Hiking in La Gomera: 8 Routes for Your Adventure

The small Canary Island of La Gomera is a paradise for all outdoor and nature lovers. You can look forward to fantastic hikes through dense rainforests and rugged landscapes with breathtaking views. Biggi and Flo have compiled hiking tips and routes in this travel report that are suitable for beginners.

La Gomera is a true paradise for active enthusiasts: altogether, there are hiking trails on this Atlantic island with a total length of over 600 kilometers. We present to you eight of the most beautiful trails - suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

Hiking to the highest peak of a country - or in this case, an island - is always a special experience. In La Gomera, the Alto de Garajonay is a popular destination. But don't worry: although it stands at 1487 meters, the Alto de Garajonay is easily accessible for beginners on foot.

From the parking lot Aparcamiente de Cruce de Pajaritos (there is also a similarly long ascent trail from a nearby parking lot directly on the National Park road GM-2), it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the summit. The wide path leads comfortably through the fairytale misty forest in the Garajonay National Park. In total, you only need to cover about two kilometers (round trip) and climb just 100 meters in elevation. The hike to the highest mountain on the island is therefore also perfectly suited for beginners and families with children.

From the Mirador Del Morro de Agando, you have one of the most beautiful views of the Roque Agando, the island's landmark. From the parking lot near the GM-2 close to the viewpoint, it takes only about ten minutes on foot through the ever-green misty forest. However, the hike from the parking lot Aparcamiente de Cruce de Pajaritos, from where the trail to the Alto de Garajonay also starts, is prettier.

For the roughly six-kilometer hike, you should plan around two hours of walking time for the round trip. The tour takes you through the island's mystical misty forest and offers spectacular distant views along the way. With only about 200 meters in elevation gain, the route is also perfectly suitable for inexperienced hikers.

El Chorro (also known as Chorros del Cedro) is the highest waterfall on the island and a popular excursion destination. From the starting point of the hike in the sleepy village of El Cedro, you walk past ancient trees in the laurel forest. Soon, you will reach a first viewpoint from which you enjoy a wonderful distant view.

From here, you follow the stairs downwards. The hiking trail is always well-maintained, although at times it can be a bit steep. After 20 minutes, you can already hear the sound of the waterfall. From a small viewing platform, you have a beautiful view of the Chorros del Cedro.

Our tip: The small reservoir that you have been seeing in the distance is worth a detour. Down here, there is also a small resting place with a hidden waterfall. If you decide on this longer variant, you will cover nearly three kilometers and almost 300 meters in elevation gain. This tour is therefore quite manageable.

The wonderful views through the laurel forest promise an easy hike from the viewpoint Mirador de Los Roques to the viewpoint Mirador de El Bailadero.

The first highlight of the hike awaits right at the starting point. The view of the Roque Agando is particularly spectacular from here.

The path takes you through the laurel forest - just that alone is an unforgettable experience. The moss-covered trees seem to have originated from a fairy tale. When the famous fog rolls in, the illusion is perfect. Behind each gnarled tree, one expects to encounter a fairy.

From the Mirador de El Bailadero, located about three kilometers away, you will gain a completely new perspective of the Canary Island. The return is along the same route. With nearly 300 meters in elevation gain, the hike is also suitable for beginners.

The Barranco de Santiago is the longest canyon on the island, measuring almost ten kilometers. The hike through this deep gorge is one of the highlights of La Gomera. It starts in the mountain village of Imada.

Follow the signs to Playa Santiago, which is marked as ten kilometers. The route leads past gigantic cacti steadily downhill and deeper into the gorge. The views are breathtaking.

After about two kilometers, you will reach the most impressive part of the hike. This section of the trail runs high along a rock wall. But don't worry, this part of the trail is secured with a railing and is therefore also manageable for beginners.

After about three kilometers, you reach Guarimiar, a small village with only a few houses. Just beyond the village, you take the hiking path on the right and steeply ascend. Parts of the trail are a bit exposed.

You will ascend 350 meters in elevation to the edge of the gorge. Then you will reach Targa. Here, you mostly follow the CV-11. At the end of the tour, you will have walked around 10 kilometers and gained over 600 meters in elevation.

Alternatively, you can descend from Guarimiar to Playa Santiago and jump into the refreshing sea after your hike. Unfortunately, there is no bus service between Playa Santiago and Imada. We recommend taking a taxi for the long return journey to Imada. Only very durable hikers will walk back on foot.

The mighty Roque Cano is the landmark of the village Vallehermoso. The tour begins directly in Vallehermoso and initially leads steeply uphill, gaining 200 meters in elevation to the foot of the Roque Cano. Here, you will follow the GR132 trail onward. Just before Cruz de Tierno, after 4.8 kilometers, keep right and head towards El Tion and continue to Rosa de las Piedras. The views on this portion of the tour of the surrounding mountain peaks are breathtaking.

Another highlight is the small reservoir Embalse de la Encantadora. You can walk around the reservoir on both sides, but the right side is more scenic. After the reservoir, follow the trail to the right, back to Vallehermoso.

With eleven kilometers and nearly 700 meters in elevation gain, this hike is no longer necessarily suitable for beginners. Experienced hikers will enjoy this tour.

With a network of over 600 kilometers of hiking paths, multi-day hikes are of course also available in La Gomera. Endurance hikers looking for a challenge will take the long-distance trail GR 131. The white-red marked 'Camino Natural Cumbres de La Gomera,' which is part of the European long-distance trail E7, starts in the capital San Sebastián, traverses the island along the main ridge in the UNESCO World Heritage site Parque Nacional Garajonay, and ends after about 40 kilometers in Vallehermoso.

For the quite demanding tour - as you will have to master around 2500 meters in elevation gain both up and down - you should plan for three days (San Sebastián - Degollada de Peraza - Chipude - Vallehermoso).

An even greater challenge is the similarly marked long-distance hiking trail GR 132, which completely circles La Gomera. The start and end point is the picturesque island capital San Sebastián.

In between, depending on the variant, there are 120 to 140 kilometers of trail and more than 6000 meters in elevation gain. For the spectacular circumnavigation of the island, you should plan for at least seven days.

Accommodation options are scarce but available. In any case, you should pack bivouac gear in your hiking backpack.

Hiking in La Gomera is an unforgettable experience. To ensure that you are always safe on your journeys, we provide you with tips for beginners. This way, nothing stands in the way of your hiking experience.