Thick walls, traces of communal work and a hiking route along the historic Camino de la Cañada: Chirche offers various ways to explore its rural history. The PR-TF 69 leads to the village centre; traditional buildings and agricultural structures also tell the story of the area’s heritage. When planning your visit, you can focus on culture, landscape or a longer hike.
Chirche’s Architecture and Landscape
Chirche is part of “Los Caseríos de Chirche y Aripe,” which is designated a Bien de Interés Cultural in the “Historic Ensemble” category. The ensemble lies in the high-altitude midlands of the municipality of Guía de Isora, at elevations of 730 to 950 metres above sea level.
The traditional buildings have thick masonry walls; the mortar is made from clay and small stones. The rural heritage also includes threshing floors, water tanks and ovens, as well as small terraces and nateros. Together, these features reveal different aspects of the cultural landscape: the buildings’ construction and traces of agricultural use.
The natural surroundings are also part of this picture. The landscape of Chirche and Aripe is described as rugged and shaped by relatively young lava malpaíses, as well as older basaltic and trachybasaltic materials from Series II and III. The architectural and geological heritage are distinct but complementary themes: one reveals traditional buildings and agricultural structures, the other the materials that make up the landscape.
Communal Ovens and the Los Mesas Wine Press
A relatively small area in Aripe and Chirche contains an unusually large number of traditional brick ovens; twelve to fourteen in total are cited. This figure refers to both villages combined. In the area around Chirche and Aripe, the ovens were often used communally in the past.
Another communal facility is the Los Mesas wine press in Chirche. It remained in use until fairly recently. The ovens and press served different purposes but shared a communal connection: one was used for bricks, the other for wine. They add examples of communal facilities to the traces of agriculture and traditional buildings.
Hiking the PR-TF 69
The PR-TF 69 hiking trail follows the historic Camino de la Cañada to Chirche’s rural village centre. It can be walked in either direction; Chío and the village square in Vera de Erques are listed as starting points. Chío and the village square in Vera de Erques offer two options for setting off on your hike.
The PR-TF 69 is listed as 14.6 kilometres long, with an estimated duration of six hours. It is therefore better planned as a longer hike than as a short stop. The time is an estimate; check the current trail conditions before setting out, as temporary conditions may differ from the published route information.
Views and Directions to the Mirador
From the Mirador de Chirche, the view extends across the municipality of Guía de Isora, from the summit region to the sea. The two small village centres of Aripe and Chirche are also visible. The viewpoint can be reached from the village centre of Guía de Isora or via the TF-38 towards Teide National Park. If you plan to drive to the Mirador, check the current road conditions in advance.
Traditions in Chirche
At the Día de las Tradiciones in Chirche, residents and visitors take part in a portrayal of traditional Canarian life. The event includes exhibitions of old tools, demonstrations of traditional crafts, and depictions of traditional agriculture and livestock farming. The programme offers a different perspective from the village’s architectural and geological features. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Alcalá, Chio, Playa De San Juan, Vera De Erques.
Back to the main travel overview: Guía De Isora.
