![\"A](\"https:\/\/canariaslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/La-Gomera-y-su-bosque-prehistorico-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is laurisilva and why is it so special?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The laurisilva<\/strong> it is a type of humid subtropical forest that dates back to the Tertiary<\/strong>, a time when it covered much of southern Europe. With the climatic changes of the Pleistocene, this ecosystem disappeared from the continent but found refuge in the Macaronesian islands \u2014 among them, La Gomera \u2014 thanks to its temperate climate and the constant moisture brought by the trade winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garajonay National Park houses more than 70% of the surviving laurisilva on the planet<\/strong>, making it an invaluable natural laboratory for scientists, ecologists, and biodiversity lovers. Here, endemic species such as the vi\u00f1\u00e1tigo<\/strong>, the til<\/strong>, the barbusano<\/strong> and the emblematic laurus novocanariensis<\/strong>, trees that can exceed 40 meters in height and whose crowns form a dense canopy that filters sunlight, creating a cool and humid microclimate ideal for mosses, lichens, and ferns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garajonay National Park features a network of marked trails that allow exploration of its various ecosystems according to altitude:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Local advice<\/strong>: Wear waterproof footwear and light warm clothing. Even in the middle of summer, the humidity and shade cause temperatures to drop considerably inside the forest.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Beyond its ecological value, Garajonay has a profound symbolic root in Gomera culture. Its name comes from the legend of Gara and Jonay<\/strong>, two young people from rival tribes whose tragic love gave rise to the place. According to Guanche tradition, the summit was a sacred point where fertility and ancestral connection rituals were held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, the park remains a space of island identity<\/strong>, frequented by locals who walk its paths on weekends or participate in conservation activities. Additionally, many schools on the island organize educational outings to teach children about the fragility and richness of this unique ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Access to the park is free<\/strong>, but it is regulated to preserve its integrity. Some essential recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garajonay National Park is not only a refuge of biodiversity but also a model of responsible tourism<\/strong>. Local projects promote rural accommodations, certified guides, and guided tours that respect the natural cycles of the forest. This philosophy aligns with the mission of CanariasLife<\/strong>: to show the islands as they are, without artifice, with respect for their environment and their people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When visiting the laurisilva, you not only enjoy an ancestral landscape; you participate in its conservation<\/strong>. Every mindful step helps keep this legacy alive for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83c\udf3f Did you know that\u2026?<\/strong> Un viaje al pasado en medio del Atl\u00e1ntico En el coraz\u00f3n de La Gomera se […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":164573,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2761],"tags":[5740,5319,4705,528,3466,3627,93,3527,1005,619],"post_folder":[402],"class_list":["post-164507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-naturaleza","tag-bosque-prehistorico","tag-flora-endemica","tag-garajonay","tag-la-gomera","tag-laurisilva","tag-naturaleza-en-canarias","tag-parque-nacional","tag-patrimonio-unesco","tag-senderismo-en-canarias","tag-turismo-sostenible"],"yoast_head":"\nUnmissable routes through the heart of the forest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The cultural and spiritual importance of Garajonay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to visit Garajonay National Park responsibly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Garajonay and the future of sustainable tourism in the Canary Islands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Laurisilva acts as a \u201cwater sponge\u201d: it captures moisture from the trade winds and releases it slowly, feeding springs and maintaining the water balance of the entire island.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"