The Cabildo, in collaboration with the municipalities of Buenavista and Santiago del Teide, will introduce, starting on the 18th of this month (Good Friday), a mandatory junction savings service for all individuals wishing to access the Masca ravine. This initiative aims to decrease the number of private vehicles in the area and subsequently enhance mobility within the environment. To facilitate this, a deterrent parking option will be established in the Santiago del Teide town centre, where individuals can park their vehicles before taking the dedicated buses. This announcement was made yesterday by the Cabildo president, Rosa Dávila, during a press conference following the Governing Council, alongside the island’s vice president, Lope Afonso.
Residents of Masca have urged the authorities to find solutions for a village that has been reported to suffer from daily congestion and safety issues due to inadequate infrastructure, while the space has turned into a veritable “theme park” for tourists.
Dávila explained that this new measure will complement the already implemented ecotasa, with the transport service fee added to the entrance ticket for the ravine. Tickets will be available exclusively through the official website Caminobarrancodemasca.com and the cost of transport will be included in the entrance fee for the ravine.
As further outlined by the Cabildo in a subsequent statement, this bus service, with a capacity of 18 passengers each, will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (the only days visitors are permitted to explore the ravine) from 07:00 to 14:00 hours, with departures every 20 minutes from the pickup point in Santiago del Teide, specifically at the Titsa stop adjacent to the City Hall, which has established a parking area for private cars at the cemetery.
Prices
According to reports, prices vary based on the residency of the visitor. Consequently, adults and children residing in Tenerife will not incur any charges for the descent to the Masca ravine or for using the mandatory transport. Adult residents of the Canary Islands will be required to pay 3 euros for the ticket plus 4 euros for the bus, while children will pay 1.5 and 2 euros, respectively.
For non-resident adults from outside the Canary Islands, the entrance fee will be 28 euros, plus 10 euros for the transport, while children will pay 14 euros for entry and an additional 5 euros for the La Guagua ticket. The town hall emphasised that visitors arriving in Masca without using the designated bus will not be permitted to traverse the ravine.
“Anyone wishing to descend into the Masca ravine must retain the ticket that confirms their journey by bus,” insisted the island president, who reminded that this natural area has a limit of 275 visitors for each of the three days it can be accessed. “In previous years, approximately 100,000 individuals explored the Masca ravine. With these newly adopted restrictions, we have already reduced that figure to below 50,000 per year,” she stated.
Furthermore, Dávila anticipated that with this bus service, “we are aiming to alleviate between 100 to 120 vehicles from parking in the Masca village each day, as visitors will be utilising discretionary transport instead.”
“This management plan is the first of its kind in Tenerife and will serve as a model for other areas such as Anaga or Teide National Park, once its transfer is formalised. We are proceeding responsibly, step by step, with a clear roadmap: to safeguard the territory, enhance the quality of life for residents, and provide sustainable tourism,” she affirmed.
She added that there are also ongoing discussions with the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) to establish a unique directional system for all buses entering and exiting the hamlet, thus preventing traffic jams when two vehicles meet on the roads. The proposal suggests that incoming buses follow the route to Masca, while outgoing buses return via Santiago del Teide. “This initiative has originated from consultations with local municipalities and residents,” stated Dávila, noting the aim is to reduce the size of tourist buses. Once formal approval from the DGT is granted, further decisions regarding fares, deterrent parking, and regulated services can be progressed.
The DGT has also been requested to ensure police surveillance, particularly at critical zones such as viewpoints and car parks. In addition, improvements and repairs to the TF-28 road are being explored, while for housing, an in-depth analysis is necessary since the current road conditions would necessitate expropriations, as indicated by the Cabildo.
When questioned about the potential introduction of measures to limit rental vehicle access to the Caserío de Masca, Rosa Dávila responded that “we are endeavouring to relieve congestion through the measures we are currently implementing, and we will assess their effectiveness or the need for additional restrictions.” However, at this moment, “it is not being considered,” and should it come into discussion, “it will be addressed with the local residents,” she stated.
Moreover, the Governing Council approved yesterday the establishment of a public sector office aimed at enhancing the delivery of citizen services. In the meantime, Lope Afonso reported that an agreement has also been reached with the City Council of San Miguel de Abona concerning improvement works for the Tourist Information Office in the town centre.
Balsas
Additionally, Afonso reported that recent rainfall has resulted in water reservoirs being at approximately “65% of their capacity.” “It is particularly encouraging to observe how the areas hardest hit by drought in recent months, especially in the north, have significantly regained their water flow, allowing us to approach the summer with a sufficient water reserve to support the primary sector,” he remarked, though he reminded that “we remain in a state of water emergency.”
