Trevejo Volcano,
The Trevejo volcano is located in the upper part of the municipality of Garachico and is one of the main natural attractions of the area.
In 1706, it became a tragic protagonist in the history of this municipality when it erupted and disrupted the economic prosperity of what was then Tenerife’s economic capital, the town and port of Garachico.
This eruption, also known as the Garachico or Arenas Negras eruption, is one of the five historical eruptions of Tenerife and had the greatest socioeconomic impact on the island.
A bit of history of the Garachico eruption
For forty days, the pahoehoe lava tongues descended the slopes you can see from the solarium and the windows of our hotel, devastating the island’s main port and much of Garachico’s buildings.
The Palace House of the Marqueses de La Quinta Roja, where our hotel is located, remained intact, but the house of the powerful Counts of La Gomera, located in the square, just steps from here, was practically destroyed, with only a few details of its facade surviving. The church of Santa Ana, whose bells greet us every morning, was also a victim of its fury.
A stroll through Garachico
If we go for a walk through the town and let our imagination work, we can get an idea of how the main source of income of this village, its port, the main one on the island, the center of Tenerife’s international trade with Europe and America and the main economic engine of the island was affected.
A few meters from the Church of Santa Ana, descending Francisco Montesdeoca and Garcia Street, is the Puerta de Tierra. This was the gate through which all the goods that entered and left this port had to pass. Here, Malvasia wines left in galleons bound for Europe and America, and works of art from Flanders were imported.
If you turn towards the sea, you will see that the coastline is now far away. All the land that separates us was gained by the ocean due to the eruption.
Go closer to the coast. Next to the castle of San Miguel, which miraculously remained intact, you will see the natural pools of Caletón. These pools were created by lava tongues that reached the sea and changed the destiny of this town, destroying the natural harbor’s roadstead and putting an end to an era of splendor and prosperity.
Hiking Route by the Trevejo Volcano from San José de Los Llanos
After this walk through the history of the town, we suggest a plan: put on your walking boots and join us in meeting the protagonist of this story, the Trevejo volcano, also known as Montaña Negra.
You will need to drive 30 minutes towards the municipality of El Tanque and then follow the signs directing you to San José de Los Llanos.
You can park your car in the recreation area and follow the signs for the Chinyero trail, another of the most beautiful volcanoes in the area.
The trail starts narrow, surrounded by shrubs. As we climb, we see the vegetation clearing, allowing us to see the vast landscape. Pay attention to the trail markers, as there are some moments where the path splits, and you can get confused.
As we ascend, the pine forest takes over the landscape. We see burnt bark, a result of the last fire in August 2022. You are in front of a natural survivor, the Canary pine, a unique pine species that can withstand fire. Look closely, and you will surely see some green shoots sprouting. Life finds a way.
The Trevejo Volcano and its Black Sands
After a while of ascending, a great reward awaits us. Among the pine forest, to our left, the silhouette of the Trevejo volcano appears with Teide in the background.
You have to reach the foot of the volcano to discover an otherworldly landscape.
The volcano is surrounded by the “black sands” that give this area its name (lapilli or picón), dotted with young pine trees of an intense green.
It’s truly impressive.
In the Vergara canal, which supplies water to the area, we stop to take a break to contemplate the landscape and to give Otto a drink.
Once we reach this point, we have several options to continue exploring. We can decide to take a circular route to go around the volcano and return to San José de Los Llanos; take a trail to the right and continue to the Chinyero volcano; or descend through the Arenas Negras recreational area. The ascent to the volcano is prohibited to protect it from erosion, so we are content to enjoy it from here.
We decided to follow the path that runs along the side of the volcano towards Arenas Negras.
The view of Teide with Pico Viejo and the blurred pine forests we see from here is impressive.
I have come here many times, but today we are very fortunate as the day is completely clear and we can enjoy this priceless view. A gift that is not always received because this area is often shrouded in fog.
We took the opportunity to take many photos so that those who come and are not so lucky can also enjoy it.
Towards Chinyero
When we reach the Arenas Negras turnoff, we decide to turn towards Chinyero and make a small circular route that will take us back to the Vergara canal.
The landscape transforms again. We pass by enormous tongues of lava covered with lichens where large solitary pines have found a home. Next to them, we feel small. This is one of my favorite spots on this route.
On the way back
We navigate the volcanic rocks and rejoin the trail that takes us back to the Trevejos volcano.
As we get closer, we can see again, among the pines, the view of Montaña Negra and Teide.
The beauty and calm that this landscape conveys do not suggest that this volcano was the cause of the volcanic eruption that caused the most damage in Tenerife.
We descend again through the pine forests along the same trail we climbed.
The landscape looks different when you see it from another perspective. Otto keeps walking ahead of us, clearing the way.
The finishing touch
Back to civilization, we stop at the gas station bar in El Tanque to recharge. After some tapas of roasted pork leg and goat meat, we review the route. We have walked nine kilometers in two and a half hours, and we were fortunate to enjoy this landscape with such a clear and bright day.
It’s time to return to Garachico. La Quinta Roja and a relaxing bath in the volcanic pools of El Caletón await us.
