Masca Gorge permit & eco-fee
The Masca ravine runs on a paid, booked-only descent system on its own platform. You pre-book a slot, the ticket includes a helmet, and the return boat is mandatory and booked separately.
⚠︎ Rules, prices and slot times change often. Always confirm on the official site before you travel — fines apply.
Open the official site ↗
Last checked: 2026-06-22
- Permits & eco-fees
- ✓
- Price (tourist)
- From €40.66 (adult non-resident) · Canary residents €7.49 · Tenerife residents free
- Daily limit
- 275
- Slots open
- Descent Wed–Sat, 08:30–13:00 · named tickets, ID required · helmet & insurance included
- Fine
- Access without a valid booking is not allowed
The Barranco de Masca descends from Masca village to the sea — one of Tenerife’s most dramatic hikes. It reopened under a booking-only system on a dedicated official site (separate from the Teide / Anaga platform — this fragmentation is exactly what trips travellers up).
Key 2026 rules:
- Pre-booked time slot, named tickets, passport/ID required. Descent only, Wed–Sat, slots 08:30–13:00. Daily cap 275.
- The ticket includes a safety helmet and insurance.
- The return boat to Los Gigantes is mandatory and booked separately — you won’t be let on the trail without it.
- Access is by bus only: TITSA route 355 from Santiago del Teide; private cars to the trailhead are banned. Be at the stop at least 1 h before your slot.
Tour incl. permit
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Frequently asked questions
Is a Teide permit the same as a cable-car ticket?
No — they are three separate things. The cable car is a paid ticket up to La Rambleta (≈3,555 m). Standing on the actual summit cone (Pico del Teide, 3,715 m) needs a separate, free timed permit from the national park, plus a €15 non-resident eco-fee introduced on 19 January 2026. Booking the cable car does not include the summit permit.
Can I climb Teide without a permit?
You can walk or ride the cable car up to La Rambleta and the viewpoints without a permit, but you cannot legally step onto the final summit cone (the Telesforo Bravo path) without a free timed permit. Climbing the cone without one risks a fine of up to €600. The alternative is a guided tour that already includes the permit.
How much does the Masca gorge really cost?
Far more than the "free trail" impression. Entry to the Barranco de Masca is a paid, booked slot, and you must add a mandatory return boat from the beach plus the connecting bus — in practice around €100+ per person all-in. It is booked on its own official platform, separate from Teide.
Will I be fined?
Yes, fines are enforced. Entering the Teide summit cone without a valid permit can cost up to €600. Carry your permit confirmation and an ID, and confirm the rules on the official site before you go — prices and limits change.
Do I need to book the Masca gorge in advance?
Yes. The Barranco de Masca runs on timed, pre-booked entry slots managed by the Tenerife council on its own official platform. You cannot just turn up and walk down — bring your booking confirmation.
Why is the Masca hike so expensive if the trail is 'free'?
The walk down the gorge ends at a beach with no road out, so the only way back is a mandatory return boat to Los Gigantes, plus a connecting bus or taxi. Adding the entry slot, boat and transport, most visitors spend around €100+ per person.
Can I walk back up the Masca gorge instead of taking the boat?
Generally no — the official model is one-way down with a return by boat, and walking back up is restricted. Check the current rules on the official booking platform, as access conditions change with weather and maintenance.