The The Garajonay National Park is located around 7km east of Hermigua. The central peaks of La Gomera are often shrouded in mist and are home to a mesmerizing rain forest. UNESCO declared Garajonay Park a Humanity Wealth in 1986. There are clearly marked walks and it is a dramatic but undemanding walk to the peak. The Laguna Grande is also located in the National Park; it was formerly a lake, but is now a large woodland walking and picnic area, with a lovely log-cabin restaurant. There is also a Visitor's Centre in the park, it is located in Juego de Bolas, in La Palmita, which is within the municipal boundary of Agulo in the north of La Gomera. The centre’s building is of the typical style of Canarian architecture. There are three exhibition rooms that give details of the Garajonay National Park and the Island through panels, photographs, monitors, luminous pictures, maps and relief models. The handicraft workshops in the Centre show how different materials are crafted using various implements and materials. There is also the Ethnographic Museum here that depicts many aspects of the traditional culture. The gardens contain an extensive variety of Canarian flora and many plants that are indigenous to La Gomera, and those used by the local population in herbal medicine and native cuisine. Other attractions include the steep rock of San Pedro, the beaches of Santa Catalina and La Caleta, its natural pool and the cedar woods, fed by a stream of translucent water. Agulo Agulo is a small Town and is separated into two separate parts: the lower area which is where the town centre and the pictorial suburb of Lepe are located, and the Villages of Las Rosas, La Palmita, Meriga and Cruz de Tierno make up the upper area. The town centre founded in the 17th Century and consists of the neighbourhoods of El Charco, Las Casas and "La Montañeta"; all are excellent examples of La Gomera architecture. Agulo is located in a stunning curved hollow, down the wall of which on rainy days - the water cascades in waterfalls. The lookout point at Abrante offers an amazing view of this crater, with Tenerife and Mount Teide in the backdrop.
The coastal area offers natural attractions of geology and fauna and calm and sparkling clear waters off the beaches at Santiago or Erese. The Drago tree, one of the few specimens found on La Gomera-grows here, near Agalán. Valle Gran Rey Valle Gran Rey (the Valley of the Great King) is located on the south-west coast and comprises of several small villages in close proximity to each other. The municipal district of Valle Gran Rey relates to the prehistoric canton of Orone, where the most influential of the indigenous Kings resided. Valle Gran Rey is linked with a main highway that encircles every part of the Island. Valle Gran Rey is also linked by hydrofoil to Play Santiago, San Sebastian and Los Cristianos in Tenerife. These days, the majority of the population of this area, reside along the edges of the ravine, amongst little vegetable gardens and date palms, which form a magnificent panoramic landscape. The rugged terrains of the district, with its deep ravines, and vertical cliffs of La Mérica, have proved difficult until fairly recently. Before, there were just steep winding roads, which are now a pleasure for hikers. Agriculture and fishing is not as significant as it once was, now, special residential and growing tourism has evolved, because of the easy-going climate, the beaches of La Playa, Playa del Ingles, and Playa de Argaga and the attractive landscapes. Houses that were deserted by the rural migration have been renovated for tourism. Furthermore, many apartments have been built in La Puntilla and in La Playa, and services associated to tourism have augmented. The district of Valle Gran Rey has a rich history of its pre-Hispanic past. In Arure, there are some houses relating to an historical period as does the hermitage of San Nicolás de Tolentino, renovated in recent times, although the original structure dates back to 1515. The hermitage of La Adoración de los Reyes was also built in 1515, and renovated at the start of this Century; in fact it retains the only original rude font of Holy Water and a small altarpiece. Vallehermoso The Town of Vallehermoso is the largest on La Gomera, the mainstay of the economy here is primarily agriculture. The town controls around 1300 hectares of the Garajonay National Park and around a third of the entire Park of Laguna Grande, a leisure area within the Park also belongs to Vallehermoso. There are several protected natural areas located in Vallehermoso: Los Órganos, Roque Cano and La Fortaleza and El Lomo del Carretón. Numerous excellent hiking paths can also be found, the most noteworthy being Cruz de Tierno-Roque Cano-Vallehermo, Epina-Tazo-Arguamul and Arguayoda, La Rajita and La Dama. El Monumento Natural de Los Órganos (Los Órganos Natural Monument) is located on the northen coast of Vallehermoso. It is a cliff made of ancient volcanic rock, and where it has cooled and and eroded - it gives the appearance of organ pipes falling straight down to the sea. La Rajita
La Rajita beach is located on the south-west coast of La Gomera, close to the Village of La Rajita. As this beach is located in a secluded area, the only access to it is either on foot from La Dama or by boat. The beach is around 350m long and around 10m wide, it has smooth stones and a moderate swell. There are dive schools in Playa Santiago, San Sebastian and Valle Gran Rey - the three main towns. The diving is done mainly by boat and the nearest chamber is in Tenerife. The southern coast is suitable for all levels of diving skills as it hardly has any currents. One of the best dive sites is: Roque de Herrero in Playa Santiago and the main attractions are the awesome rock formations between 22 and 25m. On top of the reef at 14m, you will locate large trumpetfish, stingrays and tiger morays. In the shallows there are lots of canary lobsters and anemones.
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