Best Hiking on La Gomera: Top 13 Hikes

Ruta 10: Cañada de Jorge

🚶 Length: 3 km (1.9 miles)
⏱ Time: 45 minutes
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: Center in Garajonay National Park
💪Difficulty: Easy

The Ruta 10 Cañada de Jorge in La Gomera offers a delightful circular walk ideal for families and children, due to its manageable distance and gentle elevation changes.

This route, nestled within the Garajonay National Park, meanders through the enchanting Laurisilva forest, presenting a very easy and enjoyable stroll.

💡 The trails inside the Garajonay National Park are numbered Ruta (Route) 1-18.

We recommend hiking clockwise from the parking area for the optimal experience. While the initial descent may be steep, the ascent towards the end is more gradual, making it accessible even for young adventurers.

We thoroughly enjoyed walking through this lush tropical forest that offers a truly magical experience.

Ruta 5: Las Creces

🚶 Length: 3.2 km (2.0 miles)
⏱ Time: 1 hour
🥾 Route type: Loops
📍Location on La Gomera: Center in Garajonay National Park
💪Difficulty: Easy

Ruta 5 Las Creces in La Gomera offers a splendid 2-mile hike suitable for all skill levels, featuring a journey through enchanting “fayal” – heathland and ancient laurel forests.

This trail is decorated with the vibrant hues of Canary geraniums in spring, creating a picturesque site beneath the trees, and reveals the historical significance of the island’s water channels, once vital for local communities.

A quaint recreational area by the parking provides the perfect spot for a picnic, making it a popular choice among locals, especially on weekends and summer days.

For those seeking a scenic detour, a short walk to Las Hayas presents a wonderful view and a charming restaurant, Restaurante Casa Efigenia La Montaña, where you can enjoy refreshing orange juice or a delightful cortado (espresso and milk).

Ruta 7: Alto de Garajonay

🚶 Length: 2.6 km (1.6 miles)
⏱ Time: 1 hour
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: Center in Garajonay National Park
💪Difficulty: Moderate

The Alto de Garajonay hike, known as Ruta 7 El Contadero – Alto de Garajonay, offers an accessible journey to La Gomera’s highest peak.

This moderate, 1.6-mile route, approximately an hour’s walk, starts at the parking lot at El Contadero and leads to unparalleled panoramic views across the island’s forested landscape, with distant silhouettes of El Hierro, La Palma, and Tenerife on the horizon.

The summit, standing at 1,487 meters, was a significant ceremonial and religious site for the island’s original settlers, and features archaeological sites now open for public exploration.

This area was impacted by a major forest fire in 2012 and the trail provides the opportunity to witness the resilient recovery of the myrtle heath vegetation, dominated by heather and faya.

Along the hike, you can engage with the landscape’s history and natural recovery through a series of interpretative stops, part of the park’s free audio tour.

Opting for a clear, non-cloudy day made our experience amazing as we made our way through the Parque Nacional de Garajonay.

💡 You can also reach Alto de Garajony with a longer 10km (6.2 miles) hike from Laguna Grande.

Ruta 16: Pajarito to Lajugal

🚶 Length: 7.6 km (4.7 miles)
⏱ Time: 2-3 hours
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: Center in Garajonay National Park
💪Difficulty: Moderate

The Ruta 16 Pajarito to Lajugal hike, stretching 7.6 km along the southern slope of Garajonay National Park, starts at the parking area at Cruce de Pajarito.

This trail, revealing the hard work of vegetation restoration programs, winds through young fayalbrezal forests, previously covered by pines, showcasing the island’s dedication to ecological recovery.

As it skirts the central plateau’s edge, hikers are treated to stunning views of the erosive calderas of Benchijigua and Imada, with the trail’s high vantage points also offering spectacular panoramas of Tenerife and El Teide, as well as El Hierro.

Despite its beauty and being suitable for families, this wasn’t our favorite hike on the island due to the lack of shade. Be sure to have a hat and plenty of water!

Barranco de Arure

🚶 Length: 3.5 km (2.2 miles)
⏱ Time: 2-3 hours
🥾 Route type: Out and back
📍Location: West
💪Difficulty: Challenging

The Barranco de Arure hike in La Gomera captivates with its journey through a stunning ravine, stretching over 2.2 miles.

This trail showcases the island’s beauty, from ancient terraces and lush palm groves to the quaint village of El Guro, before descending past small waterfalls towards the captivating Salto de Agua or Cascada de Arure.

Given the trail’s potential for wet conditions, we recommend very good footwear with waterproof boots being the best for a comfortable experience. Due to its challenging nature, we do not recommend this La Gomera hike for young children.

There is a parking lot at the bottom of Casa de la Seda, followed by a series of steps through the neighborhood, leading into a narrow passage with streams and small waterfalls.

The path has ropes for assistance and small improvised bridges to cross the water, ending at Salto de Agua, where you can have a picnic and then turn back.

