La Gomera

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La Gomera is the second smallest island of the Canary Islands.

1 Regions
2 Cities
3 Other destinations
4 Understand
5 Talk
6 Get in
7 Get around
8 See
9 Do
10 Eat
11 Drink
12 Get out

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Regions

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Cities

San Sebastian de La Gomera - main port. Some historical parts.
Valle Gran Rey - main tourist resort. Formerly a hippie hangout retaining an alternative feel. Some sandy beaches.
Playa Santiago - Small tourist resort with large hotel complex owned by Fred Olsen, the ferry company
Hermigua - Small town mainly inhabited by locals
Vallehermoso - Small town mainly inhabited by locals

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Other destinations

La Garajonay National Park - world heritage site. Includes Laurisilva forest.

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Understand

Undeveloped, unspoilt, beautiful island just 40 minutes by fast ferry from Tenerife. Ideal for walkers. Contrast between lush forests around the summit and in the National Park with dry vegetation on the flanks of the island. Of real interest to botanists for its variety of plant life and number of endemic species. Good climate all year round, especially in the south.

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Talk

Locals speak Spanish - relatively little English spoken. Most visitors are German. Famous for Silbo - whistling language which was used to communicate across the deep valleys. However now only used for tourists.

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Get in

By ferry from Los Christianos in Tenerife to San Sebastian, though there is also now a passenger ferry direct to Valle Gran Rey, the Garonjonay Express. A new ferry has just been introduced on the Fred Olsen route http://www.fredolsen.es/Lineas/english/index.htm. Other ferries are with Garajonay Express - which also serves Playa Santiago and Valle Gran Rey for foot passengters http://www.garajonayexpres.com/. Trasmediterrania also used to run ferries but I can see no timetable on their site http://www.trasmediterranea.es/horarios/calendario/trasmediterranea_horarios.html . The airport near Playa Santiago is served only by local planes from Tenerife Nord airport.

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Get around

For walking tours call Ricardo. Local walking guide. Will give you a nice private walk depending your interest for a good price. Ask for in the information points for all those things. For a day tour around the island, best to hire a car, though there are reasonably good local buses but not many.

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See

Garajonay National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - extensive forested area on the top of the island. Trees are irrigated by the mist which covers the top of the island much of the time, especially in winter. The trees are covered in mosses and lichens. The forest has an amazing atmosphere in the mist. Highlights include: The Alto de Garajonay - the summit of the island. Visit when the mist clears. Good views across to Mount Teide (Tenerife) and to El Hierro and La Palma (neighbouring islands).

El Cedro forest - despite the name, these are not cedar woods (the name refers to a long gone lone cedar tree). But the forest here is densest with tall trees and a beautiful calm. There are many walking routes around the forest here. Don't miss the water tunnel through the mountain (take a torch and mind your head! And boots as the water can be six inches deep or more).

The waterfall on the path between El Cedro and Hermigua.Laurisilva forest between Las Hayas and Les Cresces - very eerie in the mist if the trees are creaking. Beautiful carpets of pink flowers in spring.

La Fortaleza - the fort. An outcrop of rock looking like a fort, or a bit like table mountain.

El Magro (the lion) and El Sombrero - two rocks resembling a lion and a sombrero.

Los Roques - five or six volcanic plugs at the centre of the island.

Benchijgua the valley to the south of Los Roques - amazing changes of vegetation as you drop into the valley.

Valle Gran Rey - although the most touristy area of the island still has some influence left of the time when this was a hippie hangout. Has the best beaches on the island.