Best Hikes in La Gomera (2026): Garajonay, El Cedro, Roque de Agando & Valle Gran Rey
La Gomera's best hikes: Garajonay's laurel forest and highest point, El Cedro, Roque de Agando and the walks down to Valle Gran Rey. No permits needed, but plan the transport.
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Buses run on residents' timetables and most good routes are one-way, so a car, plus a taxi for the return, is what makes La Gomera walkable. Compare La Gomera car hire ↗
Hiking on La Gomera: free trails, slow roads
La Gomera is built for walking: a dome of laurel forest in Garajonay National Park, deep ravines radiating to the coast and old paths that linked the villages before the roads. You do not need a permit for any of it. What you do need is a plan for transport, because almost every journey climbs to the centre and back down again, buses are scheduled for locals rather than hikers, and many of the best routes are one-way. Mist in the forest is normal and makes the paths slippery: carry a layer and shoes with grip.
Alto de Garajonay: the island's highest point
The summit of the park is an easy objective: the official circular routes from Contadero and from Pajarito climb gently through heath and laurel to a viewpoint that, on a clear day, takes in Tenerife's Teide, La Palma, El Hierro and Gran Canaria. From Contadero the round trip is a short walk of around an hour and a half; Pajarito has a car park and a bus stop, which makes it one of the few park trailheads reachable by public transport. Go early: cloud often closes in around midday.
El Cedro: the deepest part of the forest
El Cedro is the wettest, greenest corner of Garajonay, with a stream that runs most of the year and the Chorro de El Cedro waterfall. The official linear routes reach it from Contadero, from Reventón Oscuro or from La Meseta de Hermigua, and the classic day walks down through El Cedro towards Hermigua on the north coast. Because the route is one-way and finishes far below where it starts, arrange a taxi or check the bus times from Hermigua before you set off.
Roque de Agando and the Roques
The volcanic plugs at the edge of the park are La Gomera's most photographed landscape. The Degollada de Agando viewpoint on the main road gives the classic view of Roque de Agando with no walking at all, and the official Agando–La Laja–Agando route drops into the valley below for a loop with the rock towering above. Combine it with a stop at the Los Roques viewpoint on the same road.
Valle Gran Rey and the west
If you are staying in Valle Gran Rey, the classic walk is the old path that links the village of Arure, high on the rim, with the valley floor: take the bus up and walk down, so the knees do the work and the bar at the bottom waits for you. Paths on the valley sides lead to terraces, palm groves and small hamlets; they are steep and exposed to the sun, so start early outside winter.
Free guided walks and day trips from Tenerife
Garajonay's park staff lead free guided walks, which must be booked in advance through the national parks reservation system: on Fridays all year and also on Wednesdays in summer. If you are visiting from Tenerife for the day, the ferry from Los Cristianos and the island's winding roads leave little time for a long hike; an organised day trip with transport, a forest walk and lunch is the realistic way to see Garajonay in one day.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit to hike in Garajonay National Park?
No. The park's trails are free and open without booking. Only the free guided walks led by park staff need a reservation, through the national parks reservation system.
What is the easiest hike to Alto de Garajonay?
The official circular route from Contadero, a short round trip of around an hour and a half. The route from Pajarito is also short and has a car park and a bus stop.
Can you hike La Gomera by bus?
Partly. Some trailheads such as Pajarito are on bus routes, but services are infrequent and built around residents, so check the times for the return before you start a linear walk.
Can you hike in La Gomera on a day trip from Tenerife?
Only a short walk. With the ferry and the slow roads, a day trip leaves time for a forest walk in Garajonay, not a long linear hike. Stay at least one night for the classic routes.
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