La Gomera and El Hierro are the smallest and least visited of the Canary Islands, yet both reward walkers with landscapes of extraordinary beauty and variety. La Gomera is home to the ancient laurisilva cloud forest of Garajonay National Park, deep and rugged barrancos, and the long-distance GR132, while El Hierro, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, offers volcanic cones, the Malpaso summit, and an untouched wildness found nowhere else in the archipelago.

Now in its third edition, this Cicerone guidebook by expert author Paddy Dillon describes 33 day walks ranging from 7 to 20km (4 to 12 miles) and taking 2 to 8 hours, plus two long-distance routes covering both islands. It combines clear route descriptions with detailed information on planning, facilities, and public transport to help you explore these remarkable islands with confidence.

• The 33-day walks are split between La Gomera and El Hierro, with routes ranging from short level walks to long steep treks, almost all waymarked and signposted, with bases in San Sebastián, Valle Gran Rey, Vallehermoso, Valverde, and El Pinar
• The GR131 sections for both islands are described in 4 stages covering 86km (53 miles), forming part of the long-distance trail that crosses all seven of the Canary Islands
• The GR132, a circular long-distance walk around La Gomera, is covered in full over 6 stages and 133km (83 miles) with 2 route variants provided, for those looking for a multi-day challenge
• Every walk is illustrated with 1:50,000 maps, and GPX files are available to download for all 45 routes, enabling easy digital navigation across both islands
• Detailed information on planning, facilities, and public transport is provided for both islands separately, covering accommodation, food and drink, and getting to and around La Gomera and El Hierro

Two of the Canary Islands' most rewarding and least-explored walking destinations, covered in a single volume with day walks, the GR131, and the complete GR132. With expert knowledge from Paddy Dillon, this is the essential guidebook for your visit to La Gomera and El Hierro.

Part of the 5-volume Cicerone series covering walking across all of the Canary Islands.

Walking on La Gomera and El Hierro – Quick Facts

Islands: La Gomera and El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain 
Walk format: 33 day walks plus GR131 (4 stages) and GR132 (6 stages) 
Day walk distances: 7 to 20km (4 to 12 miles) per walk 
Day walk duration: 2 to 8 hours per walk 
GR131: 4 stages, 86km (53 miles) across both islands 
GR132: 6 stages, 133km (83 miles) circular route around La Gomera, with 2 variants 
La Gomera centres: San Sebastián, Playa de Santiago, Chipude, Valle Gran Rey, Vallehermoso, Hermigua 
El Hierro centres: Valverde, El Pinar, La Restinga, El Frontera 
La Gomera highlights: Alto de Garajonay, Garajonay National Park, laurisilva cloud forest, deep barrancos, GR131, GR132 
El Hierro highlights: Malpaso, UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, GR131, volcanic cones 
Difficulty: Short, level, and easy to long, steep, and strenuous; almost all routes are waymarked and signposted 
Best season: November to May; spring is especially colourful; summer is too hot; higher areas can be damp and misty 
Maps: 1:50,000 maps included for every walk 
GPX files: Available to download for all 45 routes 
Series: Part of the 5-volume Cicerone series covering the whole of the Canary Islands

Author Highlight

“This guidebook explores the waymarked trail networks on the islands of La Gomera and El Hierro. Despite their small size, they boast routes of all types – from easy strolls to hands-on scrambling, from simple day walks to long-distance trails. As these routes are fully signposted and waymarked, walkers can follow them with confidence and enjoy the islands to the full."

- Paddy Dillon, author of Walking on La Gomera and El Hierro 

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Location

Geology

Wildlife

National parks

The Fortunate Isles

Getting there

When to go

Accommodation

Health and safety

Food and drink

Language

Money

Communications

Walking on La Gomera and El Hierro

What to take

Waymarking and access

Maps

Emergencies

Using this guide

La Gomera

Introduction

Getting there

Getting around

Accommodation

Food and drink

Tourist information offices

Walk 1 San Sebastián and Jaragán

Walk 2 Los Roques and La Laja

Walk 3 Degollada de Peraza and Contreras

Walk 4 Los Roques and Benchijigua

Walk 5 Pajaritos to Playa de Santiago

Walk 6 Igualero to La Dama

Walk 7 Chipude and Barranco de Argaga

Walk 8 Chipude and La Matanza

Walk 9 La Laguna Grande and Alto de Garajonay

Walk 10 El Cercado and Valle Gran Rey

Walk 11 Las Hayas, Arure and Valle Gran Rey

Walk 12 Vallehermoso to Chorros de Epina

Walk 13 Vallehermoso and Cumbre de Chijeré

Walk 14 Vallehermoso and Los Loros

Walk 15 Hermigua and Aguló

Walk 16 Alto de Garajonay to Hermigua

Walk 17 Santa Catalina and La Caleta

Walk 18 GR 132: San Sebastián to Playa de Santiago

Walk 19 GR 132: Playa de Santiago to La Dama

Walk 20 GR 132: La Dama to Arure

Walk 21 GR 132: Arure to Playa de Vallehermoso

Walk 22 GR 132: Arure to Vallehermoso

Walk 23 GR 132a: Playa de Vallehermoso to Santa Catalina

Walk 24 GR 132b: Vallehermoso to Santa Catalina

Walk 25 GR 132: Santa Catalina to San Sebastián

Walk 26 GR 131: Playa de Vallehermoso to Chipude

Walk 27 GR 131: Chipude to San Sebastián

El Hierro

Introduction

Getting there

Getting around

Accommodation

Food and drink

Tourist information offices

Walk 28 Valverde and La Caleta

Walk 29 Valverde and Puerto de La Estaca

Walk 30 Valverde, Echedo and El Mocanal

Walk 31 Valverde to La Peña

Walk 32 La Peña, San Andrés and El Mocanal

Walk 33 Puerto de La Estaca, La Cuesta and Tiñor

Walk 34 Mirador de Isora and Las Playas

Walk 35 El Pinar to Cala de Tacorón

Walk 36 El Pinar to La Restinga

Walk 37 Ermita de Los Reyes to El Pinar

Walk 38 El Pinar to Sabinosa

Walk 39 La Dehesa Circuit

Walk 40 Sabinosa to El Frontera

Walk 41 El Frontera and Los Llanillos

Walk 42 Guinea and San Andrés

Walk 43 Las Puntas and Guinea

Walk 44 GR 131: Orchilla to Fuente de Llanía

Walk 45 GR 131: Fuente de Llanía to Estaca/Tamaduste

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Topographical glossary

Appendix C Useful contacts

Seasons

Best between November and May, as the summer months are too hot, but it can sometimes be damp and misty on the higher parts; spring is especially colourful

Centres

On La Gomera: San Sebastian, Playa de Santiago, Chipude, Valle Gran Rey, Vallehermoso, Hermigua. On El Hierro: Valverde, El Pinar, La Restinga, El Frontera

Difficulty

Routes vary from short, level and easy to long, steep and strenuous; almost all routes are waymarked and signposted, and no special equipment is required

Must See

On La Gomera: Alto de Garajonay, Garajonay national park, laurisilva 'cloud forest', deep and rugged barrancos, GR131, GR132. On El Hierro: Malpaso, World Bisosphere Reserve, Camino de La Virgen, GR131, volcanic cones

January 2023

Maps - page 24

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.