several switchbacks. The road surface is generally fair in most sections but take care to ride it safely.

Then from Garachico to Buenavista del Norte, it is a relatively flat ride for 11.6 kilometres on the TF 42 road. You will see a lot of banana plantations on both sides of the road.

The Canarian bananas represent the main crop in Tenerife. These bananas flourish in the rich, fertile volcanic soil.

Bananas growing on the side of the road (photo credit: Vincent Hurstel)

3. Buenavista del Norte to Chio: 48-75km

The ride to Santiago del Tiede is around 23 kilometres on the TF 436. You will ride through the villages of El Palmar, Las Lagunetas and Masca.

As mentioned in the highlights, the best portion of this ride is the iconic 3.9 kilometre climb from Masca to Santiago del Tiede.

The small mountain village of Masca sits at 650 meters of altitude, there’s around 420 meters of climbing, to take you to more than 1,000 meters of altitude, before descending to Santiago del Tiede.

From Santiago del Tiede, you ride to Chío on the TF 375 road. It’s a 10 kilometre stretch, with 153 meters of climbing.

The views of the Masca valley are absolutely spectacular (photo credit: Claude Léger)

Café stops

• I usually stop at the ES Disa Buenavista gas station, in Buenavista del Norte. This allows me to eat my sandwich, refill my two bottles and get rid of any packaging. You can also use the toilets, before taking on the 23 kilometre stretch to Santiago del Tiede.
• I usually do not stop in Masca. However, if you do want to stop here there are a couple of restaurants in the village, including Restaurante El Guanche or Restaurante Casa Fidel.
• In Santiago del Tiede, I usually stop at the Minimarket Santiago del Tiede to stock up on snacks.
• In Chío, you have to stop at the Snack-Bar Parado. It’s a great end to the ride! There’s lots of memorabilia related to cycling. It’s also a popular pit stop with the pros training in Tenerife. Don’t forget to say hello to the owner, Raphaël.

Accommodation

When visiting Tenerife, I like to base myself in El Medano. This is a coastal village in the southeast of the island. There are a number of hotels to choose from, as well as Airbnb options.

For more tips on where to stay in Tenerife, don’t miss the best towns for cyclists .

Tips

• From my base in El Medano, I usually rent a car to ride the Masca Loop. To reach Chío from El Medano, you have to go through three urban areas, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Costa Adele. It is not very pleasant so better to reach Chío by car.
• I thikn it’s best to ride the Masca Loop from north to south, i.e. from Buenavista del Norte to Santiago del Tiede. This enables you to cycle the iconic climb from Masca.
• Tenerife is a great year-round island for cycling, with the winter months and spring (November to April) being particularly popular with cyclists.
• The road surface is generally really good in Tenerife, including on this Masca loop.
• At altitude, the weather can change rapidly. Temperatures can also vary a lot compared with sea level. Be prepared with extra layers (including arm warmers, a vest and a buff), especially if you are planning on riding this route in January and February.
• The beautiful mountain village of Masca village is a lovely place for a relaxing pit stop. Its charming, cobbled streets and a small cluster of houses (including a tiny church) boast staggering views of the surrounding vegetation and valley.

For more useful Tenerife cycling tips don’t miss this article.

Found this guide useful?

We hope you enjoyed Claude’s ride suggestion – it’s certainly one for the wish list! We’d love to hear from you if you decide to ride this route – comment below or drop us a line.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out more of Claude’s must-do rides in Tenerife here:

• El Médano to El Poris de Abona loop
• Tour of the island loop from El Médano 

Don’t miss our ultimate guide to Tenerife , our articles (below) and other ride guides to Tenerife: Anaga and Mount Teide via La Oratav

Claude is an avid cross-country skier and cyclist who is passionate about inspiring others to embrace a healthier lifestyle through sports. As a world traveller, he has enriched his experiences by participating in international skiing and cycling races across diverse cultures. Notably, he completed the Canadian Ski Marathon and several Worldloppet events between 1990 and 2000.

After a career with the UN and Canadian government, Claude shifted focus to the cycling industry. He has consulted for companies like Blade Carbon Wheels and Beet It, promoting their products in Canada and abroad. A pivotal moment came in 2006 when he completed l’Étape du Tour de France, igniting his passion for international road cycling.

Currently, Claude is an ambassador for Pactimo and is a contributor to Epic Road Rides. He is dedicated to discovering new cycling destinations and sharing his journey on social media, encouraging others to pursue their cycling passion.