Tour of the Chinyero volcano

An easy family hike that allows you to admire the last volcano to emerge in Tenerife by walking around it. You will walk among the volcanic fallout on a good path. The massif is dotted with pine trees, some denser than others.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.48 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 453 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 440 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,957 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,600 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Chio on the TF38 towards El Teide National Park, the path starts just after the "Chinyero" road sign. Coming from the other direction, the path starts about 200 m after the large road sign "Los Polleos 1400 m". Park at the side of the road, which often involves a "small walk" that can be off-putting, or at the car park located about 500 m before, on the Chio side.

(S/E) Follow the wide path that gradually moves away from the road. Turn left at the crossroads and shortly afterwards you will come across the white and yellow marked trail.

(1) Continue straight ahead to quickly reach a new crossroads with a tree in the middle.

(2) Turn right and follow the path that begins the Chineyro loop.

(3) Ignore the path that branches off to the right and continue left to reach an intersection with the signpost "TF43- circular Chinyero".

(4) Follow this path marked in white and yellow, starting on the left. Go straight ahead at the next crossroads and continue around the volcano. Pass at the foot of the Montaña de las Flores and reach a fork in the road.

(5) Follow the marked path to the left and keep left for about 100 metres.

(6) At the junction with a wider path, go straight ahead and continue to the next fork.

(7) Follow the marked path that branches off to the left.

(8) At the junction, go straight ahead, leaving the marked path and taking the unmarked one; the ground is better quality. Further on, you will find the markings again.

(9) Turn right to follow it. Join the correct path taken on the way there.

(1) Follow it to the right, turn right again at the next junction and return to the car park along the TF38 (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,747 ft - TF38
  2. 1 : mi 0.52 - alt. 4,803 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.66 - alt. 4,770 ft - Crossroads with tree
  4. 3 : mi 1.15 - alt. 4,905 ft - Junction, on the left
  5. 4 : mi 1.32 - alt. 4,957 ft - Signposting TF43 - Chinyero circular
  6. 5 : mi 2.39 - alt. 4,600 ft - On the left, marked trail
  7. 6 : mi 2.66 - alt. 4,662 ft - Crossroads, straight ahead
  8. 7 : mi 3.13 - alt. 4,685 ft - Junction, marked trail on the left
  9. 8 : mi 3.46 - alt. 4,678 ft - Abandoned markings
  10. 9 : mi 3.67 - alt. 4,744 ft - Return to signposting, on the right.
  11. S/E : mi 4.48 - alt. 4,747 ft - TF38

Notes

- The start and end of the route follow a wide path rather than the marked trail. This allows you to get closer to the volcano earlier on. The marked trail is easy to follow but dotted with small stones that protrude slightly, so it requires a little more attention.
- Note the pine trees with burnt bark in two places following a fire. Small shoots are visible at the end of the route. Canary Island pine trees are fire-resistant and regenerate quickly.
- Use Openstreetmap World if you want to follow the route on the map, as it allows you to view the marked trails. The IGN Topo map does not allow this.

Worth a visit

The Chinyero volcano erupted only once, in 1909. This was the last eruption on the island of Tenerife. It rises to an altitude of 1,551 metres. Further information is available on Wikipedia.
The route is best done in the morning, and there is a restaurant not far away on the way back to Chio. Book if possible.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
jprovira31
jprovira31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with no technical difficulties, including a section through lava fields. A real change of scenery. The route is well signposted. Completed in March 2026 in fine weather.

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User 27259136

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk, fairly easy.
Best done at the end of the day to enjoy the sublime colours on Teide and Pico Viejo.
Be careful when crossing lava flows; it is essential to stay on the path.

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User 26264117

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Without the GPS, we would have lost track of the trail two or three times, but with the GPS, it's perfect.

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User 5550982

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The signage is often missing, and every few kilometres there is a two-way sign indicating the route, same distance, same duration?

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da.peltier
da.peltier

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, partly through woodland and partly in open country on lava flows.
Hiking boots recommended
Follow the route using the Visorando app, as there are no signs at the start

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Dom et Vero
Dom et Vero

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It is essential to park early in the morning in the car park at the viewpoint, which is 500 metres before the start of the hike.
This is a very pleasant and easy hike, suitable for everyone. There are many sections through the woods, which is very enjoyable. You will cross beautiful lava flows and enjoy views of the caldera.

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Pimpaud
Pimpaud

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, but descriptions and signposts are sometimes missing at certain intersections with other paths, especially when there is no connection and therefore no Visorando GPS.

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Berpin
Berpin

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike mainly through the forest. Great views of the volcano and a cool walk across the lava flow.

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Dom Peaceoui
Dom Peaceoui

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful walk, accurate description
Some sections over pebbles/lava rocks require sturdy footwear
Completed on 06/02/25, fairly busy route
It's a shame that many people do not respect the silence of the place and continue to talk loudly throughout the walk

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Cicindèle
Cicindèle

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this route in January. The weather was superb. No particular difficulties. We crossed impressive lava flows and beautiful areas of coniferous forest. We were able to take some interesting photos of the Chinyero volcano, with Mount Teide in the background.

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