April 26, 2025, 2:52 p.m. | Reading time: 5 minutes
The Canary Islands are known for their beautiful beaches, guaranteed sunshine and unique nature. But they are also a popular destination for many hikers. Whether short walks or long stage hikes - the islands can be explored in a variety of ways. Sunnytrips author Frank Lehmann was on several of them in hiking boots and reveals his best tips. In part 2 we go to La Gomera!
La Gomera is the third smallest of the Canary Islands after El Hierro and La Graciosa. Only just under 22,000 people live here, and things are much more relaxed than on the larger sister islands. There are no castles here like in Tenerife or Gran Canaria. And: La Gomera offers perfect conditions for hiking.
In Valle Gran Rey
Garajonay National Park
To the Mirador de Abrante viewpoint
Through the Barranco de Santiago O Guarimiar gorge
In Valle Gran Rey
Like so many Germans, we are drawn to the Valley of the Great King, to Valle Gran Rey. Of course, we first look for the remnants of the much talked about hippie culture. And yes, the bongo and conga drummers come to the beach in the evenings. Yes, you see a lot of offers for yoga and self-discovery seminars. And the artist village of El Guro also shines with its charm. But the really wild times are over. Hotel complexes with three floors on the beach, swimming pools and many restaurants can be seen. The real estate agents no longer have any pretty fincas on the beach on offer. There is still something to buy higher in the mountains, but not for less than 150,000 euros.
But we don't want to settle down on La Gomera, we want to hike. So first we take a walk to the El Guro waterfall. We walk for two hours there and back in the Barranco de Arure - a small jungle and a small paradise. Be careful, some of the rocks are slippery!
BILD Reisen: Discover the best hotels on La Gomera now!
If you want to discover La Gomera on Schuster's horse, you definitely have to go up to the lonely tree of La Merica, a windswept Phoenician juniper. You start at the bottom of La Calera in Valle Gran Rey and breathe your way up to the ridge. The view from there is breathtaking: the cliff drops precipitously 600 meters down to Playa del Inglés. We continue to the Mirador de El Santo and the sleepy mountain village of Arure. From there we hike further down into the valley to El Guro. A woman actually lives in a cave on the side of the road and smiles at us with a soulful smile. Well, begrudgingly, we also find peace after 18 kilometers in steaming hiking boots with a cold beer.
The most spectacular hiking trails in Tenerife
Garajonay National Park
The following day we go to the Garajonay National Park. We start at the Aparcamiento de Cruce de Pajarito parking lot. Heavy clouds circle around the highest point on the island at 1,487 meters. But these clouds do not rain, but spread a thick fog that runs through the large laurel forests. There it is, the promised magical atmosphere. You can barely see 20 meters ahead; dense lichens dangle from the moss-covered trees. The cloud forest of La Gomera – simply impressive!
We walk down to El Cedro – be sure to order the cress soup Potaje de berros at Restaurante La Vista. Strengthened, we head back up to the Garajonay. The clouds clear and we leave the jungle at the Los Roques natural monument. They are ancient, extinct volcanic vents that rise out of the mountains like menhirs. The Roque Agando is the most famous.
Canary IslandThe best tips for a holiday on La Gomera
Top travel destinationThe best travel tips for La Gomera
To the Mirador de Abrante viewpoint
There are so many more hiking trails on La Gomera. We pick a very special one: the climb from the village of Agulo in the east of the island up to the Mirador de Abrante viewpoint. You walk across a glass floor and a cliff falls 400 meters below us (see large photo above). If you are not afraid of heights, you should not dare to do this. But don't worry, you can't fall here, you stand on the glass and think you're floating. The view extends as far as Tenerife and the Teide greets us from 60 kilometers away. The Juego de Bolas visitor center is highly recommended. Modern, informative and you can enjoy and buy local specialties there.
Vallehermoso is praised by some visitors as the most beautiful place on La Gomera. Sleepy, in some places also dilapidated, a small plaza and of course bars that offer the Gomerón, a typical drink made from a mixture of honey or palm syrup and pomace brandy.
Through the Barranco de Santiago O Guarimiar gorge
Our last hike goes into the deep gorge Barranco de Santiago O Guarimiar. You start in the mountain village of Imada, and the path ends there again after a circular route of six hours. In some places you have to be careful because the route leads along very steep slopes. But like all paths on La Gomera, this one is well signposted and secured.
Important: You should have enough water and provisions with you, as there are no restaurants on the hiking trail. A walking stick is helpful, and sturdy, good shoes are a must.
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