Mirador de la Laja

🚶 Length: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
⏱ Time: 3-5 hours
🥾 Route type: Out and back
📍Location on La Gomera: Center in Garajonay National Park
💪Difficulty: Challenging

The PR LG 17 Mirador de la Laja hike in La Gomera is a 4.9-mile loop trail that treats hikers to an array of spectacular views, including the imposing Agando rock and its four companions, Las Lajas, La Zarcita, Carmona, and Ojila.

Despite the steep ascent, the trail is well-maintained, featuring numerous rocks and steps that facilitate a manageable walk. Plus, there are breathtaking sights of the Barranco, Tenerife, and the majestic Los Roques throughout the hike.

The journey begins from the main road, leading adventurers along an ancient path to La Laja, then onward to the Roques Refuge, with a convenient parking area at Mirador Degollada de Peraza.

As the trail concludes, the last 3 km offers an easy stroll back, with lovely views of Mount Teide on Tenerife. If you’re lucky, you may spot wild sheep!

For an easier hike to get to the view of Los Roques, probably the most monumental set of volcanic pythons in the Canary Islands, take this 1.7 mile out and back trail.

Ruta Circular Vallehermoso

🚶 Length: 13.5 km (8.4 miles)
⏱ Time: 4-6 hours
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: North
💪Difficulty: Hard

The Ruta Circular Vallehermoso is a captivating loop hike located in the northern region of La Gomera, Canary Islands, offering a delightful blend of diverse terrains, breathtaking views, and abundant natural beauty.

Spanning “route 04”, which aligns with the PR LG 10 trail, this hike launches from Vallehermoso, guiding adventurers through the scenic Barranco de la Era Nueva ravine, and past historic sites like the Ermita de Santa Clara and the Ermita del Coromoto.

We recommend taking the trail clockwise from this parking area, as it presents a very steep initial ascent, which is more manageable than doing it counterclockwise. However, still be prepared for a challenging descent on pebble gravel.

Despite some sections of the trail being poorly marked (we recommend having the trail details downloaded), the rewards are immense, including potential views of La Palma and Tenerife on clear days.

The route offers minimal shade and carrying hiking poles is recommended for additional support.

Roque de Ojila

🚶 Length: 8.7 km (5.4 miles)
⏱ Time: 4-6 hours
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: Center in Garajonay National Park
💪Difficulty: Hard

The Roque de Ojila hike in La Gomera offers a splendid 5.4-mile loop that unveils the island’s rugged beauty, capable of being completed in a half day when kicked off early from this parking area.

Roque de Ojila is one of the most impressive Los Roques, a collection of striking rock formations that punctuate the landscape with their majestic presence.

This counterclockwise trail curves through the quaint village of La Laja, introducing hikers to a slice of local charm before ascending the rocks.

The climb, stretching over 2 kilometers from La Laja, is a steady challenge that rewards with breathtaking views of the Roque de Ojila.

Guided by cairns, you are assured a well-marked journey, especially rewarding on a clear day when the vistas are unparalleled in their beauty.

Ruta 18: Circular Garajonay

🚶 Length: 14.3 km (8.9 miles)
⏱ Time: 4-6 hours
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: Center in Garajonay National Park
💪Difficulty: Hard

The Ruta 18 Circular Garajonay hike in La Gomera spans 8.9 miles through the breathtaking landscapes of Garajonay National Park, offering nature enthusiasts a splendid way to soak in the island’s natural beauty.

Starting from the the parking area at Cruce de Pajarito, the trail winds through the enchanting laurel forests to El Cedro, where hikers can enjoy a lunch break at the local café or packed lunch in the picnic area.

Along the return path through the Roques de Ojila, hikers are treated to a vibrant display of flora and encounters with charming magpie-robins.

The route also features a visit to the Ermita de Lourdes, a small chapel nestled in a picturesque setting.

If you would like to visit the Ermita de Lourdes on a shorter path, there is a different trail that begins only a little over 1km away from the chapel at Aula Naturaleza.

Ermita de San Juan

🚶 Length: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
⏱ Time: 4-6 hours
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: Northeast
💪Difficulty: Hard

The Ermita de San Juan hike in La Gomera is a captivating 6.6-mile loop trail that starts from a parking area adjacent to the Mirador de San Juan, offering diverse landscapes including forest paths, urban streets, pebbled tracks, and numerous stairs.

While the trail provides stunning views, sections can be overgrown, making long pants and sleeves a good idea for protection.

Navigation can be tricky due to some poorly marked segments, so carrying a GPS for guidance is recommended.

Along the route, we encountered a unique tunnel near the top of El Cedro, although it was very muddy, so we will have to come back to try again.

Mirador de Agulo

🚶 Length: 10.1 km (6.3 miles)
⏱ Time: 3-5 hours
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: Northeast
💪Difficulty: Hard

The Mirador de Agulo hike is a 6.3-mile loop trail offering a captivating route on the outskirts of Agulo.

