Search Results

Located in San Sebastián de La Gomera, this route gives a good sample of the island’s landscapes. The hike goes through the verdant hills in Agando, palm groves in the bed of the ravine and at the end, native plants like Canary Island Spurge and Hercules Club near a hamlet of rural architecture with houses scattered among the allotments of crops. Also to be seen are areas of cereal growing land in the hermitage of Saint John the Baptist, an old hydraulic mill in Pastrana and modern infrastructure to collect water like the well and reservoir in Benchijigua.

Located in the municipality of Vallehermoso, in the western part of the island of La Gomera, this route takes you through one of the most emblematic juniper groves in the Canary Islands. However, the star of this walk is the landscape because as you walk round to the other face of the mountain, a great variety of plant species can be seen in a relatively small area. Also of interest is the fauna made up of birds like crows and common buzzards which usually accompany walkers on their way through the Gomeran hills.

The GR 132.1 is an inland variant that connects the area of Las Rosas with the Chorros de Epina, offering a transitional route between the agricultural landscapes of the north and the forest formations associated with the laurel forest (monteverde). Covering just over twelve kilometres, the itinerary passes through one of the most representative municipalities in northern La Gomera: Vallehermoso. The route begins near the Las Rosas reservoir, from where a gradual ascent starts, soon leaving the track to follow dirt paths. In the initial sections, fayal–brezal woodland predominates, alternating with patches of laurel forest in the more humid areas. As the route progresses, the landscape opens up, revealing for the first time the unmistakable silhouette of Roque Cano, a monumental volcanic plug that visually dominates the entire valley. The descent towards Vallehermoso offers wide views of the town centre and its terraced slopes. Canary juniper gradually becomes more prominent as altitude decreases, shaping a drier and brighter landscape on the exposed hillsides. After crossing the town — where the trail connects with other hiking routes — the path resumes its climb along the opposite slope. The ascent is steady and provides views over the surrounding ravines, where small traditional orchards survive in contrast to abandoned terraces. The light-coloured, eroded terrain reveals the ancient volcanic materials that outcrop in this northern part of the island. As elevation increases, juniper woodland alternates once again with areas of monteverde favoured by the growing influence of the trade winds. The trail follows ridge lines that allow panoramic views on both sides of the terrain, until the forest becomes denser, forming a more enclosed fayal–brezal where tree heather and firetree create a cool, shaded atmosphere. In its final stretch, the route links with forest tracks and local roads before heading definitively towards the Chorros de Epina, a traditional site associated with springs and local legends. Surrounded by vegetation and holding strong symbolic value for the local population, this place marks the natural end of the branch and its connection with the main GR 132 route. Overall, the GR 132.1 is an inland alternative that reveals the landscape diversity of northern La Gomera: from agricultural valleys dominated by imposing roques to juniper-covered ridges and humid forests that herald the presence of the monteverde. A varied and demanding route that complements the coastal experience of the main circular trail.

This short branch of the GR 131 links the town centre of Vallehermoso with its coastal front, offering a gradual descent from the mid-altitude agricultural landscape to the island’s northern shoreline. At just over three and a half kilometres in length, it forms a natural extension of the main route toward the sea. The trail begins in the urban centre and, after passing through its first streets in the direction of the coast, turns toward the ravine bed. A small footbridge allows hikers to cross and enter a setting where relief and traditional agriculture shape a landscape of strong character. For much of the route, the path runs parallel to the ravine, at the foot of the imposing Roque Cano, one of the municipality’s most recognisable geological landmarks. The terraced slopes, supported by dry-stone walls, testify to centuries of agricultural use. Canary Island palms, banana plantations, and small orchards dot the valley floor, forming a fertile mosaic that contrasts with the verticality of the surrounding mountains. This section helps visitors understand the close relationship between the local population and the land, shaped by adaptation to a rugged terrain and the careful management of water resources. In its final stretch, the path crosses the ravine once again and approaches the coastline until reaching Vallehermoso Beach. This coastal enclave, inhabited since ancient times, played a significant role in the island’s economic history. Beneath the cliffs remain the ruins of an old loading crane, once used to facilitate the shipment and export of agricultural products at a time when maritime connections were essential to the island’s economy. Reaching the sea marks the natural conclusion of this GR 131 branch and offers the possibility of linking with other coastal itineraries. This section combines rural scenery, ethnographic heritage, and historical memory in a short yet meaningful walk.

