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Garajonay National Park | La Gomera


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Landmark: Garajonay National Park
City: La Gomera
Country: Canary Islands
Continent: Europe

Garajonay National Park, La Gomera, Canary Islands, Europe

Overview

Garajonay National Park, set in the misty heart of La Gomera-the second-smallest of the Canary Islands-is among the archipelago’s most celebrated natural reserves.Established in 1981, the park earned UNESCO World Heritage status for its extraordinary biodiversity and rare ecosystems, including ancient laurel forests where the air smells faintly of moss.Here’s what stands out in Garajonay National Park-1.The park is famous for its dense, mist-shrouded subtropical laurel forests, a living fossil from the Tertiary period that’s been thriving here for millions of years.These forests shelter a rich mix of plants found nowhere else, from towering laurel trees to canary pines and the glossy-leaved daphne, their tangled branches casting deep green shade that smells faintly of damp earth.They flourish in the park’s cool, humid air, fed by drifting clouds and mist that cling to the higher ridges.In all, more than a thousand plant species grow here, fifty of them unique to this place.Garajonay National Park’s rare ecosystem shelters everything from delicate ferns dusted with morning dew to thick mats of moss and pale lichen.You’ll also spot laurel pigeons, soaring buzzards, singing canary warblers, and several bat species found nowhere else.The Canary Island lizard is another standout here, its scales catching the sun like tiny bronze tiles.La Gomera’s isolation has given rise to countless species found nowhere else, especially among its plants and invertebrates, each shaped by the park’s unusual climate and terrain.Sitting at the island’s heart, the park spans about 4,000 hectares.Steep ravines cut deep into the earth, cliffs rise like walls, and jagged mountain ridges frame a view that takes your breath away.At 1,487 meters (4,875 feet), Alto de Garajonay towers as the park’s highest peak, where you can see the island and the shimmering ocean spread out below.Deep ravines like Barranco de la Madera and Barranco de los Molinos slice through the land, carving its wild, uneven shape.The ravines shape tiny pockets of unique climate, boosting the park’s rich mix of wildlife.Garajonay’s known for its well-kept hiking trails-some easy, others steep enough to make your calves burn.The PR-GT 10, the park’s longest trail, winds through its heart, linking major landmarks.Along the way, you can breathe in the damp scent of laurel forest, marvel at strange rock shapes, and watch for a flash of wings in the trees.One of the most traveled paths is the Los Roques de García, leading hikers past the park’s towering, wind-carved rock formations.The name “Garajonay” comes from an old island legend about two lovers, Gara and Jonay, who came from opposite ends of the land.Their heartbreaking love story runs deep in local culture, tangled now with the park’s beauty-the scent of pine and the shimmer of the lake wrapping it in memory.The legend captures La Gomera’s sense of isolation and the depth of its folklore, like stories whispered on a windy cliff.The park stays safe under strict national laws and global environmental protections.Conservation teams work to protect the park’s fragile ecosystems and keep the unique habitats where its rare, native birds nest safe.They also work to keep invasive species from overrunning the native plants and wildlife-pulling up weeds or trapping pests when needed.Garajonay’s visitor centers, tucked into key spots around the park, welcome guests with maps and local tips.These centers share the park’s history, point out its rich wildlife, and hand you maps for the trails winding through the trees.You’ll find notable spots in La Fortaleza and El Contadero, and plenty of guided tours that bring the park’s natural history and ecology to life-like hearing the rustle of laurel leaves while learning about ancient forests.Getting to Garajonay National Park is simple, with easy access from main towns such as San Sebastián de La Gomera and Valle Gran Rey.You can drive right up to the park’s main gates, or hop on a bus if you don’t have a car.Garajonay National Park is a rare gem-rich in wild green forests, steeped in culture, and alive with ecological wonder.With ancient laurel forests dripping with mist, vibrant wildlife, and sweeping cliffs, it’s a place nature lovers and history buffs can’t miss when exploring the Canary Islands.


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Landmarks in La Gomera

San Sebastián de La Gomera
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San Sebastián de La Gomera

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Valle Gran Rey
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Valle Gran Rey

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Playa de Santiago
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Playa de Santiago

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Agulo
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Agulo

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Mirador de la Cumbrecita
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Mirador de la Cumbrecita

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Ermita de la Virgen de Guadalupe
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Ermita de la Virgen de Guadalupe

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Alto de Garajonay
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Alto de Garajonay

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Mirador de la Degollada de Peraza
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Mirador de la Degollada de Peraza

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Vallehermoso
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Vallehermoso

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Playa de la Calera
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Hermigua
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Roque de Agando
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El Cedro Forest
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Parque Natural de Majona
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Mirador de los Roques
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Playa de Valle Gran Rey
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La Laguna Grande
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Los Órganos
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Parque Nacional de Garajonay
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Playa del Duque
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Pueblo Canario
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