The village of Arguamul and the Ermita of Santa Clara
Arguamul is one of the smallest and most remote hamlets on La Gomera and forms part of the municipality of Vallehermoso. The settlement lies at an altitude of around 300 metres above the north coast and, to this day, can only be reached via a narrow road. For a long time Arguamul was almost completely cut off from the outside world, a situation that shaped the lifestyle of its inhabitants well into the second half of the 20th century. Subsistence farming – particularly cereals, pulses and goat keeping – defined village life for generations. Even today, the terraced slopes, dry-stone walls and simple stone houses bear visible witness to this past.
Above the hamlet stands the Ermita of Santa Clara, a small 17th-century chapel dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi. It occupies an exposed position on a ridge and traditionally played an important role in the religious and social life of the region. Once a year, usually in August, the ermita becomes the destination of a local procession and village festival, to which former residents also return. From its location, the chapel offers sweeping views over La Gomera’s north coast and the Atlantic Ocean, underlining its special significance as both a spiritual and scenic landmark for Arguamul.
Walk from Tazo to Arguamul and Santa Clara
Having already described a circular walk starting in Tazo, today’s route once again begins in Tazo and leads to Arguamul. From Arguamul, you can enjoy a fantastic ascent along a ridge up to the Ermita of Santa Clara. The views of the Atlantic and of Arguamul gradually shrinking below you are truly impressive. Once you reach the ermita, you are likely to encounter a number of cats and poultry. I was told that people on La Gomera have abandoned roosters, hens and cats at the ermita over the years. They are now fed by tourists and the local council and have multiplied considerably.
Afterwards, the route leads back to Tazo at a leisurely pace along a pleasant walking path. As we were staying in Tazo at Casa Rural Hyggeland, we set off directly from there. However, this is a circular walk and can be started at any point along the route. On the first day we planned to walk it in the opposite direction, but due to heavy rainfall in January 2026 we were strongly advised against attempting the steep descent on slipped paths and slippery stones. As a result, we tackled the walk from the other side on the next dry day. Simply keep an eye on the weather – in dry conditions, the walk can be undertaken comfortably in either direction.
General information about the Arguamul circular hike
Starting point and access
The walk starts in Tazo. We began directly at our accommodation, Casa Rural Hyggeland. If you also wish to start in Tazo, you can reach the Alojera–Tazo road via various paths or begin your walk at another point along the circular route.
Getting there by car
From San Sebastián, drive along the GM-3 towards Valle Gran Rey. Before reaching Valle Gran Rey, you will come to a roundabout where you take the exit for Vallehermoso. Follow the GM-1 for some distance. On the left-hand side, you will pass the Epina restaurant. Shortly afterwards, take the exit for Alojera/Tagaluche (CV-16), and soon after that turn right onto a small road towards Tazo/Arguamul. This beautiful panoramic road to Tazo was only paved after 2020. The descent to the hamlet of Tazo is around six kilometres in total.
Getting there by bus
There are no bus services to Tazo. General information about bus routes on La Gomera can be found here.
Time
I am generally reluctant to give standard time estimates for walks, as walking speeds vary greatly. We took around three hours for this relaxed circular route, including breaks.
Elevation gain and distance
Depending on the chosen variant, the total ascent is around 700–800 metres. The distance varies between approximately 9.5 and 14 kilometres.
Difficulty
Throughout the entire route you walk on good hiking paths or tracks. Only the ascent between Arguamul and the Ermita of Santa Clara had partially subsided in a few places in January 2026 due to prolonged heavy rainfall.
Refreshments
There are no refreshment stops along the route. Be sure to carry sufficient water and, if necessary, food.
Variants
The walk can be extended slightly. In the article, I present these extensions, marked in yellow on the map.
If you are looking for a longer hike, you can also combine this route with the Chijeré walk, which starts in Vallehermoso and also passes the Ermita of Santa Clara.
