La Gomera Itinerary: 5-Day GR131 & GR132 Guide
La Gomera day-by-day itinerary — Lee's 5-day solo route combining GR132 coastal and GR131 Garajonay sections with bus and taxi links.
Hiked by Lee
Self-guided
Last verified
The complete guide has full narrative — this page is the scannable hub: Lee's 5-day custom GR131 + GR132 combination, towns and transport shortcuts.
Also read: Complete Guide · Accommodation · Trek overview
At a glance
| Duration | 5 days (6–8 recommended for most) |
| Trails | GR132 coastal + GR131 interior |
| Start / finish | San Sebastián de La Gomera (loop) |
| Style | Self-guided · hotel nights |
| Season | Lee hiked February |
| Transport | Bus Day 4 · taxi Day 5 |
Lee's 5-day itinerary
| Day | Stage | Sleep | Distance / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Sebastián → Santa Catalina | Santa Catalina | ~30 km · 1,500 m+ · pre-dawn start |
| 2 | Toward Vallehermoso | Vallehermoso | Coastal sunrise · cliff villages |
| 3 | GR131 interior → west coast | La Playa area | Garajonay · brutal knee descent |
| 4 | Toward Imada → bus | Playa Santiago | Bus when rooms scarce |
| 5 | Taxi → Imada → San Sebastián | — | Heat exhaustion finish |
Book accommodation first — stages followed room availability, not ideal distances.
Stage highlights
Day 1 — Brutal opener
Left before sunrise from San Sebastián. Climbed in darkness, watched sunrise over volcanic ridges. Rocky coastal trail, forest sections, no services. Legs destroyed by Santa Catalina — but the island already felt special.
Day 2 — Coastal magic
Morning sunrise along the coast — trip highlight. Small villages, exposed ridges, descent into Vallehermoso surrounded by cliffs.
Day 3 — Best hiking day
Transition to GR131 through Garajonay laurel forest. Volcanic cliffs above Atlantic. Sunset at La Playa worth the knee pain.
Day 4 — Heat and logistics
Exposed volcanic terrain toward Imada. Bus to Playa Santiago when accommodation limited. Fatigue accumulating.
Day 5 — Finish line
Early taxi to Imada to resume route. Teide visible on Tenerife across the water. Heat exhaustion and dehydration — still made San Sebastián.
Alternative durations
| Days | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| 5 | Strong hikers — Lee's pace (demanding) |
| 6–8 | Recommended — shorter stages, more town time |
| Day hikes | Base in Vallehermoso or San Sebastián |
Booking checklist
- Ferry Tenerife ↔ San Sebastián booked
- All hotel nights reserved before plotting GPX
- Offline maps downloaded (AllTrails / Komoot)
- Bus timetables saved for backup exits
- Pre-trek night in San Sebastián (supplies)
Related planning
- Difficulty — Day 1 distance reality
- Navigation — GR131 vs GR132 junctions
- Getting there — ferry timing
- Cost guide — hotel budget
Next guide
La Gomera Cost Guide: Budget in EUR
La Gomera budget breakdown — Tenerife ferry, hotel nights, buses and total 5-day EUR planning bands for GR131 and GR132.
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