GUIDE TO HIKING IN LA GOMERA: THE GR131 LA GOMERA.
We decided to kick off our 2024 hiking season with a bang and walk the GR131, a long distance trail which crosses seven of the Canary Islands. La Gomera, a small island to the West of Tenerife, was undoubtedly one of the highlights of this trip.
This blog post sets out everything you need to know about hiking the GR131 in La Gomera, including daily stages, refreshments and accommodation.
You may also want to read this alongside our GR131 Canary Islands FAQs post – found here, and our guide to visiting La Gomera.
Can you go hiking in La Gomera?
Asking whether you can hike in La Gomera is like asking if water is wet. La Gomera is a hiking Mecca. It is rare to find someone visiting the island who is not there to hike!
La Gomera has fast become one of our favorite places to hike, not least because of the incredible footpaths and breathtaking scenery.
But also because there are plenty of hikers exploring the island, making the atmosphere in bars at the end of the trails really fun.
Sitting with a beer at the end of the day in a La Gomera mountain village like Chipude is like being in a ski resort enjoying apres ski. But that’s not to say that it feels busy in La Gomera, far from it, we often had trails to ourselves all day!
There are hundreds of different hiking trails in La Gomera, including two long distance hiking paths – the GR131 and GR132. Read on to find out more below.
What are the main hiking trails in La Gomera?
There are two long distance hiking trails in La Gomera, they are both GR routes (part of a network of long distance hiking paths in Europe.)
The two long distance hiking trails are the GR131 and GR132 in La Gomera. The GR131 is an inland trail crossing the island, whereas the GR132 runs around the coast line, enabling you to walk around the entire island.
In addition, there are hundreds of other footpaths zig-zagging across the island and around the coast. These can be found easily throughout the island, with clear way markings and sign posts. Just look out for signs like the one below.
What is the GR131 in La Gomera?
This blog post focuses on the GR131 in La Gomera which we recently walked. The GR131 is a long distance hiking path that runs through seven of the Canary Islands, mostly coast to coast. It is often referred to as an “island hopping” trail, because you need to take ferries to move between the seven different islands.
You can find our guide to the GR131 across the seven different islands, including all the frequently asked questions here.
How long is the GR131 La Gomera?
Different GR131 guides present opposing views on the exact distance, but the total trail length is between 25 and 28 miles or 41 to 45km. We measured 44km in total over the three days that we walked the GR131 in La Gomera.
How many days does it take to walk the GR131 La Gomera?
The Cicerone guide recommends two days to walk the GR131 in La Gomera – this includes one long day of 27km and a shorter day. We took three more leisurely days to complete it. Whilst two may be feasible if you are adept at hill climbs, it seemed a shame to us to rush such spectacular walking. You can find our daily stage guides to the GR131 La Gomera below.
What is accommodation like on the GR131 La Gomera?
The GR131 in La Gomera works it’s way inland, high into the hills and through Garajonay National Park. Accommodation on route is found in guesthouses in towns and villages along the way and in San Sebastián La Gomera.
For each day, we have recommended the best places to stay in our daily stage guide. Be aware, that it is best to book in advance and to contact the guesthouse directly – many are not listed on typical booking sites like Booking.Com.
We also noticed that those listed on sites like Booking.Com often had a minimum stay of two nights, which may not suit anyone hiking the GR131.
Do note, if you are reliant on accommodation on the GR131 you may need to be a little flexible about using buses at the end and the start of the day (more on transport around La Gomera below), as accommodation sometimes isn’t always perfectly located next to the trail.
A popular choice for accommodation when walking the GR131 in La Gomera is to wild camp. We provide more information on this below.
Wild camping on the GR131 La Gomera
Wild camping is prohibited on the Canary Islands. That said, many choose to wild camp when walking the GR131 in La Gomera and on the other islands. This is because accommodation can be expensive on the islands and is often not conveniently located near to the trails.
There are parts of the GR131 where there is little choice but to wild camp, as accommodation is sparse.
From our research, we are not aware of anyone who has had any trouble wild camping throughout the Canaries on the GR131, or in La Gomera. So long as you stick to simple rules – leaving no trace, no fire, camping away from the trail, avoiding private land and finally pitching at dusk and packing up at dawn.
In La Gomera, pitching a tent is fairly easy near to the GR131 (especially compared to the GR132 – more on that here). La Gomera is a quiet island with plenty of public space so finding privacy is fine.
