The essential oils (EOs) of leaves and twigs of Endlicheria arenosa Chanderb. were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and the chemical composition was determined by GC and GC-MS. In total, 47 constituents were identified and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (77.6%) were the main compounds found in the leaf EO, such as bicyclogermacrene (42.2%), germacrene D (12.5%) and β-caryophyllene (10.1%). Limonene (33.2%), terpinen-4-ol (15.6%) and δ-cadinol (6.9%) were the predominant constituents in the EO of the twigs. Using the DPPH radical-scavenging method, the EO of the leaves showed the greater radical-scavenging activity (216.5 ± 11.6 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/mL compared to the EO of the twigs (122.6 ± 6.8 mg TE/mL). Also, the EO of leaves displayed promising antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (MIC 19.5 μg x mL(-1)). The present study is the first report about evaluation of volatile oils for this species.