Hike through Garajonay National Park’s ancient, mysterious rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sample La Gomera’s delicious wealth of exotic fruits and palm honey
Enjoy spectacular views across the ocean to the mighty volcano El Teide on Tenerife
Stroll around the laid-back, colourful town of San Sebastián
Listen out for La Gomera’s unique whistling language Silbo Gomero, used to communicate across the ravines
Hiking on La Gomera
Self-guided walking holiday with luggage transportation
From a distance La Gomera appears barren and impenetrable, encircled as it is by dramatic and steep cliff walls. Viewed from up-close, however, you will discover a botanical paradise – the greenest of the Canary Islands – with rainforest and lush valleys where bananas, papayas, avocadoes and other exotic fruits thrive. You won’t find long, golden beaches and a vibrant night life here but what you will find is a myriad of hiking trails winding through the green forests and fertile valleys and along the rugged coastline, with volcanic peaks and breathtaking views over the blue sea.
La Gomera is a paradise for year-round hiking
La Gomera is truly a hiker’s paradise, and most of the tourists you meet on the island are indeed hikers. Our carefully selected hiking routes explore both the wild coastal landscape, with steep cliffs and small caves, the astonishing Garajonay National Park; an ancient laurisilva rainforest cloaked in silvery mists and dense with subtropical vegetation, as well as the lush valleys with their fruit plantations and charming villages.
Charming and comfortable accommodation
For this hiking trip, we have hand-picked some of La Gomera’s best accommodation where you can sample some of the island’s many exotic fruits and the famous ‘gofio’. On the days where you change accommodation, your luggage will be transported between hotels while you walk. We take care of all the practical details so you don’t have to worry about anything other than enjoying this island’s amazing walking trails.
| 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS | From €620 per person sharing*
*A high season supplement will apply during the Christmas period. |
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| ACCOMMODATION | The hotels on this trip have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite. Some of the hotels we work with are listed below. If a certain hotel is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will request a similar one and inform you about the alternative booked.
It is also possible to book extra nights at any of the hotels along the way. |
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| AVAILABILITY | You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, throughout the year. | ||||||||||||||
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Day 1: Ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera
You get to La Gomera from the port town of Los Cristianos on Tenerife, which lies about 17 km from Tenerife South Airport. The ferry crossing takes only 40 minutes and it’s possible to spot dolphins and porpoises along the way. You will arrive in San Sebastián de la Gomera, which is the main town of the island. It was founded in the 15th century and the inhabitants will proudly tell you that this was the last place Columbus stopped before he discovered America in 1492. Today there are about 7000 inhabitants in the town, which has a lovely, laid-back atmosphere and many good restaurants.
Overnight: San Sebastián
Day 2: San Sebastián to Chipude
Distance: 12 km | Ascent: 750 m | Descent: 760 m | 5½-6 hrs approx.
After a short transfer to El Reventon Oscuro, your first day of hiking takes you through the lush, green Garajonay National Park, which covers most of the northern part of the island. The path winds upwards through the mysterious rainforest where ancient, moss covered laurel trees grow. You pass a small chapel, hiding among the dense vegetation, and shortly afterwards you reach the highest point of the island. On a clear day you can enjoy spectacular views over all of La Gomera with La Palma, Hierro and Tenerife’s mighty volcano El Teide in the horizon. From here it is only a short descent to your overnight accommodation in Chipude.
Overnight: Chipude
Day 3: Chipude to Vallehermoso
Distance: 15 km | Ascent: 240 m | Descent: 1100 m | 5½-6 hrs approx.
Today you traverse two lush, steep-sided valleys (or barrancos as they call them in La Gomera), past the pottery village El Cercado and then onwards to the beautiful Barranco de Valle Gran Rey, which is filled with farming terraces and palm groves. We recommend a lunch stop in the cosy little restaurant ‘Casa Efigenia’ in Las Hayas where Efigenia and her daughters serve lovely, traditional Gomeran dishes. From Las Hayas you start the descent through verdant surroundings of palm trees, junipers, heather and bay laurels. After about 6 hours of hiking you reach Vallehermoso. Its name translates as ‘the beautiful valley’ and it is fully deserving of this title.
