Visiting the lesser known Canary Islands is not yet very well known to many travelers and that is why we are going to put La Gomera in the spotlight, and just like in the previous blog about La Palma, we will do this via a virtual road trip in which we will show you all the cool places to visit in La Gomera.
This blog is written by Ella and Geert, who asked Traveltomtom to share their passion for traveling to the lesser known Canary Islands through a series of guest blog post about La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro.
- Arriving at La Gomera
- San Sebastian de La Gomera
- Garajonay National Park & Hermigua
- Vallehermoso: Tradition and Culture
- Tazo and Arguamul
- Along the West Coast: Valle Gran Rey
- To the South: The Mystical Cliffs of Los Órganos
- The Sun-Drenched South: Playa de Santiago
- The Inland: Alajeró and Imada
- Mirador de los Roques
- La Gomera, an Island for Peace and Nature Lovers
Arriving at La Gomera
Just like La Palma, La Gomera can be reached by boat and plane. If you want to go by plane, this is only possible from the other Canary Islands. Your best bid is via Tenerife. But the best and most fun way to travel to La Gomera is to take the boat from Tenerife. It takes an hour and leaves from Tenerife in Los Cristianos and arrives on La Gomera in the port of San Sebastian de la Gomera, on the east side of the island.
La Gomera is also a volcanic island, but with a special shape. If you arrive by boat, you will undoubtedly recognize the raw volcanic landscape that you can see from the sea, but you can only really see the shape of the island from above.
If you go hiking in La Gomera, you will understand what is meant. The island is actually round in shape, hence the name: La Isla Redonda. From the highest point on La Gomera, Alto de Garajonay, which is located approximately in the middle of the island, the mountain ridges and barrancos (the gorges between the mountain ridges) run almost synchronously to the coast and that makes the island look almost like a citrus press.
San Sebastian de La Gomera
When you arrive by boat the best place to start your La Gomera road trip is straight from the harbor, but don't forget to explore the small town of San Sebastian itself. About 9000 people live in San Sebastian de la Gomera.
From the harbor you can actually walk straight into the small picturesque and cozy village square, with small narrow streets around it. Here you will find a cozy terrace and all kinds of small shops. The city breathes history and tranquility, and you can find beautiful sights such as the Torre del Conde, a fortress from the 15th century, and the Iglesia de la Asunción, where Columbus is said to have prayed before his journey.
A walk through the narrow streets of San Sebastián takes you past colorful houses, cozy squares and inviting cafes. Before leaving the city, it is worth stopping at the Museo Casa de Colón tolearn more about the island's connection with the explorer.
As you can read there are many cool things to do when visiting San Sebatian, so before you start you road trip around La Gomera spend a couple hours visiting San Sebastian.
Garajonay National Park & Hermigua
We decided to do the road trip counterclockwise. There are in fact only two main roads (theGM-1 and the GM-2) and these largely determine your route.
Heading North...
We leave San Sebastián and drive northwest towards Vallehermoso via the GM-1. The road winds up and offers breathtaking views of the steep cliffs with lots of beautiful greenery and the blue Atlantic Ocean.
Eventually you pass the small village of Hermigua, surrounded by green banana plantations and fertile valleys. Hermigua is known for its peaceful atmosphere and traditional agriculture. Along the way you come across a beautiful sign of Hermigua, a very Instagrammable picture and one of the popular places to visit in La Gomera.
One of the highlights here on the route is the El Cedro waterfall, a great place to stop for a walk. This waterfall is particularly spectacular in winter and spring, when the water flows through deep ravines (barranco's). However, it is also worth a visit in drier periods.
Heading northwest, before reaching Hermigua, you will pass through the Garajonay National Park, a small turn-off from the CV-14. This park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to one of the last laurel forests in the world, a remnant of prehistoric flora.
