Holidays in the Canary Islands is a cherished dream of almost every person. And if you decide to visit this paradise, then it's time to look for the best place. Tenerife Island is the largest and most popular tourist resort, which lies in the center of the mainland. It has a volcanic origin and is covered with numerous green valleys, mountain ranges and faults. One of them will be discussed today. This is a picturesque gorge Mask.
Main attraction
Excursions in Tenerife can be done independently or with a guide and group. The latter option is preferable, because otherwise you can skip many interesting corners. And one of the most attractive is the Mask Gorge. Today we’ll talk about how you can go through this difficult walking route with a length of 6 km one way. As part of the program, you will find:
- Serpentine from Santiago del Teide.
- The village of Mask.
- Trekking route.
The island is rich in beautiful canyons. But despite this, the Mask gorge remains number one due to its extraordinary picturesqueness, as well as its size. It is the deepest on the island.
Set off
Excursions to the Mask gorge begin on the west coast of about. Tenerife You can see a lot of interesting things here, but tourists especially highlight the mountain serpentine, the steep cliffs of Teno and the freshest streams of frozen lava left after the eruption of 1909. The village of Santiago del Teide has retained traces of this event. It is from here that the path to the Mask gorge begins.
This part of the island developed in complete isolation. The unique microclimate provides the development of flora and fauna. At the same time, the descent to the village is very steep. Tourists nicknamed this path "6 km of fear." But, apparently, because of this, the route is only becoming more popular. In addition, all the difficulties of the path are quickly forgotten as soon as you begin your trek to the mountains.
Features of the way
You simply must make this amazing trip if you are in Tenerife. Mask Gorge is located next to a small village. It is hard to believe, but until the middle of the last century there was no road to this village. Then it was a settlement lost in the impregnable mountains, of which only pirates knew. They hid their schooners in the bay, and themselves inconspicuous paths made their way into the village. Today, the same paths are used by tourists.
After the mountain road appeared, which connected the village with the rest of the world, the Mask instantly became of interest to tourists. Today, several companies are at once working that are ready to offer you a trip from the town of Los Gigantes. You get the opportunity to go through the gorge. In addition, the tour includes a shuttle bus to the village, as well as boating back. After all, after you have walked 6 km, the journey home may seem very long.
Traveling on your own: how to get there
Mask Gorge annually attracts tourists to admire the marvelous beauty of nature. If you take the train by car, the first thing you need to do is get to Santiago del Teide. This is a stretch of road with excellent coverage. But that’s where the comfort ends. Then you have to go for a real serpentine.
On the sides it is better to look less. The road winds along the mountains, and it is so narrow that it’s not very easy for two cars to leave. The speed here should be minimal. Yes, and stop in order to take a photo, will not work. There are special platforms for this. Be prepared for the fact that places on them are always full. It remains to shoot from the car window or to rely on your memory, which will preserve wonderful moments.
What to say about the road itself. It is maintained in good condition, but is quite difficult, especially for a novice driver. Of course, it is equipped with chippers. But the road is so steep, and the gorge is deep, that involuntarily everyone is trying to slow down to a minimum. And so on to the village itself.
Walking route
Almost daily, here you can see tourists who first visited Tenerife. How to get to the Mask gorge? Just follow the rest. And if you got on that rare day when there are no groups, then follow the signs. They are here everywhere and will not allow you to go astray. On the outskirts of the village you can find the first one.
The first leg of the journey will have to go through an open area, under the scorching sun. Keep to the left side of the gorge, there is a well-trodden path. Then you go deeper into the gorge and it will become much easier to go, the sweltering sun will cease to obscure the path. It's time to pay attention to the surrounding beauty. Landscapes succeed each other, and each of them is simply magnificent. The abundance of vegetation is simply amazing. Here you can find huge cacti and delicate orchids, as well as many other types of plants that we used to consider indoor.
Route difficulty
For an unprepared tourist, these 6 km take 3-4 hours, of course, if you move at a calm pace and with stops. There are people who pass it in 1.5 hours, but this is not a marathon, but a walk. Difficulty varies between easy and medium. Sometimes you have to go down from the stones, which are high - 2-3 meters. Somewhere better to crawl under them. But no difficulties should stop the traveler who is waiting for amazing landscapes and passes.
At the end of this journey, full of adventure, you will find a kind of reward. This is a beautiful beach where you can swim and relax. But do not forget about the time. If you are not going to go back on foot, you need to get on a boat in time. They come on schedule. Now you will find a small boat trip directly to the port, where a car is waiting.
Instead of a conclusion
The Canary Islands are a paradise on Earth. And one of its most beautiful corners can rightly be considered the island of Tenerife. Reviews of Mask Gorge are regularly updated. And every time new tourists do not have time to admire the local views. They note that at other times it is impossible to concentrate on the route, so the surrounding reality captures. Some even strayed from the path. The lush vegetation of saturated green color is framed by the amazing beauty of the cliff. All this creates a picture, if not paradise, then of something very similar. Many in their reviews compare landscapes to shots from the movie "Avatar", so they seem unrealistically beautiful.