La Gomera – what to see

La Gomera Island is part of the Canary Archipelago and is bathed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Being quite small in area (369.76 km²), La Gomera is regularly visited by many nature lovers from all over the world. The island has a volcanic origin; however, no geological activity is currently observed in this region.

The highest point on the island is 1,488 meters above sea level. Despite the abundance of mountain peaks on La Gomera, they are not very high. However, there is an abundance of dense laurel forests that cover the steep mountain slopes.

Check out my other guides on the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote.

The main part of the audience visiting La Gomera consists of tourists who have decided to escape for a day from bustling Tenerife. By ferry, the journey from island to island takes less than an hour. But to truly appreciate this island, it is worth staying for at least a week.

La Gomera Attractions Map

Climate Features

There are no significant climatic differences compared to other islands of the Canary archipelago located in the western part. There is more precipitation in the highlands than in the lower parts of the island. It should be noted that the temperature fluctuations throughout the year are minimal, which is why the flow of tourists practically never stops. The average temperature remains at 23-25 °C, with maximum readings of 28-29 °C.

The northern part of the island is constantly subjected to trade winds, which often results in overcast skies and slightly higher humidity. In addition, lower temperatures are recorded here compared to the southern part of La Gomera.

The opposite side of the island is exposed to warm southern winds, resulting in more sunny days throughout the year. The amount of atmospheric precipitation is minimized.

Beaches of La Gomera

Due to the dominance of mountainous terrain on the island, the number of beaches is extremely limited. These are mostly small coves. The total length of beaches on the island is only 600 meters. The sand on them is characterized by a distinctive black color, due to its volcanic origin.

Playa de Santiago

Playa de Santiago is one of the largest beaches on the island, with a length of 1.5 km. The beach has pebbles, moderate waves, and there are many restaurants and shops in the area. It is located on the southern coast of La Gomera.

San Sebastián

In the capital of the island, which is on the eastern coast, there are two beaches: San Sebastián (Playa de San Sebastián) – a 600-meter city beach protected by a breakwater, and Playa de la Cueva, located beyond a rocky outcrop to the north of the port.

 Playa de Vallehermoso

In the north of the island, there are very few swimming spots. Perhaps the most comfortable is Playa de Vallehermoso, with pools on the shore that can be used if the ocean is rough. Playa San Marcos, with strong waves, is more suitable for those who enjoy active recreation.

La Calera

On the western coast of La Gomera, in the popular tourist region of Valle Gran Rey, is the longest beach – La Calera (Playa de La Calera). Its closest neighbor is Vueltas (Playa de Vueltas), where you can rent a boat or catamaran.

Beaches of La Gomera Island

Small beaches for naturism enthusiasts: Playa del Inglés, Argaga, El Medio.
Beaches that can only be reached on foot or by boat: Cabrito, Playa de La, Guancha, Arguamul, Argaga, La Cantera.

Considering that staying on the beaches is not a priority type of recreation here, the number of sunbathing tourists is minimal. This allows any of them to be used for romantic, secluded, or family vacations.

Towns and Resorts of the Island

La Gomera has quite a large number of populated areas. Some of them are fully-fledged towns with developed infrastructure, while others can only be positioned as small fishing villages, where fishing remains the main craft for several centuries. What unites these towns and villages is that they all adapt to the needs of tourists visiting the island, as tourism is a priority here.

San Sebastián de la Gomera

San Sebastián de la Gomera is the capital of the island. All the attractions of this settlement are somehow connected with the name of the great traveler – Christopher Columbus.For instance, in the main church of the city (Iglesia Matriz de la Asunción), the explorer prayed before setting out on his journey. The city is also home to a house (Casa de la Aduana) where he stayed during his time on the island. Today, visitors can explore an exhibition dedicated to Christopher Columbus’s voyages to America. In the courtyard, there is a well preserved from which water was taken to bless the new continent.

As for other attractions, it is essential to visit the Count’s Tower (Torre del Conde), built in 1447. It was erected by order of the first Spanish ruler. The tower is located a little west of the main city square.

Valle Gran Rey

The resort Valle Gran Rey is located in the southwest part of the island. The road to it passes through a picturesque gorge. The area has well-developed tourist infrastructure and boasts a large number of wonderful beaches for both sports and family vacations.

In the city’s surroundings, tourists are awaited by beautiful viewpoints («El Santo,» «Curva del Queso,» «Del Palmarejo»), architectural landmarks (the Church of the Holy Kings), and natural parks (Valle Gran Rey).