On SiebenInseln you will also find the following nearby walks:
Circular walk Tazo – Lonely paths and healing springs in the “wild” west of La Gomera
Circular Hike Arguamul
Route section: Tazo to the Guillama junction
We began the walk on Calle Tazo in front of our accommodation, Hyggeland, and initially walked downhill to the Alojera–Tazo road. Once there, turn right and walk uphill along the road. You only follow the road for a short time before it makes a wide right-hand bend. On the left-hand side you will already see a signposted path to Arguamul. A small trail leads steeply uphill. Although this is a steep ascent, it quickly brings you up to the small road leading to Arguamul.
From here, turn left and follow the quiet road towards Arguamul for quite some time. The route is mostly downhill and offers wonderful views of the rocky coastal landscape and the Atlantic below. You pass the Mirador del Barranco de La Higuera, from where you can admire the isolated and impressive surroundings. After a while, Arguamul comes into view, with its houses rising picturesquely up the slope. Shortly afterwards, a road branches off to the left in wide hairpins towards Guillama and down to the beaches.
Route section: Guillama junction to Santa Clara
If you would like to add a little extra distance, you can walk down the road here and then tackle a major ascent from the coast up to Santa Clara. Otherwise, continue following the road, which gradually approaches Arguamul in a wide arc. You walk briefly through the very tranquil village. At the Mirador de Arguamul, the hiking path to the Ermita of Santa Clara (PR LG10) branches off to the right. And at first, the path is paved and climbs gently through the village. At the last houses, it turns into a narrower hiking trail.
Starting from an elevation of 300 metres, the path climbs steeply up the left-hand hillside, gaining height quickly. Initially, it ascends more or less straight up the slope before a series of hairpins begins. After passing a water tank on the right-hand side, the path turns slightly left towards the north. In January 2026 the trail was very wet and had subsided slightly in places. You walk briefly through wooded terrain before reaching rocky ground. Arguamul now lies far below you and the views are magnificent.
Crossing the rocky section, you pass through a small barranco gully. After that, the path climbs steeply once more in tight hairpins. Finally, you reach the end of the ascent at Santa Clara at around 730 metres above sea level. Here you will likely be greeted not only by other walkers, but also by numerous cats and chickens, who are always particularly pleased to receive any food you may have brought with you.
Route section: Santa Clara to the Santa Clara/Tazo junction
Several hiking routes converge at the Ermita of Santa Clara, including the long-distance GR-132. Alongside the small chapel, there is a large rest and picnic area – the perfect place to take a break and enjoy the spectacular views. Arguamul lies far below like a tiny toy village. Once you have rested sufficiently, turn right and continue along the GR-132. This wide track descends gently, offering panoramic views.
If you prefer a shorter option, you can follow the track downhill until it meets the road coming from Tazo. Alternatively, you can add a small extension, marked in yellow under “Variants”. After some time, the Camino de Epina a Santa Clara branches off to the left from the GR-132. This path runs for a long distance along the hillside with beautiful views. Eventually, a small path leads down to the right, bringing you once again to the road to Tazo. Turn right and descend until you reach the junction to Santa Clara, where the shorter access track joins the road.
Route section: Santa Clara/Tazo junction to Tazo
At this junction, you again have two options. You can simply follow the winding road back to Tazo. This significantly lengthens the walk, as the road makes several long bends (see the yellow marking under “Variants”), but it also offers wonderful views of the valley around Tazo along this panoramic route.
The shorter option follows the GR-132, which branches off to the left from the road just beyond the Santa Clara junction. This trail leads gently downhill and soon reaches the signposted path to Tazo. Turn right here, leaving the GR-132. This path quickly takes you back down to Tazo along a ridge, with lovely views, returning you to the starting point of the walk.
And finally
I hope you enjoyed this circular walk to Arguamul and Santa Clara. Perhaps you even brought a little food for the cats and chickens. Whether you are walking alone or with family and friends, I wish you much enjoyment on all your hikes.
Dagmar from SiebenInseln