Mirador Degollada de Peraza

Degollada de Peraza is the busiest road pass on La Gomera and appears in the island official list of viewpoints as Mirador de La Laja / Degollada de Peraza. It lies within the municipality of San Sebastián de La Gomera, at the point where the main road crosses the watershed and where the GM-2 branches off towards the Garajonay summits. That position explains its interest: on one side the Barranco de La Laja opens up, on the other the southern valleys follow one after another, and on clear days the Teide appears in the background, across the channel.

Because it sits directly on the road, it is one of the few viewpoints on La Gomera that can be enjoyed without walking, which makes it an almost obligatory stop for anyone crossing the island by car. It also matters for hikers: the first stage of the GR-131 Cumbres de La Gomera ends here, arriving from San Sebastián after 9.8 kilometres of climbing. A viewpoint restaurant serving Canarian food operates at the pass, although it has not been running continuously over the years. It is worth keeping in mind that a saddle like this channels the wind and that cloud can close in quickly, so the views depend a good deal on the day.