Stage 1: San Sebastián de La Gomera - Hermigua

The stage begins in San Sebastián de La Gomera, capital city of the island, more specifically in the roundabout that links roads GM-1 and GM-2. After crossing GM-1 and leaving the guagua station to the left, the route continues through avenida de Colón, reaching the church of La Asunción. After passing this church and a staircase, the ascent starts through calle de La Pista. After passing by the National Parador of Tourism of La Gomera, this street becomes calle Orilla del Llano. By following this path, now far from the urban area, we reach a roundabout where we must follow a paved track that some metres farther becomes a dirt track. After passing by a farm, the track keeps going up among abandoned terraces which, little by little, give way to Canary Island spurges. Shortly before kilometre 4, the ascent ends and the route reaches then a Canary Island pine stand (Pinus canariensis).

Alterning uphill and downhill strechts, the traveler reaches kilometer 6, where there are excellent views of Ávalo ravine.

By continuing through the same path, kilometre 7 is reached, where the traveller goes through spots of livestock activity (more specifically, goat and sheep shepherding). In this stretch, the effects of erosion on soft ground, shaped by wind and water, can be observed.

Soon after kilometre 8, the route starts going down among Canary Island pines which take the traveller deep into Majona’s Nature Park, going through it for the next 13 km of the stage. When the descent is over, the route crosses a wide track, then goes up through a stone staircase and continues through a narrow path, passing by the so-called ‘Altos de Uteza’.

After kilometre 10, the route starts a descending stretch that ends in a wide forest track that the traveller must follow to the left for the next 11 km of the stage. By going over this track, the traveller reaches an agriculture and livestock area in the Gully of Majona. There, a long ascent with a slight slope begins, offering unbeatable views to the traveller, who can see the neighbouring island of Tenerife from several points, with the peculiar silhouette of the Teide.

By continuing the gentle ascent and going through Majona’s Natural Park, the hiker will contemplate masses of Canary Island pines, palm trees (Phoenix canariensis) and heathers (Erica arborea) with a high scenic and botanical value.

Twisting around the mountainside, the user leaves the path towards the houses of Helechal to the right. A few metres before kilometre 16, there is a short descending stretch that takes the traveller into a dense fayal-brezal. Soon after, the route goes up again and once kilometre 17 is passed, the track is no longer made from dirt and becomes a paved track, keeping its width.

The descent starts and the paved track becomes once again a dirt one, twisting and turning around the mountain, with the Roque Caraballo to the right. The vegetation is now more diverse, as the humidity of the route is higher in this side of the mountain, from where the coastline of La Gomera can be sighted.

After passing a natural pond to the left of the track, the right branch must be followed. Soon after kilometre 22 the main track is abandoned and a narrow path to the left is taken, passing through the houses of El Palmar.

The route arrives at a paved road after going through different ascending and descending stretches, again with formations of Canary Island spurges, and crossing a little stream. We must turn left to carry on with the stage, leaving the path from La Caleta to Punta San Lorenzo to the right.

The stage goes through this paved track, now ascending, and then leaves it after kilometre 25, going up through a narrow path until crossing the road. Then, the sharp descent starts, also through a narrow path, passing by the houses of Altozano. Already on the pavement, the traveller arrives at Santa Catalina to end this first stage of the Shores of La Gomera Nature Trail among banana trees in Hermigua Beach.