Chinyero Volcano (Volcan Chinyero): Everything You Need to Know

Chinyero Volcano (Volcan Chinyero) is the youngest volcano in Tenerife. Located just outside of El Teide National Park in the Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero (Chinyero Special Nature Reserve), the volcano is easily explored via an awesome walking loop. Starting at either the Sendero del Chinyero trailhead or Mirador de los Poleos, the Chinyero Volcano loop (AKA the Chinyero Circuit) weaves its way through epic lava fields. Fascinatingly, these volcanic fields were only formed recently in the 1909 eruption.

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Chinyero Volcano loop.

The Circular Walk Around Chinyero Volcano

The loop walk around Chinyero Volcano is a spectacular trail that leads you through relatively recently formed lava fields. Along the route, you’ll explore epic rock formations scattered across a mind-blowing landscape. You’ll also walk through a lovely pine forest and circle around the impressive Montaña Chinyero – a red-tinged cinder cone volcano. Indeed, there are many outstanding highlights along the fairly short Chinyero Volcano loop walk in Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero. So, let’s find out where the hike starts from!

FYI – Chinyero Volcano is also known as Volcan Chinyero and Volcan de Chinyero. Tourists know the volcano as Chinyero Volcano, whereas locals tend to call it Volcan Chinyero or Volcan de Chinyero.

Read our guides about Roques de Garcia and Roque Cinchado, Mirador de Samara and Montana Rajada

Chinyero Volcano Loop (PR-TF 43) Details and Map

• Type: Loop
• Distance: 6.4km
• Time: 2–3 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 160m
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Sendero del Chinyero or Mirador de los Poleos
• Map: Wikiloc

Where to Start the Chinyero Volcano Loop

The Chinyero Volcano loop officially starts from the Sendero del Chinyero trailhead located on the side of the TF-38 road. But, parking is limited. You’ll find a short and narrow unpaved trail with space for around half a dozen cars. There is also street-side parking available around the trailhead. Failing that, the closest alternate parking is at Mirador de los Poleos.

Mirador de los Poleos

Personally, Beck and I couldn’t find any parking at the Sendero del Chinyero trailhead and street-side parking was also full. So, we parked at Mirador de los Poleos and started the Chinyero Volcano loop from there. By starting from Mirador de los Poleos, the walk ends up being around an extra 1.5km. You’ll essentially follow the bend in the road to arrive at the Sendero del Chinyero trailhead, joining a couple of forest trails along the way.

An added bonus is that you’ll enjoy exquisite views from Mirador de los Poleos before you commence the walk. Indeed, Mirador de los Poleos provides sweeping views of the volcanic landscape and even views of the coastline. There’s also an epic stack of boulders to find at the well-known vantage point.

Chinyero Volcano Loop Trail Description

After parking at Mirador de los Poleos, Beck and I headed for the Sendero del Chinyero trailhead. Hopefully, you’ll have more luck with parking and are able to park at or nearer to the trailhead. Anyway, during the initial stages of the walk (if you follow in a clockwise direction), you’ll pass through a serene pine forest. Along the way, you’ll see a few Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero signs.

Soon, the trail veers alongside the outskirts of the lava fields. It’s amazing to see exactly where the lava flow stopped!

At around 1.3km, you’ll reach a signpost for the Chinyero Volcano loop (Volcan Chinyero Circuit). You’ll soon veer right as the trail follows along a passage between two lava fields. Eventually, the trail cuts rather abruptly through the lava field to your right, and this is where the hike becomes absolutely epic.

During the next section of the Chinyero Volcano loop, you’ll be immersed in the volcanic lava fields, passing unique and wondrous boulders. The terrain of the trail becomes more rugged and uneven underfoot during this stage.

Montaña Chinyero

You’ll then meander and wind through and alongside more of the lava fields, eventually circling around Montaña Chinyero. From a viewpoint north of the small peak, you’ll enjoy an incredible Martian-like landscape. The red and black coloured Montaña Chinyero is a prominent and striking landform compared with the bare and desolate ash-covered ground surrounding it. There are only a few trees growing in the area surrounding the mini-mountain.

Continuing the Chinyero Volcano loop in a clockwise direction, you’ll soon lose sight of the mountain as you re-enter dense pine forest. Indeed, nice pine forests are a lovely feature of Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero. The trail then meanders through the forest, descending back towards the Sendero del Chinyero trailhead and Mirador de los Poleos.

