Alto de Garajonay

A hike leading to the highest point on the island of La Gomera, known as Alto de Garajonay.

Details

35709714
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.93 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 342 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 346 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,478 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,162 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the dirt car park at Laguna Grande, where there is a recreational area, a restaurant and an information point.

(S/E) Head east along the path running parallel to the road. Follow it – this is the Laguna Grande II trail – until you reach a four-way junction.

(1) Take the path on the left, walking parallel to the road, and you will reach Alto de la Aguelisma.

(2) Continue along the path until you reach a multi-way junction at a bend in the road.

(3) Turn right onto Gran Ruta 18. You will soon reach the junction with Ruta 7.

(4) Turn left onto it and continue westwards to reach, via a gentle climb, the summit of Alto de Garajonay.

(5) Begin the descent by turning right, continuing along theGR®131. Rejoin Ruta 7 at a hairpin bend.

(6) Turn 180° to the left and then follow the Laguna Grande de Garajonay. Reach the forest at Laguna Chica.

(7) Continue downhill to reach a crossroads.

(8) Turn 180° to the right to enter La Laguna Alta. After a few hairpin bends, return to the initial junction passed on the way out.

(1) Turn left onto the Laguna Grande II path. Follow the Barranco del Agua and continue to a new junction.

(9) Turn right again by 180° and stay on the Laguna Grande II path to return to the Laguna Grande car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,257 m - Laguna Grande car park
  2. 1 : km 1.67 - alt. 1,264 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 2.49 - alt. 1,331 m - Alto de la Aguelisma
  4. 3 : km 2.74 - alt. 1,359 m - Multi-way junction
  5. 4 : km 3.01 - alt. 1,390 m - Route 7
  6. 5 : km 3.92 - alt. 1,469 m - Alto de Garajonay
  7. 6 : km 4.34 - alt. 1,442 m - Route 7
  8. 7 : km 4.85 - alt. 1,377 m - Laguna Chica
  9. 8 : km 5.76 - alt. 1,321 m - Laguna Alta
  10. 9 : km 9.06 - alt. 1,162 m - Trail junction
  11. S/E : km 9.93 - alt. 1,257 m - Laguna Grande car park

Notes

It is best to do the hike in the morning so you can enjoy the restaurant on your return. As the hike takes 2½ hours (not including breaks), I recommend setting off from the starting point around 8.30 am.
I recommend you wear good walking shoes, carry a rucksack and bring a litre of water per person.

Worth a visit

(5) Alto de Garajonay: enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Teide, Gran Canaria, La Palma and El Hierro once you reach the summit (weather permitting).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 27462647

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

My wife and I did this hike at the end of August. The weather conditions were very favourable, with excellent visibility.
The route is interesting, especially around the summit of Alto de Garajonay. The other parts are in the forest or valleys with no visibility. The route is easy with no difficulty, few changes in altitude and gentle slopes.
The forests we passed through, particularly Laurasilva, are not the most interesting in the park.
It's still a beautiful hike, though.
For the route, I had to use another app, in free mode, to follow my route in real time on the map and know which turns to take. I couldn't find this on Visiorando in free mode. Perhaps Visiorando could offer a free trial of its premium mode?

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charluspop
charluspop
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, with lots of vegetation on the way up. Beautiful views of Tenerife and La Palma when you reach the summit. Return via a different route, which is very different as it is less immersed in the forest.
I use a GPS (Two Nav) and maps of La Gomera and had no particular difficulty identifying the route.

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piccolopripri
piccolopripri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent well-maintained paths; an opportunity to explore the fascinating laurisilva, one of the planet’s last remaining forests from the Tertiary period (the best-preserved is said to be on Madeira), featuring laurels, lime trees and ferns. Shrubby dandelions (a few rare flowers in December). Beautiful views from the summit, but also just before reaching it. Thank you for describing this route

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Miccri
Miccri

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting hike.
A chance to immerse yourself in the Laurisylve forest and enjoy superb views from the island’s highest point.

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