This route offers one of the most complete and varied itineraries within Garajonay National Park, allowing visitors to explore a remarkable diversity of summit and northern slope ecosystems, distributed according to altitude, humidity, and the influence of mist. In its initial sections, the trail crosses summit heathlands, wind-exposed plant formations covered with dense carpets of moss that blanket the ground and tree trunks, creating a cool and silent atmosphere. As the path descends along the northern slope, the landscape gradually transforms into classic hillside laurel forest, more humid and lush, where laurels, barbusanos, large heaths, and giant ferns abound. In the lower parts of the ravine, the trail enters a particularly interesting type of laurel forest: laurel forest with viñátigos (Persea indica). Here, these trees reach remarkable size due to the high environmental humidity and the presence of permanent watercourses—one of the most characteristic features of this area of the Park. These ravine bottoms form true ecological refuges, where vegetation appears at its most exuberant and mature. After leaving the northern boundary of the Park, the route continues toward the hamlet of El Cedro, located at the bottom of a ravine that carries water year-round thanks to the retention capacity of the monteverde forest. This rural enclave, surrounded by high forested cliffs, is one of the most distinctive places on La Gomera due to its isolation, natural beauty, and historical connection to agriculture and water management. The landscape is marked by an impressive vertical cliff over 200 metres high, from which a waterfall plunges down, sharply separating this area from the Hermigua Valley, one of the most fertile valleys in the north of the island. This escarpment is one of the most striking geological features along the route. The return to Contadero once again allows visitors to experience the variations in vegetation and climate, thus completing an itinerary that perfectly encapsulates the environmental richness of Garajonay National Park.

This short and comfortable route offers an immersive walk through one of the best-preserved areas of mature laurel forest in Garajonay National Park. The trail winds through secondary ravines where some of the tallest and most developed trees of La Gomera’s forest thrive, thanks to high humidity levels and the constant effect of “horizontal rain” (mist precipitation). Shade, coolness, and the sound of water accompany visitors from the very first moments, creating a serene and deeply evocative atmosphere. As the path enters the heart of the laurel forest (monteverde), the surroundings become increasingly humid and lush. Moss-covered trunks, giant ferns, lianas, and lichens hanging from the canopy create the atmosphere of an ancient, almost mystical forest where direct sunlight barely penetrates. This landscape is one of the finest examples of Macaronesian laurel forest, a living relic of the forests that covered southern Europe millions of years ago. The route culminates at the charming Chapel of Lourdes, located in a small square that invites visitors to rest. Next to the chapel, wooden tables and a small drinking water fountain provide a perfect spot for a break and to enjoy the silence of the forest. The El Cedro stream, the most voluminous watercourse in the entire Park, flows through this area, its murmur enhancing the sense of freshness and vitality that characterizes the site. This trail is ideal for families, hikers seeking a gentle walk, or anyone wishing to experience the essence of the laurel forest without steep gradients or strenuous effort, in a setting that encapsulates the magic and biodiversity of Garajonay National Park.

This circular route crosses one of the most emblematic sections of the laurel forest in Garajonay National Park, a humid and lush ecosystem that thrives thanks to the mist sweeping across the summit. Most of the trail follows a paved track, making it easy to walk and allowing visitors to comfortably enjoy the exuberant vegetation that defines this sector of the Park. In the stretches where mist is most frequent, the surroundings take on a particularly magical atmosphere: trees covered in moss, hanging lichens, and giant ferns create a humid and silent landscape that evokes the ancient character of the Canary Islands’ monteverde, a true relict forest inherited from the Tertiary Era. After leaving the Park boundary, the trail descends toward the hamlet of El Cedro, one of the island’s most distinctive rural enclaves. This small settlement is completely surrounded by forest and located at the bottom of a ravine that carries water year-round, thanks to the forest’s remarkable capacity for water capture. Here, the traditional agricultural landscape blends with the murmur of the stream, creating a cool, fertile environment deeply connected to La Gomera’s rural heritage. At the end of the ravine rises a vertical cliff over 200 metres high, from which a spectacular waterfall plunges down, sharply separating this area from the Hermigua Valley. This impressive escarpment is one of the island’s most striking geological features and highlights the contrast between the humid forest and the agricultural slopes of the northern valley. The route later returns toward Reventón Oscuro, ascending once again into the realm of the monteverde and completing an itinerary that combines nature, rural landscape, and one of the most humid and lush environments of the National Park.