An Overview of the Chinyero Volcano Loop

Overall, we think the Chinyero Volcano loop is a great short walk located in the Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero. During the walk, you’ll enjoy pine forests, lava fields and immense volcano mountains. Best of all, the walk isn’t too strenuous or physically demanding. So, the walk should be doable for most people!

We Highly Recommend the Chinyero Volcano Loop

Beck and I can definitely recommend the short and simple Chinyero Volcano loop walk. Indeed, it’s a walk that you’ll want to add to your Tenerife hiking to-do list.

Of course, there are many exceptional places and hikes to explore in the nearby Teide National Park. Technically, the Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero falls just outside the parameters of Teide National Park. But, in reality, it feels very much like part of the national park. Certainly, after doing the Chinyero Volcano loop, we recommend doing other hikes and checking out different viewpoints in Teide National Park.

If you don’t have your own set of wheels, it may be best to do one of the many organised excursions on offer. That way, you’ll experience the very best of the national park, despite the lack of transportation. GetYourGuide offers many fantastic tours in Teide National Park. Specifically, the Tenerife: Teide National Park Full-Day Scenic Tour is a highly-rated tour with glowing reviews.

Otherwise, GetYourGuide offers many other memorable tours in Teide National Park.

How to Get to Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero

The simplest and quickest way to get to Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero to do the walk is to drive there yourself. If you’re visiting from abroad, then you’ll need to hire a car. When it comes to car rentals, Beck and I always use Discover Cars. We easily picked up and dropped off a car from South Tenerife Airport. The free and flexible cancellation policy is also an added security, just in case.

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Public transport: Titsa is the company that organises buses to and from Teide National Park. Unfortunately, the usual 342 bus route into the national park doesn’t pass by or drive very near to the Sendero del Chinyero trailhead or Mirador de los Poleos. Certainly, having a car hire to drive yourself there is the best option.

Things to Know Before Doing the Chinyero Volcano Loop

Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important things to know before doing this hike.

• Direction: it doesn’t really matter if you do the walk in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Whichever floats your boat! As mentioned, we did the walk in a clockwise direction. This was for no particular reason.
• Weather: particularly in summer, the temperatures in Tenerife are very hot. So, make sure to pack plenty of water and snacks and wear long sleeves, sunscreen and a hat. Despite only being a relatively short walk, you’ll want to be sun safe and prepared for hot weather conditions.
• Trail terrain: you’ll be walking on volcanic landscape, so you’ll have to contend with loose and uneven rocks and scree underfoot. Bare this mind if you have dodgy ankles or knees.
• Navigation: although we’ve provided maps, you’ll hardly need them. There’s adequate signage on this walk, which makes navigation fairly straightforward.

The Chinyero Volcano (Volcan Chinyero) Eruption Was the Most Recent in Tenerife

The Chinyero Volcano in Tenerife is the newest and youngest volcano on the island. Occurring in November 1909, the Chinyero eruption lasted for around a week and a half. By doing the loop walk, you’ll see all the evidence and remnants of this relatively recent volcano eruption!

Hiking Essentials

These are some of our hiking gear essentials for this walk.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

Bonus Tips

• Visit the Canary Islands outside of peak season: swimming at the beach will be much colder. But, for milder weather, fewer crowds and cheaper prices, visit Tenerife outside of summer. Beck and I visited in the non-peak season and had a great time.
• Explore the Anaga Rural Park: if you love hiking in the mountains, then you must visit the north of Tenerife. The Anaga Mountains are full of amazing trails such as the Benijo hike and Playa de Talamite – Taganana hike.
• Other great hikes in Tenerife to consider: we’ve heard Callejón de Teno and Baracán Summit and Los Órganos are great walks too.
• Tenerife accommodation recommendation: if you’re looking to avoid the tourist areas and the busy capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then consider staying in Adeje. Both Apartamentos Barranco del Infierno and Las 7 Islas, Barranco de Adeje are great Adeje-based hotels that aren’t too far away from Teide National Park. In fact, in terms of location, both are located at the foot of Barranco del Infierno, which is another must-do walk! Another fantastic area to stay in that isn’t quite as touristy is Santiago del Teide.

Do you have any questions about Chinyero Volcano (Volcan Chinyero)? Let us know in the comments below. Otherwise, have a look at our Tenerife Hiking YouTube video.