Garajonay National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the crown jewel of the Canary Islands' natural heritage — Garajonay National Park preserves 4,000 hectares of the largest and best-preserved laurel forest (laurisilva) in the Canary Islands, an ecosystem that once covered vast areas of Europe and North Africa. The park is a hiking paradise with over 18 official trails crisscrossing its misty interior, ranging from short, accessible loops to challenging full-day mountain traverses. The most popular route is the trail to Alto de Garajonay (1,487 meters), the highest point on La Gomera: a 3 km walk from the car park at Pajarito (approximately 1.5 hours return) through a fairy-tale landscape of moss-draped trees, filtered green light, and cool, perfumed air. The summit offers a wooden viewing platform with a 360-degree panorama that encompasses all seven Canary Islands on exceptionally clear days — and on more typical days, a spectacular sea of clouds that fills the valleys and covers the lower slopes, leaving only the highest peaks of neighboring islands visible like islands in a white ocean. Other must-walk trails include the 'Bosque del Cedro' (the heart of the laurel forest, accessed from the Laguna Grande area) and the 'Ruta de los Sentidos.' The park's microclimate is unique — the trade-wind clouds that perpetually cover the forest create constant humidity that sustains the laurel ecosystem and gives the forest its mystical, 'enchanted' atmosphere. The park is crisscrossed with well-signed trails, all free to access. The Juego de Bolas Visitor Center in the north (near Agulo) has excellent displays on the laurel forest, a botanical garden, and park information. Free access to all trails. Best months: year-round — the mist is part of the experience and makes the forest more atmospheric, but the clearest views are generally February–April and September–October. Essential: waterproof jacket and sturdy shoes — the forest floor can be slippery. Garajonay is a place of profound natural beauty — a living relic of a vanished world that enchants every visitor. Combine with a meal in the village of Las Rosas or Vallehermoso for authentic Gomero cuisine. A must-visit for any nature lover in the Canary Islands.