Mt. Teide and Masca Valley Tour in Tenerife: My Honest Review

LAST UPDATED August 28, 2025 BY Katarina Komazec

During my vacation in Playa de las Américas, I booked the Mt. Teide and Masca Valley Tour to explore the north of Tenerife without the hassle of renting a car.

I had already been up Mount Teide once before, but this time I wanted to see more of the island in one day.

I’d heard that Masca Valley is a must-see, yet also that the drive there is extremely challenging, with narrow, twisting mountain roads. That alone made me prefer an organized tour over driving myself.

The itinerary covered Teide National Park, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico, and finally Masca, some of the most famous spots on the island.

We booked our tour through Viator, and the cost was around $60 per person (June 2025).

This is my honest review of how the tour went, what I enjoyed most, and whether I think it’s worth doing if you’re planning a visit.

Mt. Teide and Masca Valley Tour Overview

The Mount Teide and Masca Valley Tour is a full-day excursion (around 9 hours) that takes you through some of the most impressive parts of northern Tenerife.

Pick-up was included from Playa de las Américas, and from there we drove inland toward Teide National Park before continuing to the coast and mountain villages. The main stops were:

• Quick break near Vilaflor village
• Mirador Juan Évora (first viewpoint inside Teide National Park)
• Roque de García (second stop inside Teide National Park)
• Icod de los Vinos – longer lunch break with free time in this traditional northern town (lunch wasn’t included)
• Garachico – guided walk through the historic coastal town
• Masca Valley – dramatic mountain scenery and viewpoints

The tour was done in a big coach, so it’s not an intimate small-group trip, but it was comfortable and well organized.

Our guide spoke both Spanish and English. His English wasn’t perfect, but he made sure we understood the key information and kept the schedule running smoothly.

We never wasted time waiting for anyone, and everything felt on track throughout the day.

What really struck me is how diverse Tenerife is. The south, where my friend and I stayed, is all about sunshine, beaches, and resorts.

Santa Cruz and the northeast have more of a city and cultural feel.

But on this tour, we went up north into a completely different world made of volcanic landscapes, pine forests, historic towns, and dramatic mountain valleys.

That contrast is one of the most impressive things about Tenerife, and this route really shows it.

🌲 Stop 1: Coffee Break near Vilaflor

Our first stop was near Vilaflor, but not in the actual village itself.

Instead, the bus pulled into a roadside restaurant where we had about 20 minutes for a quick coffee and bathroom break. It wasn’t a sightseeing stop, more of a practical pause before heading higher into the mountains.

Rather than sit down, we walked a little along the road. The air was crisp and fresh, completely different from the warm beaches in the south.

Around us were pines, cacti, and other plants I hadn’t expected to see together, with small lizards darting across the rocks. It already felt like a different world.

Vilaflor itself is the highest village in Spain, about 1,400 meters above sea level, known for its clean air, pine forests, and vineyards.

We didn’t actually go into town, but even this short stop nearby gave a taste of the mountain atmosphere that sets it apart from the coast.

🌄 Stop 2: Mirador Juan Évora (Mt. Teide)

Our next stop was Mirador Juan Évora, the first viewpoint inside Teide National Park.

The scenery had already started to change. The pine forests were behind us, and suddenly the landscape looked much more volcanic, with dark rocks, wide open views, and Mount Teide visible in the distance.

At 3,718 meters, Teide is Spain’s highest peak and an active volcano, and the dramatic landscapes around it are now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The stop itself was small, with a viewpoint and a little house-turned-exhibit about how people once lived in this harsh environment.

It wasn’t a long visit, but it gave us time to step out, take photos, and get our first proper look at the national park.

My friend’s comment was that she “had never seen a place like that”, and she was right; it felt like we had stepped into a completely different world.

🌋 Stop 3: Roque de García (Mt. Teide)

By the time we reached Roque de García, the area was full of buses and people. It’s one of the most visited spots in Teide National Park, and for good reason.

The giant volcanic rock formations stand out against the landscape, with Mount Teide rising in the background.

We had about 30 minutes here, which felt a bit limiting. Just walking to the main viewpoint takes around 10 minutes, and if you want the best views, you need to climb up the rocks. That left little time to explore further.

There’s also a visitor center nearby, but we didn’t have enough time to go inside.

Even with the crowds and the short stop, the scenery was worth it.

Roque Cinchado, the famous balancing rock, looked almost unreal, and the mix of colors and shapes in the lava formations made the place feel like another planet.

🌳 Stop 4: Icod de los Vinos

After leaving Mount Teide and heading back down toward Icod, the scenery completely changed once again. The dry volcanic landscape gave way to clouds and greenery, and it felt like we had entered another climate zone altogether.

