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Isla Rural. Las Hoyetas, 34 - 38820 Hermigua, La Gomera. Spain
Tel. +34 686950171 sugerencias@islarural.com 
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IslaRural.com |
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National Park of Garajonay
 La Gomera possesses in its central plateau a fascinating dense forest of perpetual greenery maintained by a mantel of fog in which it is being wrapped up during great part of the year. Survivor of the subtropical forests that populated the area of the Mediterranean several millions of years ago, during the Tertiary, disappeared from the Continent as consequence of climatic changes that hardly affected the subtropical atmospheres of these Archipelagos. A singular well-known ecosystem as Monteverde (Green Mountain) or Laurisilva, belonging to the Micronesian region (Azores Islands, Madeira and Canary Islands), contrasts with the dry landscapes of the low areas and coasts of the island.
The Laurisilva is a forest formed by a great variety of trees of perennial leaf whose existence is kept by a high humidity and soft temperature with scarce oscillations along the year. These conditions occur in the fog area of the northern facades of the Canary Islands, between 700 and 1.200m above sea level, due to condensation of the up going masses of air loaded with humidity, transported by the Trade winds. Their vegetable lattice is a real capturing sponge of water that retains the humidity of the fog, favouring the recharge of the insular aquifers and therefore, the provisioning of water for human consumption.  Unfortunately, a big part of domains of the Laurisilva has disappeared due to human action. The best conserved part is situated in the summits of La Gomera, where it is still possible to find practically virgin areas. With the purpose to assure its conservation, the National Park of Garajonay was created in 1981, declared later on, World Patrimony, by the UNESCO.
Although the total amount of vascular flora species is not too high, around 40, of which a score are trees, the proportion of endemic species of the islands is important. Endemic species are species whose distribution is limited to the area of the Park. The Laurisilva of the National Park of Garajonay contains several types of forests, in the most humid and protected valleys of the northern direction, the forest reaches its maximum complexity and exuberance (valley Laurisilva). As we ascend in altitude and in the more exposed places it becomes gradually poorer, losing the most demanding species (hillside Laurisilva), opening the way in a southern direction to the "fayal-brezal", formation in which there only dominate two arboreal species, the heath and the fire tree, that support a less favoured atmosphere by fog. Along the line of summits, in the places of passing fog, the summit heaths appear, characterized by the abundance of mosses that recover the trees and the floor. The Laurisilva dominates the landscape of Garajonay, but other habitats, such as the uniting of the water streams, the rocky walls or the impressive rocks, who are remains of old volcanic pipes, enrich the landscape and are important refuges of unusual species. The sea forms an impassable barrier for the colonization of many living beings of the islands. This explains that the vertebrate fauna of the Park is composed basically by birds and reptiles, being the only autochthonous mammals the bats. In total 38 species of vertebrates live in the Park, highlighting two species of endemic doves, the African collard dove and the Mourning dove. But it is in the spineless fauna where near 1.000 species are represented, rising at a 150 species that only live in the Park of Garajonay which is therefore an important fauna refuge. The National Park offers different visitor services like: guides for guided trips (previous appointment in the Visitors Centre), Forest Agents that supervise the park that can help and advise you, a brochure that explains aspects of the nature and relates several self-guided paths. Some of these paths are ( see journey in map): Contadero-mimbreras, Jardín de las Creces- Las Hayas, Los Barranquillos-Arure, Cañada de Jorge- Arure, El Contadero-Alto de Garajonay- Laguna Grande and la Pista del Cedro-Aceviños-Meriga.  Before walking through the Park we recommend you to go to the Visitors Centre, open from Tuesday to Sundays from 9.30-16.30, where you will obtain a general vision of the Park by means of audiovisual panels, besides getting books, pamphlets, maps, local craft or book excursions.
The Canary Islands contemplates 8 legal figures for the protection of its Natural Spaces, one of state environment, of which four existent National Parks are administered in four of their seven islands, and the rest of regional environment instituted by the Canarian Parliament, that create different degrees of protection of spaces based on the fineness and interest of the species. Their denominations are: natural, integral and special reserves, natural and rural parks, places of scientific interest, natural monuments and protected landscapes.  Protected Natural Spaces
La Gomera together with the National park counts with all the protection figures, reaching an number of 17 spaces that embrace an extension of 12.450 hectares, occupying a third part of the insular territory. Their denominations are (see situation in map): 
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