This short yet extraordinary trail leads into one of the most privileged natural viewpoints in Garajonay National Park. Despite its brief length, the route offers one of the finest perspectives of Los Roques, authentic stone guardians of central La Gomera, as well as the rugged headwaters of the Hermigua ravine, one of the deepest and most humid valleys in the northern part of the island. The path runs along the island’s ridgeline, a place where, within just a few steps, visitors can experience La Gomera’s two major climatic environments: The northern slope, often shrouded in mist even in midsummer, dominated by humid laurel forest and unique tree heaths, covered in mosses and lichens. The southern slope, much sunnier and drier, where thermophilous shrubland prevails and open hillsides descend toward the southern ravines. This visible and tangible contrast makes the trail a unique educational and sensory experience for understanding the island’s geography and climate. The route also crosses rocky walls where valuable rupicolous vegetation typical of humid environments thrives, including ferns, ivy, lichens, and plants adapted to growing in crevices and natural rock faces. In this same section, visitors can observe up close a volcanic dyke, a striking geological formation that reveals La Gomera’s eruptive history, appearing here as a dark wall that cuts through the surrounding rock. Despite its short length, Route 1 – El Bailadero in Garajonay National Park offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy the landscape, vegetation, and geology of the Park, while providing an unforgettable panoramic view of one of the most emblematic corners of the island’s heart.

This demanding route allows visitors to enjoy one of the most impressive volcanic landscapes on La Gomera: the Los Roques complex, probably the most monumental phonolitic volcanic plugs in the Canary Islands. From its very first metres, the trail offers privileged views of iconic formations such as Roque Agando, the unmistakable symbol of the island, as well as Roque Ojila and La Zarcita. The sheer vertical scale of these volcanic masses makes this initial stretch one of the most striking in the National Park. The path first ascends through a young fayal–brezal, the result of ecological restoration work carried out after the 2012 wildfire, which replaced previously degraded forest stands. This transitional vegetation illustrates the forest’s regenerative capacity and the natural dynamism of the ecosystem. After leaving the Park boundary, the route enters a plantation of Canary Island pine, where the landscape opens up slightly and reveals the winding course of the trail as it descends toward the valley floor. This section contrasts notably with the humid vegetation around Los Roques, offering a very complete ecological sequence. The route culminates at the bottom of a ravine with permanent water, one of the most characteristic features of the island’s eastern sector. Nearby lies the hamlet of La Laja, a traditional enclave surrounded by beautiful terraced landscapes shaped over generations by mid-altitude agriculture. The terraces, dry-stone walls, and small orchards create a rural environment of great ethnographic value. For those seeking a shorter or less demanding experience, it is possible to walk only as far as the Park boundary, enjoying the panoramic views of Los Roques before returning. This route is an ideal option for experienced hikers wishing to combine dramatic volcanic panoramas, rural heritage, and environmental contrasts along a trail with significant elevation change and outstanding scenic interest.

This extensive circular route passes through one of the sectors of Garajonay National Park that was most severely affected by the 2012 forest fire, offering visitors the opportunity to observe firsthand the significant progress made in ecological restoration programmes on the island’s southern slope. Along the trail, evolving landscapes can be seen, with young stands of fayas and heaths gradually reclaiming areas once occupied by Canary Island pine plantations, which are now in decline. For much of the route, the path crosses a young fayal–brezal in the process of maturation, where natural regeneration is advancing rapidly thanks to increased light availability and the strong resprouting capacity of many native species. This dynamic landscape provides an excellent example of how the Park’s ecosystems respond to restoration processes and to the removal of reforested species. In the lower sections, pine woodlands still in the process of replacement can be observed—areas where young pines coexist with emerging heaths and juvenile fayas. These vegetational contrasts illustrate the different stages of forest restoration and help visitors understand the complex transition toward the original dry monteverde landscape. As the route approaches the edge of La Gomera’s central plateau, the landscape opens up and offers some of the most beautiful panoramic views in this sector of the Park. From elevated points, the erosive calderas of Benchijigua and Imada can be clearly seen—two impressive volcanic-erosive depressions that form part of the island’s most spectacular geomorphology. These vistas, especially striking on clear days, are among the highlights of the route. This trail is ideal for those wishing to understand the Park’s restoration processes, enjoy wide views of the southern part of the island, and explore young forest environments that showcase the regenerative capacity of the monteverde ecosystem.