# Sunday in north-west Tenerife: Garachico, the El Caletón pools and the hamlet of Masca Garachico in the morning, a swim in the lava pools of El Caletón, lunch in a 1689 mansion and the afternoon in Masca on the TF-436, an hour from Santa Cruz. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/canary-islands/teno-and-masca/itineraries/garachico-pools-and-viewpoints · Revisado: 2026-11-13 ## El día - 08:45 · Salida: 1 h by car (via the TF-5 to Icod de los Vinos and the TF-42; park at the old football ground, free) - 09:45 · Garachico old town and San Miguel castle (Plaza de la Libertad, church of Santa Ana and castle of San Miguel) - 5 min on foot - 11:15 · El Caletón natural pools, in the 1706 lava (Only with a calm sea; bring water shoes) - 6 min on foot - 13:30 · Silogía (Open on Sunday 13:00 to 22:00; booking on 693 819 879) · Silogía, €€ - 30 min by car, 25,1 km - 15:30 · La Cruz de Hilda viewpoint, above Masca (via Buenavista and El Palmar, TF-436) - 5 min by car, 2,2 km - 16:00 · The hamlet of Masca, via the TF-436 (Little parking; if it is full, settle for the view from the viewpoint) - 17:15 · Vuelta (via Santiago del Teide and the TF-1 or the north; in Santa Cruz around 18:45) A Sunday in north-west Tenerife with no hard bookings: Garachico and its lava coast in the morning, an unhurried lunch in the square and the afternoon in Masca, on the road that crosses the Teno massif. The only thing to book is a table. ## The day, hour by hour 8:45 · Set off. From Santa Cruz, on the TF-5 to Icod de los Vinos and the TF-42 to Garachico, under an hour. Park in the free car park of the old football ground, at the entrance to the old town. 9:45 · Old town of Garachico. The Plaza de la Libertad with the church of Santa Ana and the mansion of La Quinta Roja, the former convent of San Francisco and, going down towards the sea, the castle of San Miguel, from 1575. The town was rebuilt on the lava of the 1706 eruption. 11:15 · El Caletón pools. A swim in the pools left by that lava when it reached the sea, if the sea is calm. Water shoes and sun cream. 13:30 · Lunch at Silogía. In the mansion on the square, open on Sundays from 13:00 to 22:00. Canarian cooking with Mediterranean touches: the black rice for two or the wreckfish. Book by phone. 15:30 · La Cruz de Hilda viewpoint. Through Buenavista del Norte and El Palmar you climb the TF-436, narrow and with many bends. From the viewpoint, at kilometre 14, you see the whole of Masca on its ridges. 16:00 · Masca hamlet. The square, the chapel and the hamlet's viewpoint. If the car park is full, do not insist: you have already seen it from above. 17:15 · Head home. Continue on the TF-436 to Santiago del Teide and return by the TF-1 or by the north. In Santa Cruz around 18:45. ## With children and with a dog Garachico can be done with a pushchair and the inner pools at El Caletón, in a calm sea, are popular with children. The Masca road has many bends: make the viewpoint stop. Silogía accepts pets, and the stroll round the old town can be done with the dog on a lead; at the pools, ask first. ## Cómo llegar ### By car Santa Cruz to Garachico, about 60 km on the TF-5 and TF-42; from Garachico to Masca, about 25 km via Buenavista and the TF-436; return via Santiago del Teide. ### Without a car TITSA line 108 to Icod de los Vinos, every hour on Sundays too, and 363 to Garachico: about two hours. For the afternoon, the 363 to Buenavista and the 355 to Masca; check the Sunday timetables at titsa.com, because there are few. ## Consejos ### Book Silogía On Sundays at midday it fills up. ### Check the sea before going down to El Caletón In a heavy swell, no swimming. ### Go up to Masca from the north and come down by the south That way you do the whole TF-436 in a single direction. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Santa Cruz to Garachico? Under an hour by car, about 60 km. ### Where can you eat in Garachico on a Sunday? Silogía opens on Sundays from 13:00 to 22:00, on the square. ### Can you drive to Masca? To the hamlet, yes, on the TF-436; parking is difficult. To walk down the gorge you need a booking and the 355 bus. ### Can you do it without a car? Garachico yes, with lines 108 and 363. Masca, with the 355 from Buenavista and few departures.