Flat land however is sometimes a little tricky to find, so you may need to explore a little before you find the perfect pitch. Plus, it can be windy at altitude.
If you don’t like the idea of wild camping, La Gomera is one of the easiest GR131 sections to walk without camping. There isn’t loads of accommodation, but with careful planning it can be managed.
How to get to the start of the GR131 La Gomera?
The GR131 has a very convenient start, in that it begins in San Sebastián La Gomera. This is not only the capital of the island but also the port city, hence you can make a swift start to the walk straight from your ferry.
If you fly into La Gomera, it is a little trickier as you will have to take a bus from the airport to the start of the trail.
The trail leads from town and heads for the hills almost immediately. Within minutes you’ll be climbing up as San Sebastián and Tenerife shrink into the horizon. It is a special start to the hike.
Don’t forget to stock up on supplies before you leave San Sebastián – supermarkets can be found in town – more on where to find refreshments on the route below.
Where does the GR131 La Gomera end?
The GR131 ends in Playa de Vallehermoso. This is a remote beach around 4km from the charming town of Vallehermoso.
When it comes to deciding whether to continue to the beach or end your hike in town, much depends on your next steps. If you intend to continue on the GR132 to create a loop back to San Sebastián, you can do so from either Vallehermoso or the beach (read more on that here.)
If you need somewhere to stay overnight, then remaining in Vallehermoso is best, as there is no accommodation by the beach. Transport back to the capital also goes from Vallehermoso.
Navigation is quite straightforward on the GR131 La Gomera. Of all the GR131 sections that we walked, La Gomera was one of the best sign posted.
You’ll find red and white trail markers, in addition to purple sign posts noting the distance to the town on the trail. The GR131 is also called “Camino Natural Cumbres de La Gomera“, so you will see sign posts referencing that name too.
We used the app All Trails to navigate the GR131 throughout the Canary Islands – this is a great app, with an offline function that helps you to ensure that you stay on the route.
It also has a great function showing the altitude and helping you to track distances to and from towns. You do need to pay for the app, a yearly subscription – but we think it’s well worth it if you are planning to walk the GR131.
Where to get food and refreshments on the GR131 La Gomera?
Of all the Canary Islands that we hiked, La Gomera presented some of the best options for food and refreshments. Each day of the three days we knew that we would come across at least one bar or restaurant to stock up. After San Sebastián, there is a small mini market in Chipude (day one or two) and a larger one in Vallehermoso (day three.)
For water, we relied on buying new bottles in bars, restaurants and shops. This is costly and not environmentally sustainable but we were presented with little choice, as we only found one drinking water tap during the entire walk (right at the end!) We aimed to carry 3-4 litres each, knowing that we could restock approximately every 24 hours.
Overall, finding supplies in La Gomera was not at all a stressful experience! Our daily guides section below details the refreshment choices that we found along the way.
Is the GR131 La Gomera hard?
We would describe the GR131 as a medium to challenging hike. It requires sure footing and an ability to tolerate steep ascents and tough descents. The highest point of the GR131 is around 4,500ft, having started at sea level. It’s likely you’ll climb at least 3,500ft on your first day.
What is the terrain like on the GR131 La Gomera?
The terrain on the GR131 is mixed. Due to the island’s topography, there are many changes elevation, narrow paths, and challenging sections, particularly in areas with steep slopes or loose ground. However, we generally found the GR131 to feel safe, albeit challenging in places.
When to walk the GR131 in La Gomera?
One of the things that we love about the GR131 is that it provides an amazing opportunity to hike a long distance trail in Europe in the winter. The GR131 is best walked in winter months from November to March. It’s perfect for winter sun, or to kick off the hiking season early.
We walked the GR131 in January – February and experienced temperatures of around 23 to 27 during the day, a little higher than the expected average (20 to 22 during the day). Evenings and mornings can be cooler, at around 15 degrees centigrade – dropping to 8-10 degrees overnight on sections of the trail at high altitude.
Here are the average temperature on the Canary Islands from November to March (optimum walking season):
- November: Average temperatures range from around 19°C (66°F) to 24°C (75°F).
- December: Average temperatures range from approximately 17°C (63°F) to 22°C (72°F).
- January: Average temperatures range from about 15°C (59°F) to 22°C (72°F).
