Start: La Frontera – El Hiero (The Canaries).
End: Mirador de Jinama
Length: 4.4 km | Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Challenging
The Hike
Start your journey at the Plaza de la Candelaria in La Frontera. The trailhead is located directly across from the square, next to the Joapira cafe-restaurant. Look for the ‘Jinama’ sign and follow the yellow-and-white markers. You’ll soon spot a wooden sign that indicates the 4.4 km route. Take the fork to the left and begin your ascent.
For the first stretch, you’ll walk along a paved road, passing through residential areas that gradually give way to volcanic vineyards. As you continue, the path turns into a signposted stone trail, crossing the main road as it climbs.
After about 1 km, the path levels out and takes you into a lush laurisilva forest. Here, you’ll reach the Cruz del Fraile, a wooden cross perched atop a rock—perfect for a quick rest and some photos. From this point, the trail becomes steeper, winding up in tight switchbacks through forests of mocán trees.
At around 2.5 km, the trees open up to reveal stunning cliffside views. You’ll arrive at El Miradero, an incredible lookout point offering breathtaking vistas. After soaking in the views, the path dives back into the forest, passing the Descansadero de la Virgen, a stone bench in the heart of the laurisilva.
Around 3.5 km, the trail opens up again, revealing sheer drops and ridgetop pines. Soon, you’ll come across a peaceful picnic area before reaching your destination: the Mirador de Jinama, perched at 1,230 meters. The panoramic views here are jaw-dropping, with the rugged cliffs sweeping down almost directly to where you began.
Optional Extension
If you’re up for more adventure, you can continue from the Mirador for an additional 4.7 km (signposted), heading through agricultural fields toward the village of San Andrés. From there you can take the bus to Valverde for onward travel.
Historical interpretation.
The track was historically used by the islanders when they moved dwellings seasonally in the traditional “mudadas” on El Hierro.
The “mudadas” refer to the movement back and to of islanders, twice a year, from the Higher grounds.
“… Twice a year, the whole Island descends upon the Valle del Golfo. The people from Isora went to Belgara, the islanders from La Villa to El Lunchón, La Plaza, La Carrera and to Las Lapas, whilst the inhabitants of El Barrio made for Las Puntas, Guinea, Los Mocanes, and the folk from San Andrés went to Los Llanillos. Only a few stayed permanently in El Golfo or Frontera, the people from Merese and Las Toscas, who were very humble folk. Since this happened once a year, we could hardly say that El Golfo had a stable population, since it was only in one place that there were permanent residents, Tejeguate with the rest representing a ‘floating’ population”
The traditional ‘mudadas’ gave rise to true caravans of animals, goods and chattels being transported along this track. Donkeys were used to carry all of the tools they needed to tend to their vines and fruit trees, together with the chickens and the other pen animals required to survive. The ‘mudada’ arose from the need to ensure a warm climate for the offspring of the herds to be born safely and reared, whence the islanders moved back to the higher grounds again.
