Walk 3 - Targa to Playa de Santiago walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

A really lovely walk with magnificinet views! This linear route is a good example of the steady descent from the high ground in the centre of La Gomera to sea level which is dictated by the island’s topography. This descent is spread over 5 miles and is graded so evenly that the walking is never uncomfortable. The views are very fine. Underfoot the broad unsurfaced roadway has sections where the stone is quite rough and the walk is moderate to difficult.

Start Point

Direct from El Balcon de Santa Ana (or park a car in Playa de Santiago). Take the bus heading for Alajero and Imada, either from the square in Playa de Santiago or from the stop close to the junction with the main road at Las Trincheras. The ride to the bus stop at the junction of the signposted little road into Targa with the mainroad takes about 15 minutes.
Refreshments:
Only in Playa de Santiago.

Walk down the tarmac road into Targa hamlet, bearing right to reach a road fork.
1. Keep right at the fork, heading for a prominent rocky knoll, one of the island’s characteristic volcanic outcrops. Pass a few houses (60 yards after the last house on the left a diversion along a path rising by the side of a former sand pit/quarry leads to a superb viewpoint). Rise a little along the road, passing a well-guarded villa on the right before the tarmac comes to an end.

2. Start the long descent on the stony roadway, pass a communications mast, and continue steadily downhill. To the left are splended views into and across the Barranco de Santiago, with Pastrana, El Rumbazo and the great Roque de Agando all visible. Pass an unfinished building and numerous sadly abandoned former cultivation terraces and farm buildings; further on two little reservoirs come into view below. Pass close to one of the reservoirs (Embalse Cascaio), cross a concrete water channel and reach a junction with a rudimentary stone seat and protecting wall.

3. Keep left here, soon walking very much on a broad ridge (lomo) heading for the sea between the Barranco de Santiago on the left and the Barranco de la Junta on the right. A wall and water pipe, then a concrete water tank, are on the right and there are views back to Antoncojo hamlet. What a pity that a deep Barranco seperates us from the headland with the El Balcon de Santa Ana complex! Follow the path down to where the concrete water channel divdes into two. Bear left past the 2 concrete posts connected by a chain in front of the abandoned farm house on the left. Keep walking to the west side of the ridge and follow the path along the edge of it roughly following the line of pylons. Simply follow the twisting path down to the main road coming out at the ‘aeropuerto 3’ sign.

4. Walking boots and a walking pole are practically compulsory because of the rough stoney surface. It is only the last 50yds section that is fairly steep before it joins a tarmac section down to the main road. Cross the road, turn left then, in 60 yards, just before the road junction, turn right to descend a very rough roadway to the valley bottom. Turn left along the unsurfaced road to walk into Playa de Santiago by the standard route or a few yards after passing under a concrete bridge, turn right, up the steps, to toil up the valley side direct to El Balcon de Santa Ana.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.