- February: Average temperatures range from roughly 16°C (61°F) to 23°C (73°F).
- March: Average temperatures range from around 17°C (63°F) to 24°C (75°F).
Although it may be possible to walk in spring, or autumn we would recommend avoiding the GR131 in summer as the heat is likely to be oppressive and there’s also a risk of wild fires on some sections of the trail.
What to pack to walk the GR131 in La Gomera?
You can find our full packing list for the GR131 in our GR131 Canary Islands FAQ’s post here (published soon.)
Transport around La Gomera
The main form of public transport in La Gomera is buses. There are eight bus lines operating in La Gomera and our experience, the bus system is reliable and easy to use. Buses can be taken from most parts of the island back to San Sebastian La Gomera.
Find bus times on the Gua Gua Bus website here, you can also see bus times displayed at bus stops throughout the island. Just keep in mind that only bus departure times from main points are shown, so you have to slightly ‘guess-timate’ the exact time that the bus will get to you.
Buses on La Gomera can also not be found on Google Maps.
When you board the bus, you can pay cash or card. But they drivers won’t accept any notes higher than 20 Euros.
How to extend the Gr131/ combine with the GR132
The GR131 is a short trail on La Gomera. If you’re not planning to walk the rest of the GR131 on the other islands but you want to extend the route to make a circular walk or just to walk for a few more days – you can combine the GR131 with the GR132.
We’ve written a guide to a 6 or 7 day walking route on La Gomera including the GR131 and GR132.
GR131 La Gomera Daily Stages
We chose to walk the GR131 in three daily stages, but some speedy walkers may opt for three days. Our three days were leisurely, with plenty of time for coffee breaks and long lunches enjoying the scenery.
If you want to walk in two, we suggest ending day one somewhere between Degollada de Peraza and Chipude, rather than trying to get to Chipude at the end of day one. The second half of this hike is much easier than the first as it is mainly down hill.
Day One: San Sebastián La Gomera to Degollada de Peraza
KEY DETAILS: 6 MILES/ 10 KM with a 3000FT/ 915M ASCENT, FOUR HOURS.
ROUTE:
The start of the GR131 on La Gomera is really special – almost immediately after starting you will begin to climb high above San Sebastian La Gomera. Enjoy the views of the capital city and nearby Tenerife disappearing into the distance.
After only a short time it became clear to us why La Gomera is so attractive to hikers – not only are the paths great, but the scenery is incredible.
Our first day flew by one step after another as we climbed through our tropical surroundings noticing palm trees, varieties of cactus and birds of prey around us.
The climb on day one is difficult, around 3000ft, but steady and not too steep. Taking it slowly but surely is the best approach, especially if you have three days to enjoy the GR131 in La Gomera. The route is mainly on sturdy trails, with a tiny bit of road walking.
AMENITIES:
San Sebastian La Gomera has plenty of amenities – restaurants, cafes and supermarkets. After this, the next opportunity to get refreshments is in Degoallada de Peraza. There is a bar/ restaurant at the Mirador, which is open every day and reliably so. We used the opportunity to stock up on water at this bar.
ACCOMMODATION:
We were wild camping, so we walked further than Degollada de Peraza to a spot with both a sunset and sunrise view. A truly incredible wild camping pitch!
For anyone looking for accommodation, the first day on the GR131 is a little tricky. The best option is to take a bus from a bus stop directly next to Degollada de Peraza back to San Sebastian La Gomera and take a hotel room there.
If you choose this option, note that you can return to the same bus stop the next day to resume your walk – but the first bus leaves the capital at around 10:30, so you will require a taxi if you want to get started earlier than that.
A second option is to book a hotel in Chipude and take a bus there, but this is likely to be a little more complicated with transport.
Day Two: Degollada de Peraza to Chipude
KEY DETAILS: 8 MILES/ 13 KMS with a 1,400FT/ 420m ASCENT, FIVE HOURS.
ROUTE:
The route on day two takes in some fantastic landscape, before eventually reaching the quaint mountain town of Chipude.
One of the first notable attractions to note on the route is Roque Agando. This is a geological monument and one of the famous “Los Roques” volcanic needle rocks that can be found on the island.
Next, you will reach Garajonay National Park and a particularly exciting part – the cloud forest. When walking through the forest at certain times of year (March to July), you’ll find mist in the trees and it will that you’re amongst a sea of clouds.
