Igualero - Alajeró

This route follows a linear, downhill path through the inland south of La Gomera, from the hamlet of Igualero, one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements on the island, down to the municipal centre of Alajeró. Along the way, hikers traverse a sequence of traditional paths and rural hamlets, set within an arid landscape shaped by centuries of agricultural effort and rich in heritage value. The route begins in Igualero, at an altitude of around 1,300 metres, surrounded by ancient lava flows and old threshing floors. From here, the trail descends towards Erquito, a nearly abandoned hamlet that preserves examples of traditional architecture and dry-stone terraces, amid palm trees and xerophilous vegetation. Next, the path reaches San Lorenzo, another small rural settlement where the remains of houses, threshing floors and cisterns bear witness to a past agricultural life based on subsistence farming. The route continues through El Drago, where old cobbled paths and sections with retaining walls can still be seen—elements that once formed part of the historic communication routes between the midlands and the coast. The trail crosses La Manteca and continues towards Los Almácigos, where active vegetable gardens and grazing areas are still maintained. From this point, views open up over the dry hills of southern La Gomera and the ravines that descend towards the ocean. The next section reaches Magaña, a scattered hamlet set among palm groves and former cultivated areas, before beginning the final ascent to Alajeró, the municipal capital. The route ends among whitewashed houses, small orchards and quiet streets that encapsulate the rural character of the island’s south. This route is ideal for hikers seeking a cultural and scenic immersion in the traditional south of La Gomera, walking along historic paths, connecting remote hamlets and enjoying a continuous journey through the living memory of the landscape.