Hike Facts		Maps & Guides
Distance	122 km		1:30 000 (Kompass 231)
Ascent	8540 m		1:35 000 (OSE 377 Toeristische wegenkaart)
Estimated time	6 days (See day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6)		1:35 000 (La Gomera Tour & Trail Super-Durable Map) – recommended
GPX files & profile	See the online map below

This article series in short: if you wanna go hiking to the Canary Islands, go to La Gomera and do GR 132. Howgh. In long: La Gomera is the Island for hiking within the Canaries. The truth is though, that whatever island you go to, you can please the hiking heart everywhere. But La Gomera, oh! With its deep and long ravines (in Spanish barranco), remote rocky beaches and constant remembrances of pre-European and early Spanish settlers, is my favourite Canary island for hiking. And the nature? Magical. You’ll see soon.

There are 2 GR footpaths in La Gomera: GR 131, which crosses the island from the south-east to the north, and GR 132, which goes around the island. While GR 131 can be done in 3 days, GR 132 is much longer and the official guide divides it into 8 days. It can be done faster though and I found 6 days just enough for a fit and fully-loaded hiker. The 6 stages we’ve done are following:

1) San Sebastián de La Gomera – Contreras (12 km)
2) Contreras – Barranco de la Negra (25 km)
3) Barranco de la Negra – Valle Gran Rey (22 km)
4) Valle Gran Rey – Vallehermoso (17 km)
5) Vallehermoso – Playa de Santa Catalina (24 km)
6)  Playa de Santa Catalina – San Sebastián de La Gomera (22 km)

It’s about 120 / 130 kilometres long (depending on a route variation you choose in the middle) and can be walked in both directions. Official guides and information signs along the route tell you to do it anti-clockwise. I did it clockwise instead. To sum up: the following report is from a 6 day, wild-camp, clockwise variation.

Even though the track looks quite popular, I didn’t meet a single person in 6 days who’d hike it too.

Sleeping

Technically, wild camping is forbidden in the Canary Islands. Practically, thru-hiking GR 132 would be almost impossible without it. Compared to mainland Europe, La Gomera is a very remote place with only 1 campsite on the island. Remote villages are often without accommodation options and if they have hotels, they’re often booked out in advance since La Gomera is a popular tourist destination, especially for Germans. I always wild camped while keeping wild camping ethics extra high, considering fragile and unique nature and ecosystems. Building a bivi on a suitable place after sunset and disappearing without a trace of being there before the sunrise is par for the course.

Drinking & eating

There is a lack of water in the nature. It also seems like La Gomerians like playing the “build a fountain but don’t add water” game. Therefore, whenever you have an opportunity, refill your water bottles. An old guy cleaning a car, a young chick watering the garden, gas stations or bars. All of them are great opportunities to refill your water bottles. There are small bars and shops on the way. I always carried food for two days and 3 litres of water. With good planning you can get by with a 1 day food load and most of the time less water too, but sometimes I prefer to prioritize independence over minimizing weight.

More information about hiking in La Gomera in general I’ve summed up in a separate article.

Map

Download file: GPX - hikingisgood-com - es - gr132.gpx

Let’s report!

The whole track is very diverse with some really dry sections so plan ahead if possible. In my report you can find tips on where to find water, resupply food or pitch your bivi.

Continue to day 1 >>