Masca

For other uses, see Masca (disambiguation).

Masca is a small mountain village on the island of Tenerife. It was originally a Guanche settlement before the Spanish conquest in 1496. The village is now home to around 90 inhabitants. The village lies at an altitude of 650 m in the Macizo de Teno mountains, which extend up to the northwesternmost point of Tenerife.

Masca
Masca in Tenerife
Masca Location in the Canary Islands
Coordinates: 28°18′19″N 16°50′25″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Canary Islands
Province	Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Island	Tenerife
Municipality	Buenavista del Norte
Population  (2013)[1]
• Total	99
Time zone	WET
• Summer (DST)	WEST
Official language(s)	Spanish

View of La Gomera from Masca

Shell of Hemicycla mascaensis, an endemic land snail of Tenerife, named after the village of Masca

Forests including cypresses and palm trees abound. The village lies at the head of the Masca Gorge. The trail from the village down the gorge to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean is a popular, though strenuous, hiking route, which takes about 3 hours each way. ^[2] These "hiking routes" are not just demanding, but also strenuous with, conditions that can very easily claim your life, should you venture into them unprepared.^[3]