In Icod de los Vinos, the guide mentioned the town is famous for its ancient dragon tree, the Drago Milenario, but on our tour we didn’t actually go to see it — or maybe we did, and we just didn’t pay much attention.

Instead, we focused on the square and the nearby streets.

Here, it was almost all free time, and we had more time than at other stops, since it was meant to be a lunch break (lunch wasn’t included). The guide suggested a restaurant, but we had already brought some snacks, so we used the time differently.

We stepped into a small local church, and right in front of it, there was a market where locals were selling handmade crafts and souvenirs. It felt authentic and lively, with a real local vibe.

After that, we walked down a little shopping street lined with small stores and cafés. We stopped for a quick coffee, which turned out to be one of the best we had during the whole trip.

It wasn’t a long stop, but between the church, the market, and that short coffee break, Icod gave us a glimpse of everyday life in northern Tenerife.

🌊 Stop 5: Garachico

The next stop was Garachico, a small coastal town with a dramatic history.

It used to be Tenerife’s main port until a volcanic eruption in the 1700s buried much of it under lava. The town was rebuilt, and today it’s known for its natural lava pools and historic streets.

This stop was fully guided. The bus dropped us off in one part of town and picked us up in another, so we walked through Garachico together with the guide.

It gave us a better sense of the town’s history, from the old churches and squares to the coastal views where waves crashed against the black volcanic rocks.

Even though the tour was structured, it didn’t feel rushed. The cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, and small plazas had a calm atmosphere that made the town stand out.

Compared to the busy south, Garachico felt authentic and very different. It’s a place shaped as much by history as by the sea and volcano.

🏞️ Stop 6: Masca Valley

By the time we left Garachico, we already felt a bit tired. It had been a long day with several stops, and the bus rides between them added up.

But as we continued toward Masca, the scenery started to change again, and suddenly the energy came back.

The road into Masca is famous for its sharp bends and dramatic drops, and it didn’t disappoint. Every turn revealed another breathtaking view of deep ravines, rugged cliffs, and green slopes.

When we finally reached the viewpoint above the valley, the sun was shining, and that made it even more unforgettable!

The sight of the tiny village nestled between towering cliffs was absolutely jaw-dropping!

We had around 20–30 minutes here, and we were so obsessed with taking photos that time flew by.

We didn’t manage to walk down into the village itself, which is tiny but looks incredible from above.

To really enjoy Masca’s scenery, I think you’d need more time than what a quick stop on a bus tour allows.

Still, even with the short visit, it was the most jaw-dropping stop of the day and the one that stayed with us long after the tour ended.

Tour Impressions & Practical Tips

The main reason we booked this tour was that it was one of the few that included both Mount Teide and Masca Valley in a single day.

We wanted to see as much as possible on each stop and at least get an idea of the places, without having to worry about renting a car. The choice turned out to be right.

The road to Masca is every bit as difficult as people say; narrow, winding, and not something I would want to drive myself. Our bus driver did some incredible maneuvers, and I was honestly relieved we weren’t the ones behind the wheel.

We had two stops inside Teide National Park, enough to appreciate its volcanic landscapes, though there was no time for the cable car or longer hikes.

What struck me most during the day was how many times the climate changed, from the warm beaches in the south, to cool mountain air in Vilaflor, to the volcanic desert of Teide, and then back to sunshine in Masca. That kind of variety is something I’ve only ever seen in the Canary Islands.

The tour felt like great value for money. It was a long and sometimes tiring day, but it packed in a lot of places.

Masca and Mount Teide were the highlights, while the towns gave a glimpse of everyday life in northern Tenerife. For anyone who wants to see both in one trip, this tour does the job well.

Tips if you plan to go:

• Bring snacks and water — the “lunch break” in Icod can be used for exploring instead.
• Wear comfortable shoes — some stops involve short walks and uneven ground.
• Take a light jacket — Teide can be much cooler than the coast.
• Expect a long day — you’ll cover a lot of ground, but you’ll also be tired by the end.
• If you want more time in Masca or Teide (like the cable car), you’ll need a different tour or to go on your own.

Conclusion

Looking back, this tour was exactly what we wanted — a way to see both Mount Teide and Masca Valley in one day without the stress of driving. It was a long and sometimes tiring journey, but the variety of landscapes made it more than worth it.

From the volcanic rocks of Teide to the historic streets of Garachico and the jaw-dropping views in Masca, the route showed just how diverse Tenerife really is.

If you only have a few days on the island, or if you don’t want to deal with renting a car, this tour is a solid choice.

It gives you enough time to get a feel for each stop, even if you don’t go deep into every place. For us, Masca and Mount Teide were the highlights, and they alone made the day worthwhile.

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