What is it?

Chinyero Special Nature Reserve lies on one of the main structural axes of the island, formed by the eruptions of the Arenas Negras and Chinyero volcanoes in 1706 and 1909 and those of a series of others, such as Montaña de Bilma and Montaña Negra. The area is notable for its value as a landscape feature and for its geomorphological structure, and is also home to an aeolic (wind-exposed) habitat made up of recent volcanic cones and lava flows that is home to a range of flora and fauna that have adapted to these conditions.

Getting there

Chinyero Special Nature Reserve can be accessed from a number of points.

The northern part of the reserve can be accessed from the municipality of El Tanque: an asphalted road leads into the protected area, later becoming a dirt track. An alternative route into this part of the reserve is via the district of San Juan del Reparo in the municipality of Garachico: a number of different roads will take you into or around the protected area.

Chinyero can be accessed from the east via the district of La Montañeta, which is also part of Garachico. From La Montañeta, take the TF-373 (which comes from the direction of La Vega in Icod de los Vinos) and follow it across the reserve, stopping at San José de Los Llanos in El Tanque.

Access from the west is via San José de Los Llanos, which borders the protected area.

From the south, the reserve can be accessed from Santiago del Teide via the TF-82: continue up to Valle de Arriba and then a further 400 metres along the asphalted road and you will arrive at the protected area.

Total area

2,442.5 ha.

Municipality

El Tanque, Santiago del Teide and Garachico.

Governing legislation

Chinyero was declared a Nature Reserve and area of environmental sensitivity by Autonomous Region Act 12/94, which was later integrated into the Organisation of the Canary Islands Territory Act via Legislative Decree 1/2000.