The TF-436 to Masca is often called the most beautiful road in the Canary Islands — and the most demanding. Thirty minutes of hairpins climb from Santiago del Teide over the Cherfe pass, then drop into a gorge village that looks painted onto the cliffs.
When to go
Arrive before 10:00 or after 16:00. Midday brings tour buses, and passing places are scarce. Sunset from the Cherfe viewpoint is worth planning the whole day around.
The right car matters here
Light, precise and compact wins on this road. The Mazda MX-5 was built for exactly these corners, while the Jeep Wrangler 4XE adds confidence if you want to continue to the volcanic tracks beyond. Wide SUVs feel every centimetre of the narrow sections.
Route notes
Park in Masca village (paid, limited), drink a fresh juice on the terrace above the gorge, and return via Buenavista del Norte for the coastal loop — the road past Punta de Teno lighthouse is the perfect cool-down.