Agulo

The village of Agulo is situated 200 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by steep cliffs covered with lush vegetation. Tourists are drawn by the colonial architecture and the large number of artisan workshops, where one can take a master class from local professionals. One of the most famous attractions in Agulo is the Red Wall rock, offering a superb view of the village, and in good weather, a glimpse of the giant volcano on the island Tenerife.

Vallehermoso

The town of Vallehermoso is nestled among mountain peaks and surrounded by banana plantations. In the town center, examples of traditional architecture are preserved, among which the Church of San Juan Bautista stands out.

Vallehermoso is the capital of the largest municipality on the island. This region stretches from north to south, and its vast territory can delight travelers with diverse landscapes, untouched beaches, and numerous villages. Some settlements are so remote that it may seem as if time there stopped several hundred years ago.

Playa de Santiago

Playa de Santiago is a rather comfortable tourist zone located near the island’s airport (Aeropuerto de La Gomera). This fishing village, due to its southern location, is the sunniest place on the island. Restaurants prepare various dishes from the fish caught by local fishermen. The number of restaurants in Playa de Santiago is tremendous.

The town is part of the Alajeró region, also called «the land of bread,» because cereal crops have been grown on its land since ancient times. Besides natural activities, the region is suitable for educational tourism. Ancient architectural monuments preserve the rich history of these lands.

Hermigua

Hermigua is rightfully considered the banana capital of the island. The abundance of banana plantations in this region is due to the favorable climate for a rich harvest.

The list of local attractions includes the twin mountains of Roques de San Pedro. It also includes the Dominican monastery El Convento, built in the 16th century, as well as the local craft museum (Casa Museo Los Telares) and Playa de la Caleta beach.

Attractions of La Gomera

There is a large number of unique places on the island of La Gomera, which should definitely be on the agenda when visiting. Attractions are presented in the form of ancient structures, unique creations of nature, and beaches. In any case, their visit will not leave anyone indifferent.

Garajonay National Park

Numerous trails in Garajonay Park pass through many small mountain villages. Chipude Village (Chipude) is the oldest settlement on the island, located at the foot of the sacred mountain La Fortaleza, which reaches a height of 1,241 m. El Cedro Village, located in the northeastern part of the National Park, is notable for a cave in the mountain La Montananeta. Its formation is the result of the action of an underground river. The cave is 550 m long.

More detailed information about the park can be found on the official website parquesnacionalesdecanarias.com.

Gran Rey Valley

The picturesque Gran Rey Valley (Valle Gran Rey) is also referred to as the “Valley of the Great Kings” because in the 15th century, King Upalupa of the Canary Archipelago, who actively fought against colonizers, lived here.

The lands in the valley are very fertile and attract tourists with their palm groves and handmade terraces, where locals grow dates, bananas, avocados, and tomatoes. As a result of such agricultural activities, Gran Rey Valley has become one of the most beautiful cultural landscapes in the Canary Islands.

Basalt Cliffs of Los Organos

In the northern part of La Gomera island lies the natural monument of Los Organos (Monumento Natural de Los Órganos). Solidified lava, under the influence of water over many years, has taken on unusual shapes, resembling giant organ pipes that rise from the ocean to a height of 80 m. This natural creation can only be seen from the ocean, with special sea excursions organized from various ports on La Gomera.

Transportation on the Island

Considering the small area of La Gomera, transportation on the island poses no major problems. The main means of transportation are buses or taxis. In the case of taxis, a fixed tariff is offered, thus excluding driver fraud in this regard.

The daytime tariff (from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM) is €0.53 per kilometer. The minimum fare for a trip remains at €3.05. On weekends and holidays, these figures increase to €0.6 per kilometer and a minimum fare of €3.35, respectively. If traveling from the local airport, €1.65 should automatically be added to the total sum. The bus fare from the airport is €4.

Map of La Gomera

How to Get to La Gomera?

There are no direct flights from Russia to the island of La Gomera. To get here, it is necessary to reach other islands in the archipelago – Tenerife or Gran Canaria. From the island of Tenerife to the island of La Gomera, you can take the Fredolsen ferry, which operates several times a day. The ticket cost is €34 one way. The journey takes 50 minutes.

Tickets for the ferry can be purchased on the website fredolsen.es/en.

Tour is Cheaper than the Ferry

Why is the tour more beneficial than just going on your own? Let’s compare. The price for the ferry both ways is €72!

And here the whole excursion is cheaper than the ferry. For €67 you will be picked up from the hotel, taken by bus, on the ferry, shown the island, and even fed lunch. I think it’s a great deal. How to book a tour in Russian, I wrote here.

So that’s it, happy travels!

Check out my other guides on the Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote.