Ravines, countryfolk and goats

In addition to its mountains, most of Tenerife's natural relief is formed by ravines. Five million years of rainfall have steadily eroded the ravines of Carrizales and Masca, for instance, making them the deepest on the Island with a depth of hundreds of metres.

On your way to visit them, you will see a number of quaint hamlets. The hamlet of Masca features a fine example of the Canary Islands' rural architecture, with its beautiful little red-roofed houses. It's not unusual to see the locals sitting on stones watching you and the rest of the world go by. They are very welcoming people and you'll find it easy to strike up a conversation with them.

Sooner or later, you will come across a heard of goats, which the locals keep to make fresh cheese, one of the area's specialities.