La Gomera

A Haven for Natural Splender

The Island of La Gomera is located west of Tenerife, around 28km from its closest point and is of volcanic origin.  Although it is only a little Island, it has a large diversity of natural and man-made landscapes, comprising of precipitous rocky slopes that lead up to a verdant central peak swathed in ancient, sub-tropical rainforest. Comparatively unaffected by tourism, the pungent perfume of bougainvillea and hibiscus permeates the air and life on La Gomera is undisturbed, tranquil and typically Canarian.

The Island is a haven of natural splendour - perfect to discover on foot to benefit from the constant changes in the landscape of steep cliffs, beaches, natural swimming pools and so on.

The Island of La Gomera was the last known stop for Christopher Columbus, where he collected provisions and supplies at San Sebastián on his epic journey to discover America in 1492. Ever since then, the Island has been known as Columbus Island (Isla Colombina).

Whistling-known as “el silbo” was a common way of communication across the peaks and valleys of La Gomera before telephony arrived, with regions having different dialects. Now practically dead, the art is revived for festival days and tourist events.

The "Alto de Garajonay" at an elevation of 1,487m is the highest peak on the Island. The region of Alto de Garajonay was declared a National Park.

It enjoys the constant, comfortable climate of the Canary Islands and is delightfully warm all through the year (an average temperature of 22˚ C) with little seasonal variation; however, the temperature can rise above 30˚ C during the summer. There are considerable weather variations between the higher and northern areas (due to the elevation of the Garajonay peak) and the southern coastline. The weather can be extreme (colder and wetter) in the north, in contrast to the warm and sunny southern coastal areas.

Diving opportunities for beginners and experienced are offered mainly in the south and east of the Island. The captivating scenery offered to divers includes peculiar rock formations, cliffs and sandy planes and various fauna. Just off La Gomera, there are numerous small caves and grottos. The character of underwater landscape is a wild mass of rocks where morays that are often seen search for shelter. Occasionally small shoals of barracuda move through the open water in search of young fish or a group of rays glide over the sand.

La Gomera offers the chance of various boat trips to provide the chance to see the most spectacular scenery of the Island, dolphin watching tours. You could take a boat trip to see the imposing Los Órganos cliffs which have been declared a Natural Monument. Fishing excursions can be arranged and boats are available to hire out for your own fishing trips.

Keen Surfers find the setting perfect at Santa Catalina during the winter months, when there are top class wind and wave conditions. Other good areas for surfing include Hermigua or Valle Gran Rey.

The Island offers some incredible walking routes for keen walkers that are appropriate for all levels of ability. There are many paths all over the Island, from gentle strolls through the rainforest to all day treks.  Various routes on this unique landscape include verdant forests, remarkable ravines and green valleys to explore and drink in the ambience of this beautiful Island. There are many Tour operators that offer guided walks, which can be useful if you want to do a point to point walk.

Eager cyclists will find La Gomera the ideal location for mountain biking, due to its rugged and steep terrain. Demanding climbs to the higher elevations will leave you exhilarated and offer you absolutely fantastic panoramic views of the Island. There is guided mountain biking tours of varied difficulty levels available. You can rent bikes and use a tour shuttle service up to Laguna Grande in Garajonay National Park and from here you can ride down on your own.

There is currently only one golf course on the Island, the Tecina Golf Course and is located in the Tecina Valley at Playa de Santiago. It is an 18-hole par 71 course that stretches over an area of 54 hectares. It offers beautiful views over the Atlantic and Mount Teide on Tenerife.