Visit Garajonay National Park

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

In very few places in the world you can still see these forests, so during your trip you have to go hiking in La Gomera to get into nature and contemplate landscapes that seem like a fairy tale. It's something magical!

1. The best way to visit the Garajonay, an organized tour

The most comfortable and quickest way to get to know the Garajonay National Park is to go on an organized excursion if you are one of those travelers who love to go on excursions during their trips but are a bit apprehensive about going alone into an unknown terrain 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 activities you will be able to get the most out of your visit to Garajonay because you will not have to organize the excursion and its logistics yourself (with the stress and doubts that this entails) but everything is designed for you to focus on enjoying this fantastic experience and let yourself go in one of the most beautiful places in the Canary archipelago.

If you are not a big fan of hiking but you don't want to miss the opportunity to contemplate this beautiful natural space or you prefer to combine the experience with other visits, with an organized excursion to Garajonay National Park you will be sure to see the highlights instead of going round and round without stopping and you will save time that you can spend on other activities in La Gomera.

I'm up for a hiking tour in Garajonay

Excursion to La Gomera from Tenerife with pick up at the hotel

With this organized 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 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 ravine of La Laja.

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 depart from Tenerife by ferry and upon arrival 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 as well as to see a small exhibition of silbo gomero, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

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

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

In case you want to discover on your own the Garajonay National Park to do some hiking, take some pictures or recreate yourself with the beautiful views of nature in La Gomera you must take into account some issues:

How much does the entrance fee cost: access to Garajonay is free, as is the visit to the Garajonay Visitor Center in the municipality of Agulo.
What are the opening hours of the Garajonay Visitor Center: It is open from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, including holidays. Before entering the Garajonay I advise you to go to the Visitor Center because there are several exhibitions and projections with very interesting information that will help you to contextualize 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 colorful landscapes in the park, the best time 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 see 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 to reserve to see Garajonay: My recommendation is that you dedicate at least half a day to visit the park, but it will depend on your plans in 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 because they will be able to play outdoors and see natural landscapes that look like a fairy tale. If you go to Garajonay with your 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: To eat in the park there are several picnic areas (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!) Also in the Visitor Center there is a cafeteria where you can try the typical sweets of the island.
What to bring: If you go hiking in Garajonay I recommend you to bring comfortable clothes and shoes, a raincoat, one or two extendable trekking poles, an adjustable backpack with a first aid kit, a cap, a map of the park, a cell phone and a portable battery.

3. Why it is worth visiting Garajonay

One of the greatest pleasures of traveling 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 enclaves of the Canary Islands and when you see it in person you understand why. It is a place with a magical atmosphere, shrouded in fog, where huge leafy trees covered by moss and large vines grow.

Among the few clearings on the ground you can see large ferns and mushrooms that contribute to the fairytale and phantasmagoric aspect that dazzles travelers so much.

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

In addition, from its viewpoints you can contemplate dreamlike views and witness the grandeur of nature in all its splendor. If only to visit the Garajonay National Park, a visit to the island of La Gomera is totally worth it.

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

With an extension 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 excursion. However, when organizing your visit, I suggest you add the following sites to your route.

Alto de Garajonay: it is the highest mountain of La Gomera located in the center of the island so from here you will have magnificent views not only of La Gomera but also of the neighboring islands (La Palma, El Hierro and Tenerife) which can be seen on clear days.
Los Roques: a natural volcanic monument that can be seen on the relief of Garajonay being one of its most spectacular and striking scenery. Among them the Roque de Agando stands out.
La Laguna Grande: 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. In this place 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 linden forests in the Canary Islands.
Raso de la Bruma: it is a humid and fog-shrouded place with a very cool ghostly air. In this enclave there is an abundance of ferns, fungi and moss, which invades everything.
Los Chorros de Epina: near the hamlet of Epina is this beautiful place from which emanate water jets to which the Gomeran popular tradition attributes magical properties related to love, luck and health.

5. Other natural parks of interest to visit in La Gomera

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

The nature on the island is amazing and having the opportunity to make excursions to the countryside to explore it is an experience that you will not forget of your trip.

However, if after hiking through the Garajonay you prefer a change of scenery and replace the greenery of the plants for the black volcanic sand, I advise you to go to one of the beautiful beaches of La Gomera where you can relax and sunbathe completely relaxed listening to the murmur of the waves and watching the sunset.