This article is about hiking up the beautiful Barranco Santiago. The main article about Playa de Santiago and the surrounding areas can be found here: La Gomera – around Playa de Santiago.
Another hike in the area La Gomera – Circular trip at Mirador Degollada de Peraza
All Gomera articles : la-gomera
From Pastrana to Benchijigua and on to Imada
As I mentioned on the hike up at Las Toscas, there seemed to be a nice trail on the other side of the valley, Barranco Santiago. This valley runs from from Playa Santiago up to the small village of Benchijigua which is located just below the majestic mountain peak Roque de Agando. This is a steep cliff that is the plug of an ancient volcano where the outer lava layers have eroded away.
I studied the map and saw that the path I had seen from Las Toscas could be difficult to follow as it was missing a piece in the middle, high up in a steep cliff wall. Probably the path has slipped out here. The paths up on the mountainside are partly carved into the rock, partly built up with high stone walls. All main trails are very well maintained, but this is not part of the trail network and was probably given up.
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But there was another path down at the bottom of the valley so I chose that instead. A quick taxi ride from Santiago takes you to the small village of Pastrana where the trail begins.
The valley is surprisingly lush, the steep mountain walls are covered with green bushes, and palm trees grow all the way up.
There is a 400 meter ascent to Benchijigua, but it is evenly distributed over the 4.1 kilometres up, and there is a well-prepared path all the way. The path follows the bottom only a few hundred meters before it slopes up into the valley side. The valley gradually gets wider, covered with green shrubs, palm trees and cacti. Roque de Agando is always visible in the distance.
Benchijigua
BenchiBenchijigua, one of the oldest settlements on the island, seems quite derelict, but the houses are well maintained and are probably used as holiday homes. That is easy to understand, this must be one of the most beautiful places on the island. This is probably also the nicest trip I have taken on La Gomera, although the trip through the primeval forest in the Parque Nacional de Garajonay is more unique. Read about it here: La Gomera hikes
If you are happy with the 400 meters climb, you can walk 4 km along the road down to Las Toscas and take the bus back from here. Or you can continue to Imada, 300 meters more uphill.
The path on to Imada is flat and nice along the 600 meter elevation direction the coast again, but on the other side of the valley. Easy after the ascent to Benchijigua.
You walk through abandoned cultivated land, and partially collapsed fincas, small farms. It’s green and lush all the time. Huge areas with cactus edging the path. But then the lazy hike is abruptly over, and the trail goes straight up the mountain wall, 250 meters in zigzags through 25 hairpin turns.
Well up in the mountain wall, you can tell youself, the shortest way to a cold beer is further up, in Imada.
Finally at the top, a new green valley opens up which you follow high up in the mountain wall. Here, too, are the ruins of abandoned farms, 3 in number. Soon you can see Imada in the distance, about 2 km away.
The trail ends practically right at the bus stop in Imada, and on the other side of the road you can have a cold beer while waiting. The bus takes about 30 minutes down again to Santiago.
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