Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From El Contadero the path drops from the heath of the summit ridge into laurel forest hung with moss and lichen, and follows the Arroyo de El Cedro down past old terraces and charcoal hearths to the forest track at Las Mimbreras. A short path leads on to the Ermita de Lourdes, a forest chapel opened in 1935, and down the valley to the hamlet of El Cedro. Return the same way.
It is 10.8 km there and back with 518 m of climbing; allow about 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: a good path, but all the climbing comes on the way back.
The forest is in cloud for much of the year, and the path is wet, rooty and slippery: the national park asks for closed footwear, and boots are better. It can be cold even in summer.
No permit is needed on foot. There is no phone coverage in the forest, and it is easy to get lost off the path, so keep to it. The park closes all its paths when there is a strong-wind alert.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Down through the laurel forest of Garajonay, a World Heritage Site, beside the Arroyo de El Cedro
- Past the forest chapel of Lourdes, opened in 1935, to the hamlet of El Cedro
- All the climbing is on the way back
- Wet and slippery underfoot in the cloud forest; no phone signal
Getting there
Start: El Contadero · Free parking. 28.11568, -17.24329
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around La Gomera: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.