Overnight: Vallehermoso
Day 4: Loop walk from Vallehermoso
Distance: 14 km | Ascent: 735 m | Descent: 735 m | 5½ hrs approx.
The day’s hike take place in a dry terrain of yellow and orange nuances. After a demanding ascent you reach the chapel of Santa Clara situated 750 metres above the sea on a narrow ridge. From here there are some fantastic views over the valley. When you have crossed the ridge you start descending towards the sea and the vegetation becomes more and more sparse and dry. Via a steep, well-maintained path you reach the small beach at Vallehermoso from where a quiet road leads back into town.
Overnight: Vallehermoso
Day 5: Vallehermoso to Hermigua
Distance: 17 km | Ascent: 935 m | Descent: 1140 m | 6½-7 hrs approx.
You leave Vallehermoso via Roque Cano, which is a characteristic lava peak towering over the valley. The route leads you through the village of Rosas and on to the visitor centre of Garajonay National Park, where you can find lots of information about La Gomera. Afterwards you follow GR-132 down to the coastal village of Agulo, from where you can either take a bus or walk the remaining 4.5 km to Hermigua. The town is beautifully situated in a lush, green valley where banana, papaya, avocado and sugar cane grow as far as the eye can see.
Overnight: Hermigua
Day 6: Loop walk from Hermigua
Distance: 12 km | Ascent: 735 m | Descent: 735 m | 5-5½ hrs approx.
On this beautiful loop walk you explore the spectacular coastline east of Hermigua, offering breathtaking views to Tenerife, El Teide and the sea. You can choose to take a detour down to the beach La Caleta where you will find a nice little beach bar. The route traverses an area damaged by extreme erosion where lots of different varieties of cactus and agave grow.
Overnight: Hermigua
Day 7: Hermigua to San Sebastián
Distance: 10/16 km | Ascent: 125/350 | Descent: 1025/1300 m | 4½/7 hrs approx.
This day starts with a short transfer to Degollada de la Peraza. From here you can choose between two different routes that both lead to San Sebastián. The short route follows GR-131 and is a well-marked, historic route with a constant but gradual descent.
The longer route traverses La Gomera’s dry and barren southwest coast. On some of the stretches the path is relatively narrow with sheer drops to one side so if suffering from vertigo this route is not recommend. It does, however, offer fabulous views and it is possible to make a short stop and go for a swim on the latter part of it.
Overnight: San Sebastián
Day 8: Ferry from La Gomera to Tenerife
Your La Gomera hiking holiday comes to an end this morning after breakfast. From the habour in San Sebastián where you arrived you take the ferry back to Los Cristianos on Tenerife.
Tour Reviews
Fantastic from beginning to end – we had a super time! Wild Rover offer such good value in comparison to other tour operators. The route notes were so helpful. La Gomerra is gorgeous!
Vi var to par der henover nytår havde en skøn vandreuge på La Gomera. Vi har været meget tilfredse med kommunikation og service med Wild Rover Travel. Vandreturene var godt beskrevet i den medfølgende bog og stierne vel afmærket. Vi havde høj sol hver eneste dag og nød øens smukke og vilde natur. Vi vil helt sikkert bruge Wild Rover Travel igen en anden gang.
SÆRDELES ANBEFALELSESVÆRDIGT!
Min veninde, hendes søn på 12 år og jeg havde en virkelig dejlig oplevelse på La Gomera.
Helt fra start har vi oplevet god og super hurtig service fra Cecilie og Niall. Alt på turen, herunder rutebeskrivelser, indtjekning og transfer, har fungeret fuldstændig upåklageligt og uden uforudsete hændelser.
Øen er super spændende med dens gamle historie, imødekommende befolkning og varierende natur. Ruterne var tilpas udfordrende, og det var super fedt med små tip om lokale seværdigheder, steder, keramikere mm.
Jeg kan varmt anbefale at lade Wild Rover Travel stå for vandreturen, og jeg tror bestemt også at vi kommer tilbage en anden gang 🙂
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