Garajonay National Park in Spain: description, photo, how to get

Last updated Jun 3, 2022

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If the Canary Islands themselves are a unique place, then the sights located on them can rightfully be called the most amazing on our planet. And special attention to all visitors to these amazing resorts of the Atlantic basin should be given to the most beautiful and unique park called Garajonay.

UNESCO heritage

The park was awarded such a high status in 1986. And there are several reasons for that. Researchers of this part of the land found that it was here that unique laurel forests were preserved, which more than 2 million years ago covered a huge part of continental Europe. With the onset of the last glacial period, green massifs almost completely disappeared and are found only in such paradises.

Another prerequisite for the inclusion of this national park in the World Heritage List was the unique endemicity. It turned out that unique animals live in the park, which cannot be found in other parts of the world. Of course, this is due to the unique vegetation. And one more important detail. Although the island is of volcanic origin, there are no traces of volcanic activity on its territory.

origin of name

Agree, the name Garajonay sounds somehow unusual, even for Spain. There is a legend that the park was named after the young Prince Honay and Princess Gara, whose love story is very similar to the story of Romeo and Juliet. Young lovers did not find support from their parents and decided to commit suicide. According to another interpretation, the families of the lovers nevertheless gave their consent to the marriage, but on the eve of the engagement, a volcano woke up. This was considered an unkind sign and they decided to cancel the wedding. The outcome of history is always sad.

There is another unique fact that inscribed the name of the island in the history of mankind. The fact is that it was from its shores that the famous navigator Columbus sailed, shortly before he discovered a new continent, which today is called America. The ancient church has also been preserved, from the source of which the discoverer drew holy water to baptize new lands.

Description of the park

The basis of the park, in addition to the unique green vegetation, is a mountain range. The highest point is located at an altitude of 1487 meters above sea level.

Despite the fact that there is another nature park on the island – Puntallana – it is Garajonay that is especially popular among tourists and naturalists. Crowds of visitors gather in groups and spend hours photographing the beautiful landscapes of the park. Rocky, brightly vegetated ledges, as well as gloomy laurel forests, are increasingly replenishing the removable media of visitors' cameras. But not everyone dares to go far into the depths. And this is facilitated by numerous tales that can be heard from local residents and according to which spirits live in the forests and if someone is in their power, he will never be released back home.

In fact, the entire territory of the park is impenetrable jungle. Moderate temperatures and high humidity, supported by systematic rains and fogs, allow most plants to survive. Thanks to this, laurel trees are able to reach a height of up to 40 meters, and their spreading crowns almost completely block the access of sunlight to the surface of the earth. That is why it seems so gloomy in this evergreen jungle.

The total area of the protected park is 4 thousand hectares or more than 1/10 of the entire area of La Gomera. If you want to get a glimpse of northern Africa or pre-Ice Age mainland Europe, this Spanish park is definitely worth a visit. Most of the plants encountered first appeared on these continents and represented an impenetrable thicket. That is why many scientists do not hesitate to call the park a “living fossil” and a “museum of laurel forests.”

Despite the clear predominance of laurel trees among the vegetation, other rare representatives of the flora are also found in the park. Researchers claim that more than 2,000 species of a wide variety of plants are concentrated on a vast territory. Among especially rare species, it is worth highlighting such trees and shrubs as tree heather, waxwort, Indian perseus, till and many others. By the way, the last of the mentioned trees can grow up to 35 meters in height.

Complements the local “green” beauty and a network of streams that form an extensive water system. And among the representatives of the fauna you can also often find little-known species of birds, insects and even reptiles. Many of them until recently were considered extinct, some were not listed in reference books and scientific manuals on zoology.

Tourism

The Garajonay National Park invites everyone to plunge into the amazing world of flora and fauna, spend part of their vacation in the tenacious embrace of the mountain range and laurel jungle, breathe in the cleanest air and enjoy unique views of the Atlantic Ocean.

For this, an extensive network of viewing platforms, information centers and hotels has been created, which allows tourists to spend time not only with taste, but also with benefit. Experienced guides will show you the most picturesque places on the island, lead you to the most amazing corners of the park and allow everyone to get acquainted with a real natural pearl.

How to get there

The attraction is located in the very center of La Gomera, about 15 km from its capital – San Sebastian de La Gomera. You can get to the island from Tenerife by ferry. The ships depart three times a day, and the ticket price for adults will be 70 euros. If there are young travelers with you, then the fare for them will cost 35 euros.

Upon arrival in the capital of the island, you have to transfer to a bus or rent a car. The roads on the island are good, so nothing will stop your journey. At the same time, remember that one day may not be enough to fully explore the island nature and the unique park.