TF Combo1 Garajonay National Park En

I will meet you at the port of San Sebastián, and from there we will head directly to the starting point of our first trail.

Ascent to the summit of Garajonay

If the weather is clear, we will walk up to the summit of Garajonay, the highest point on La Gomera. This site is not only a spectacular viewpoint offering a 360° panorama over the island and the neighbouring archipelago — it is also an archaeological site.

At the top, you will find the remains of an ancient pre‑Hispanic ceremonial site, a place of worship that reflects the spiritual importance the island’s early inhabitants attributed to mountains and natural elements.

The summit also gives its name to the national park: Garajonay comes from an aboriginal legend, a tragic love story deeply rooted in Gomeran culture. This ascent beautifully connects landscape, human history, and spirituality, while offering an exceptional panoramic experience.

If the summit is covered in clouds — a frequent winter phenomenon — we will adapt the itinerary and explore another area of the forest, equally rich in atmosphere and biodiversity.

Walking time: approx. 2 hours

Elevation gain/loss: +110 m / –110 m

Distance: 3 km

Botanical walk in the cloud forest

For about two hours, we will explore the laurel forest, a unique European cloud forest and a true ecological treasure. Here, moisture comes mainly from the trade‑wind mist, which condenses on the leaves and drips to the ground. This process, known as horizontal precipitation, is one of the island’s main sources of freshwater.

We will discover how this forest — located at the same latitude as the Sahara Desert — manages to create its own microclimate thanks to the almost permanent presence of clouds. This extraordinary combination explains the forest’s exceptional biodiversity, including many endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.

You will learn to identify the characteristic plants of the laurisilva, understand their role in the island’s hydrological balance, and appreciate the ecological value of an ecosystem considered a living relic of the subtropical forests that once covered southern Europe.

Elevation gain/loss: +60 m / –60 m

Distance: 2 km

Walking time: approx. 2 hours

Viewpoint over Los Roques

We will then walk to a viewpoint overlooking the impressive volcanic pinnacles of Los Roques, one of La Gomera’s most iconic landscapes. These massive monoliths are the solidified cores of ancient volcanoes whose outer layers have eroded over time, revealing the hardened magma inside.

From the viewpoint, I will explain how these structures formed, what they reveal about the island’s geological evolution, and why they are key to understanding the birth and transformation of the Canary Islands.

This spectacular landscape — where bare volcanic rock contrasts with lush vegetation — offers a fascinating insight into the internal geology of La Gomera.

Elevation gain/loss: +40 m / –40 m

Distance: 1.6 km

Walking time: approx. 30 minutes

I’ll drive you back to the port. If you still have time before the boat departs, you can stroll through the historic centre of San Sebastián.