The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Majona

This viewpoint belongs to the old route of the GM-1, next to the Aguajilva Tunnels. If you come down from above, you will find a metal gate: the old section was closed after the construction of the modern road and can no longer be fully traversed. The only way to get there today is from below, via a small track that leads to the viewpoint and the old rest area. And precisely therein lies the charm of the place: it seems like a forgotten fragment of the old Gomera. Here, the curves carved into the rock, the silence of the old road, and the brutal views towards the inland ravines and the Chejelipes area are still preserved. While cars pass through the mountain via the modern tunnels, this corner remains frozen in another era. It is one of those hidden places that almost no one visits by chance... and for that very reason, it retains so much personality.

The Majona Natural Park is a protected area in the northeast of La Gomera, between San Sebastián and Hermigua. It was created to conserve one of the island's wildest and least altered landscapes: enormous volcanic ravines, arid slopes, old paths, and all the vegetation typical of the Gomera's dry climate, such as tabaibas, cardones, and palm trees. Unlike Garajonay, here there are no large humid forests or constant fog. Majona has a much harsher and more open appearance, with tracks hanging over precipices and enormous views of the Atlantic. Historically, it was also an important area for capturing and transporting water through galleries, reservoirs, and long pipelines, such as the pipe that accompanies the track towards Roque Garaballo.

From the GM-1 to Roque Garaballo, the trail is marked by the large metal pipe that accompanies the route through curves, ravines, and volcanic slopes. In many sections, you can perfectly hear the water running inside, even when the path seems to climb again. The system works by taking advantage of the island's natural pressure and gradients: the water circulates confined within the pipe and maintains its flow thanks to the principle of communicating vessels and the force accumulated in previous descents. On an island where historically every liter of water was vital, these pipes allowed water to be transported over long distances, crossing rugged and inaccessible terrain. Riding alongside this pipe suspended over the void, hearing the water in the middle of an arid and silent landscape, gives this trail a very special and almost forgotten atmosphere.

Montaña de Ismael is one of the most accessible natural viewpoints near San Sebastián de La Gomera and a usual starting point for hiking and cycling routes. From here, tracks and trails depart, connecting with ancient traditional paths and sections of the GR-131, the great route that crosses the Canary Islands. Access is relatively easy and the views are very worthwhile: deep ravines, the port of San Sebastián, the ocean, and on clear days, even Tenerife and El Teide in the distance. It's a perfect area to start a quiet bike climb, take a panoramic stop, or link up with longer tracks towards the interior of the island. The terrain mixes volcanic rock, typical La Gomera scrubland, and wide tracks, ideal for gravel or MTB. It's not extreme high mountain terrain, but it is one of those places where you quickly understand why La Gomera seems designed by someone obsessed with curves and gradients.

This trail runs through one of the high areas above San Sebastián and offers a very different perspective of the Gomera capital. From here you can perfectly understand how the village became wedged between volcanic ravines that descend directly towards the port and the Atlantic. The altitude and the open orientation towards the east allow you to enjoy enormous views over San Sebastián, the sea and, on clear days, even Teide in the background. The trail usually combines open sections, constant wind and summit vegetation, with that very typical La Gomera feeling where in a few minutes you can go from humid forest to dry, volcanic landscapes looking towards the coast.

I have no idea what it's called, but it definitely comes from El Credo and is very vigorous in the spring.

Ferns are hanging everywhere; it's beautiful to look at them.

Warm clothing (on average 10 degrees cooler than on the coast) + rain jacket provided in this area. Usually in the clouds (literally)