The route reaches it’s highest point today, some 4600 ft. Look out for the “Alto de Garajonay”, marking the top point of the National Park. There is a Mirador just off the GR131 here, well worth the tiny detour.
After this, the route climbs down to Chipude offering some stunning scenery. Narrow paths filled us with a little trepidation on the descent, but the views are incredible. There’s one last hill climb before Chipude with a bit of road walking.
Today, we noticed some discrepancies between the All Trails map we followed and the route markings. We recommend following the route markings, these are the most up to date and take into account new properties that have been built on old trails.
AMENITIES:
Plug points, toilets and water (not drinkable) can be found at a small rest area called Ermita de Las Nieves which is a few kms into the walk after the Degoallada Mirador.
After this, the only amenities are towards the end of the walk. The first restaurant you will come across is in Pavon (here). This is quite an upmarket restaurant and we found it to be a little pricey.
We recommend waiting until you get to Chipude if you can – not only is Chipude a charming village, but it has a great atmosphere with lots of hikers and cyclists stopping for refreshment there.
Despite what Google Maps says, there are two bars in Chipude – one in Hotel Sonia and one next door. The second bar has a mini market (access via the bar if the doors are closed.) Chipude also has an ATM and bus connections back to San Sebastian La Gomera.
ACCOMMODATION:
Chipude has a hotel, Hotel Sonia in the main square. A popular and well reviewed hotel, perfect for accommodation on your second night on the GR131.
For camping, we walked a little further than Chipude towards the edge of the national park to find a camping spot.
Day Three: Chipude to Playa de Vallehermoso
KEY DETAILS: 13 MILES/ 21KM, 3,400FT/ 1030M DESCENT, SIX HOURS.
ROUTE:
After Chipude, you walk through a small village El Cercardo before journeying through landscapes filled with terraced fields.
After climbing one last hill, the route reaches another stunning section of the Garajonay National Park – you will slowly meander through the laurisilva forest for around one hour, enjoying easy walking. The landscape starts to open up as you leave the forest and see Vallehermoso emerging in the distance.
Look out for the famous Roque Cano which you can see from many different angles as you take the steep descent to Vallehermoso. At times the path was a little overgrown, but still enjoyable.
After walking through the town, you’ll follow a flat route to the beach. Either follow the footpath through the Botanical garden, or walk along the road to have better views of the typical La Gomera properties. The beach is found at the end of the road, with not much around it, but you can take the time to enjoy sea air.
AMENITIES:
El Cercardo has a few bars, both looked like pleasant stops for breakfast, a few kms after Chipude. After this, the next stop for amenities is Vallehermoso town. There are a couple of supermarkets and a lovely fruit shop, we as well as cafes and restaurants. We recommend heading to the main town square to find the most options.
The beach has no facilities, apart from picnic tables and a water tap/ area to cook. It could make a good camping spot after dusk.
ACCOMMODATION:
There is no accommodation in Playa de Vallehermoso, so if you walk on to the beach you will need to return to Vallehermoso for accommodation or onward travel to San Sebastian La Gomera. Hotel Rural Triana or Tamahuche Hotel Rural both looked like great options in Vallehermoso.
If you head back to San Sebastian why not celebrate the end of your hike by staying at the charming Parador Hotel, perched high above the capital?
Where to next on the GR131?
The GR131 is a long-distance island hopping route. Find all our resource for the GR131 here:
- GR131 Planning – all you need to know to prepare
- GR131 Fuerteventura
- GR131 La Gomera
- GR131 + GR132 – a circular hike in La Gomera
- GR131 Gran Canaria
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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4 responses to “The GR131 La Gomera: Hiking in La Gomera all you need to know”
[…] World Heritage Site and a perfect place for an enchanting wander. We walked through it on the GR131 footpath, but there are numerous trails running through the park. Garajonay is referred to as a “rain […]
[…] it comes to hiking, the GR131 runs through the centre of the island and takes 2-3 days to complete. Wheras the GR132 travels […]
[…] The Canary Islands are attracting a different type of tourist too. From Digital Nomads hanging out in the buzzing city of Las Palmas, to surfers flocking to Fuerteventura and hikers making strides across the tiny island of La Gomera. […]
[…] suggest reading this blog post in conjunction with our GR131 La Gomera detailed guide and our planning guide to walking the GR131 on […]