Visit Garajonay National Park

The Garajonay National Park is one of the must-see places in La Gomera. Only comparable to tropical rainforests, Garajonay is the most amazing rainforest in Europe, with its ancient laurel forests dating back to the Tertiary era.

There are very few places in the world where you can still see these forests, so during your trip to La Gomera you have to go hiking to get into the nature and contemplate landscapes that look like a fairytale. It's magical!

1. The best way to visit the Garajonay, an organised excursion

The quickest and most comfortable way to get to know the Garajonay National Park is to go on an organised excursion if you are one of those travellers who love to go on excursions during your trips but are a little apprehensive about venturing into unknown terrain on your own, or if you prefer a local guide to show you the impressive flora and fauna of this place, as well as the many curiosities and legends that surround it.

With this kind of activity you will be able to get the most out of your visit to Garajonay as you will not have to organise the excursion and its logistics yourself (with the stress and doubts that this entails) but everything is designed so that you can focus on enjoying this fantastic experience and let yourself be carried away in one of the most beautiful places in the whole of the Canary archipelago.

If you're not a big fan of hiking but don't want to miss out on the opportunity to see this beautiful natural area, or if you prefer to combine the experience with other visits, an organised excursion to Garajonay National Park will ensure you see the highlights instead of just walking around and around, saving you time to spend on other activities in La Gomera.

I'm up for a hiking tour of Garajonay

Excursion to La Gomera from Tenerife with hotel pickup

With this organised excursion to La Gomera from Tenerife from 70 € you will discover the most fascinating villages and places of the island such as Las Rosas, Agulo, El Cercado or Chipude as well as the National Park of Garajonay (with its ancient Canarian laurel forests) and other impressive sites such as the viewpoint of Degollada de Peraza from where you will have amazing views of the Chejelipes dams and the Laja ravine.

Duration: 10 hours and 30 minutes
Price: From 70 €.

From Tenerife: 1-day Jeep Safari to La Gomera

Another option to get to know the Garajonay National Park is to take this 1-day Jeep safari to La Gomera from 90 €.

You will leave Tenerife by ferry and when you arrive in San Sebastian de la Gomera you will take a jeep that will take you on a thrilling adventure through the interior of the island. During the tour you will also visit such famous sites as the Garajonay National Park and the beautiful Hermigua Valley.

Before returning to Tenerife you will have time to stop for lunch and recharge your batteries after such an intense day and to see a small exhibition of the silbo gomero, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Duration: From 8 to 9 hours
Price: From 90 €.

2. Visiting Garajonay on your own, what you need to know

If you want to discover the Garajonay National Park on your own to do some hiking, take some photographs or enjoy the beautiful views of nature in La Gomera, there are a few things to bear in mind:

How much does the entrance fee cost: access to Garajonay is free, as is a visit to the Garajonay Visitor Centre in the municipality of Agulo.
What are the opening hours of the Garajonay Visitor Centre: It is open from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, including public holidays. Before entering the Garajonay I recommend you go to the Visitor Centre as there are several exhibitions and projections with very interesting information that will help you to contextualise your visit if you go on your own.
When to visit Garajonay: Any time of the year is good thanks to the mild and temperate climate of La Gomera. If you are looking for flowery and colourful landscapes in the park, the best time to visit is between March and June, when the plants are in bloom.
How to get to Garajonay: From San Sebastián de la Gomera take the GM-1, which is the main road that crosses the park. You will find that the road itself is another tourist attraction due to the beauty of the landscapes you will come across along the way.
How much time should you set aside to see Garajonay: My recommendation is to spend at least half a day in the park, but it will depend on your plans on La Gomera, and if you love it, you can always find time in your schedule to come back.
Is it possible to go to the park with children: Of course! It will be an unforgettable experience as they will be able to play in the open air and see natural landscapes that look like a fairytale, of course! If you go to Garajonay as a family, choose a simple route such as Laguna Grande I or Cañada de Jorge so that the kids don't get exhausted.
Where to eat in Garajonay: There are several picnic areas in the park (Laguna Grande, Las Creces, El Cedro, Ermita de Lourdes...) and also a restaurant called La Laguna Grande (don't forget to take a look at the post Where to eat in La Gomera!) There is also a cafeteria in the Visitor Centre where you can try the typical sweets of the island.
What to bring: If you're hiking in Garajonay I recommend you bring comfortable clothes and shoes, a mackintosh, one or two extendable trekking poles, an adjustable backpack with a first aid kit, a cap, a map of the park, your mobile phone and a portable battery.

3. Why a visit to Garajonay is worthwhile

One of the greatest pleasures of travelling is to be amazed by the different landscapes in every corner of the planet, and the Garajonay National Park is a place that leaves no one indifferent.

It is said to be one of the most fascinating places in the Canary Islands, and when you see it in person you understand why. It is a place with a magical atmosphere, shrouded in mist, where enormous leafy trees grow covered by moss and large vines.

Between the few clearings on the ground you can see large ferns and mushrooms that contribute to the fairytale and ghostly aspect that so enchants travellers.

As you walk along its paths and enter the Garajonay, you truly forget about the outside world and come to connect with nature, trapped by the beauty of the laurel forests (one of the best preserved on the planet), the Fayal-brezal (in areas of lower humidity) or the ravines and cliffs that dot the paths that surround the park.

What's more, from its viewpoints you will be able to contemplate dreamlike views and witness the grandeur of nature in all its splendour. If only to see the Garajonay National Park, a visit to the island of La Gomera is well worth it.

4. Plan your visit, what to see in Garajonay?

Covering an area of 4,000 hectares, there is a lot to see in the Garajonay National Park. You may already have an idea of what you want to see during your trip. However, when organising your visit, I suggest you add the following sites to your route.

Alto de Garajonay: this is the highest mountain on La Gomera, located in the centre of the island. From here you will have magnificent views not only of La Gomera but also of the neighbouring islands (La Palma, El Hierro and Tenerife), which can be seen on clear days.
Los Roques: a natural volcanic monument that can be seen over the relief of the Garajonay and is one of its most spectacular and eye-catching scenery. The Roque de Agando stands out among them.
La Laguna Grande: this is a recreational area in the Garajonay where there is a circular clearing surrounded by vegetation where, according to legend, witches used to gather for their covens. There is a picnic area for visitors and a restaurant La Laguna Grande, a place full of mystery that you have to see!
La Meseta de Vallehermoso: it has one of the most beautiful lime tree forests in the Canary Islands.
Raso de la Bruma: this is a damp, mist-shrouded place with a very cool ghostly atmosphere. This enclave is full of ferns, fungi and moss, which invades everything.
Los Chorros de Epina: near the hamlet of Epina you will find this beautiful place with water jets emanating from it, to which popular Gomeran tradition attributes magical properties related to love, luck and health.

5. Other interesting natural parks to visit in La Gomera

Valle del Gran Rey ravine| ©Franco Vannini

If after visiting the Garajonay National Park you are itching to explore other natural areas on the island, I recommend you take advantage of your stay on La Gomera to discover other places such as the Benchijigua Integral Nature Reserve, the Majona Nature Reserve or the Valle de Gran Rey Rural Park, among others.

Nature on the island is amazing and having the opportunity to go on excursions into the countryside to explore it is an experience you won't forget on your trip.

However, if after hiking in Garajonay you prefer a change of scenery and replace the greenery of the plants with black volcanic sand, I recommend going to one of the beautiful beaches of La Gomera where you can relax and sunbathe completely relaxed, listening to the sound of the waves and watching the sunset.