Starting from the parking lot next to the Iglesia de San Marcos Evangelista, the trail ascends steeply, presenting a challenging climb with potential rock falls.

The distinctive red soil found in the northeast of La Gomera is a result of the island’s volcanic origins, forming colorful trails that offer a striking contrast to the lush greenery during hikes.

Along the way, you will not only pass the Mirador de Agulo, but also other notable landmarks such as the Embalse de Agulo (reservoir), before reaching the scenic CV-5 near the Juego de Bolas restaurant and Garajonay National Park Visitor Center.

For an extended experience, we added the Mirador de Abrante to our hike. This viewpoint rewards you with stunning views of Agulo through its unique see-through glass structure.

Riscos de La Mérica

🚶 Length: 15 km (9.3 miles)
⏱ Time: 5-7 hours
🥾 Route type: Out and Back
📍Location on La Gomera: West
💪Difficulty: Hard

The Riscos de La Mérica hike, a captivating 9.3-mile trail near Valle Gran Rey in La Gomera, offers hikers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical insight.

Starting from La Calera is recommended for convenient parking, but you can also start from Arure.

Ascending 700 meters above the coast, this trail is defined by its dramatic basaltic cliffs and the xerophytic scrub that are on them, including species like balo, cerrillo, and dama.

These cliffs served as a navigational aid to sailors in the past, with their profile visible from afar at sea.

Along the hike, you can explore remnants of the valley’s agricultural and lime industry history, including old lime kilns and farming structures.

While the trail offers spectacular views and easy walking, we recommend avoiding it on windy days due to fine dust.

Given the trail’s exposure, carrying a hat and plenty of water is essential, especially in the summer when crossing the vast plateau in the hike’s second half, where shade is scarce.

Casas de Cuevas Blancas

🚶 Length: 13 km (8.1 miles)
⏱ Time: 4-6 hours
🥾 Route type: Loop
📍Location on La Gomera: East
💪Difficulty: Hard

Ruta 31 Casas de Cuevas Blancas presents an 8.1-mile loop trail, standing as the closest hike to San Sebastián featured on our list.

This route offers a unique glimpse into the village of Cuevas Blancas, notable for its ancestral houses and numerous caves, set amidst lush vegetation and offering stunning views of Teide and the Atlantic Ocean.

The trail ascends towards Era de Peña on a well-maintained path that, while rewarding, is not recommended for those with vertigo due to its heights and steep sections.

Conveniently, hikers can find parking at Las Casetas, making access to this breathtaking and culturally rich hike straightforward.

Hiking in the Garajonay Tour

Gear up for a private half-day hike in La Gomera’s Garajonay National Park. This 4-hour and 30-minute trek, led by a local guide, unveils hidden trails and the island’s lush subtropical beauty while delving into La Gomera’s rich history.

The convenience of hotel pickup is especially great because it eliminates the need to locate the starting point, which is usually San Sebastián for most tours.

Your guide, Juan, is flexible with stops for those perfect photo opportunities, ensuring that you capture the essence of Garajonay’s picturesque landscapes at your leisure.

Hamlets of the North Hiking Route Tour

Embark on the “Hamlets of the North Hiking Route Tour” and uncover the serene beauty of La Gomera’s northern reaches.

This 5.5-hour guided journey begins at San Sebastián de La Gomera, leading adventurers through tranquil hamlets nestled within the lush expanses of Garajonay National Park.

Marvel at the Canarian laurel forest’s diverse flora and the quaint charm of northern mansions.

From the hamlet of Los Acevinos to the historic Hermitage of San Isidro in La Palmita, experience a blend of natural splendor and cultural heritage, all while escaping the city’s hustle for the tranquility of untouched landscapes.

Garajonay National Park Forest Walk

Embark on the Garajonay National Park Forest Walk to discover the enchanting laurel forest of La Gomera.

This 5-hour guided journey weaves through ancient trees and marvel at the stunning views of Vallehermoso valley and Mt. Teide.

It’s a step back in time within this mystical forest, breathing in the fresh air and soaking up the serene atmosphere.

Starting from San Sebastián, the adventure leads you through nature’s own pharmacy. We loved learning about how the island’s flora has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.

Laurisilva of Garajonay National Park

Discover the enchanting Laurisilva (another name for Laurel forest) of Garajonay National Park on a 5-hour guided hiking adventure.

Covering a distance of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), this tour offers a chance to explore the mystical laurel forests, shrouded in mists from the trade winds.

Starting from the San Sebastian bus station, where you’ll meet your guide and drive to the park’s entrance near Roque Agando.

The tour includes breathtaking views from Los Roques, ancient volcanic pitons, a walk through the lush, ancient forest to the village of El Cedro, and ends with panoramic vistas of the Hermigua valley.

Along the way, learn about the unique flora and fauna inhabiting this UNESCO World Heritage site, all while soaking up the tranquil atmosphere under towering trees.