Masca Walk - WARNING

[Dolly Diver]

Due to the recent storms the bridge/jetty and the ladder used by boats to pick up walkers have been damaged.

Also there have been rockfalls caused by the heavy rain.  There is a very large boulder which has fallen over the walkway and another large one which is loose ready to fall.

For your safety the walk is closed until further notice and walkers who ignore the signs will be fined.

The work will take several weeks

Watch this space for updates

[Tussin]

Hi Dolly , any update on this , be in LG in couple weeks and was wondering if the walk might be open by then .

[AWOL]

http://eldigitalsur.com/tenerifesur/santiagodelteide/alcalde-informa-los-empresarios-problema-del-cierre-del-barranco-masca/

The above link may help to give a clue as to the seriousness of the problem. Google translate may help but as I read it  "it will be quite some time" before it will be open. It's closure is a problem for the whole local economy.

A few people have ignored the closure to their cost in more ways then one over the last 3 weeks or so.

AWOL

[Mary]

Presumably the yellow Masca taxi boats will be redundant until the jetty is rebuilt, they were used a lot and no doubt will take a huge financial hit.

[Tussin]

Thanks AWOL , reckon it wil be a while.

[Dolly Diver]

Now that the sea is more settled work has commenced it is expected to take around 1 month.

As soon as I get an opening date I will let you all know

[Edward Bear]

Hello Dolly, thank you for the information. Not that I will be doing it at my time of life.

[Dolly Diver]

The walk is not yet open.  I believe the work on the jetty repair is finished but there is a problem with the villagers and the parking in Masca itself.

A lot of people drive early in the day to Masca to do the walk and their cars are left all day.  This means that visitors who want to see Masca and enjoy a drink or a meal in the restaurants have nowhere to park so can't visit.  I see the point of the villagers who run businesses there.  The Ayunamiento are working on solutions.....until a solution is reached the walk will stay closed.

Can they work on a solution for Los Gigantes parking problem too!!!!!!!

[Georgie]

There was a article on tenerife news that los gigantes was going to be 're developed

Is that what you mean

[pilgrim]

Sorry to hear that the walk is still closed. I try to do it once a year, sometimes more if we have a new visitor to show. With regard to the 3 café/restaurants I have thought for a while that they don't really care about the punters, as they never try with the food or the service. They know they will always have business and most of it is never repeated, so why try. May do them good to have an enforced shut down - might be pleased to see customers next time, and not such a rip off! Doubt it though.

[Tussin]

Is Masca fully open now ?

[Dolly Diver]

The walk will stay closed for the winter.  Will possibly open March (this is what I have been told by the companies who do the Masca boat taxis)

[Tim_]

Information is stingy, mainly from publications in the local press. The pier for boats will be three times larger to be able to land the helicopter, if that. Along the path, either a fence or a railing.
I understand that now there is a problem of administrative and legal nature. The city hall very much wants to make access to the gorge paid, but at the same time there has to be a free approach to the coast, the legislation of that demands. You can't just block the way to the beach.
In General, the process is slowed down not because of the amount of work, there are paper reasons.

[pilgrim]

It is a joke, I had a picnic at Blanco beach, the one before Masca, and was reported. Got told off by marina when we returned. The next thing they will stop you anchoring.

[Davymar]

It is a joke, I had a picnic at Blanco beach, the one before Masca, and was reported. Got told off by marina when we returned. The next thing they will stop you anchoring.

Presumably you went in your own boat, what did you get told off for? have they any right to stop boats anchoring off the beach? there must be a by-law for this to be enforceable surely.

[Dolly Diver]

The Ayuntamiento are stopping all boats from anchoring in the bays because of the disturbance to the Osprey chicks. There are several nesting pairs nesting along the cliffs.  See http://www.losgigantes.com/board/index.php?topic=5179.0

The ayuntamiento boats are regularly patrolling the area.  Anyone anchoring will be asked to move and stay a minimum of 250 metres from the cliffs

[Davymar]

Thanks for the info Dolly.

[pilgrim]

That's why they didn't like me beaching my dinghy and picnicking!

[Dolly Diver]

There is still no date set for the Masca walk opening

[pilgrim]

Somebody of note, said the Masca jetty will not be completed, so as to stop people using the Masca trail, and prevent any further accidents. Is anyone also of note, able to confirm or deny this.

[Dolly Diver]

All construction work to make the paths safer and repair the jetty is complete.  However, there is still no agreement on the opening.

[pilgrim]

Well, if is to re-open, that is great news. Hopefully not to far in the future, before I get to old to do the hike again!