A walk through the cloud forests feels like a journey through the rainforest, especially on rainy days. The park has numerous hiking trails, but one of the most popular hiking routes in La Gomera is the one to the top of Alto de Garajonay, the highest point on the island at 1487 metres.
From here, on clear days, you can see neighbouring islands such as Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro. The turn-off to this national park can also be taken later on the route and you should take the weather into account when deciding to visit Garajonay National Park.
Vallehermoso: Tradition and Culture
After visiting Hermigua we continues our La Gomera road trip towards Vallehermoso and the road only became more beautiful with great views over the mountains, the valleys and the ocean. Just after Hermigua you can take the turn-off to Playa de Caleta, one of the most beautiful and remote beaches of La Gomera.
The road down to Playa de la Caleta.
Along the way you will also come across a number of beautiful Miradors (viewpoints) with often great views over the mountains and landscapes of La Gomera. One of the best places to visit in La Gomera is the Mirador de Abrante. The photo below says it all.
From the glass walkway you have incredible views of the valley below and you can easily spot Tenerife and the majestic Pico del Teide volcano in the distance.
Vallehermoso, it literally means "beautiful valley", and it lives up to its name. This picturesque village is surrounded by mountains and lush vegetation. It is known for its crafts, such as pottery and basket weaving. A visit to Roque Cano, a gigantic basalt rock that watches over the village, is definitely worth it. It is an iconic symbol of Vallehermoso and a favorite spot for mountain climbers and hikers.
In Vallehermoso you can enjoy the peace and beauty of traditional life on La Gomera. There are several cozy restaurants where you can taste local dishes, such as almogrote, a spicy cheese dip made from goat cheese.
From Vallehermoso you can also make a nice trip to Playa Vallehermoso on the north coast where it is wonderful to relax or where you can take a nice walk along the coast and coastal rocks.
Tazo and Arguamul
Before you go down the west coast to the south side of the island, it is great to visit the remote northwest corner of the island. There are 2 picturesque villages named Tazo and Arguamul.
If you want to go off the beaten path on La Gomera this is our ultimate travel tip. This is a somewhat remote area and believe it or not but we once stayed in Tazo for almost 6 weeks. The picture above gives you an idea why!
The mountains, the valleys (barranco's) and the views of the sea are phenomenal here. There are countless small beaches and when you arrive in Arguamul it literally feels like the end of the world.
The drive to or the walk to the small coastal village of Alojera is also great to do. And there are some beautiful hikes as well.
Along the West Coast: Valle Gran Rey
Continue the route westwards and descend to the coast still via the GM-1, towards Valle Gran Rey. The road winds over mountain peaks and through deep valleys and offers spectacular views of the coastline. Valle Gran Rey is one of the most popular tourist destinations on La Gomera, mainly because of it's beautiful beaches and relaxed atmosphere.
Before you start the descent to Valle Gran Rey, be sure to stop at the Mirador de la Curva del Queso, in our opinion the most beautiful viewpoint on the island.
The village itself is a lively mix of locals and tourists. You will find several beaches here, such as Playa de la Calera and Playa del Inglés, where you can enjoy the sun, or go snorkelling and even scuba diving. Valle Gran Rey comes to life especially at sunset, when the sky above the ocean turns bright red and orange.
From Valle Gran Rey you can also go on dolphin and whale watching excursions. Several tour companies offer boat trips where you can admire these marine mammals in their natural environment. We keep saying it La Gomera is an amazing island to visit when traveling to the Canary Islands.
To the South: The Mystical Cliffs of Los Órganos
To continue the La Gomera road trip, you will first have to drive back a bit on the GM, but that is no punishment. For the counter-clockwise route, turn right after Arure and take the GM-2 towards the south and east. Quite soon you have the option to descend back to the south coast via the CV-17, towards La Dama. If you have the time, definitely do it, the route is beautiful and from La Dama you can take a few beautiful walks along the coast, including a visit to Playa de Iguala, a wonderful beach for some 'skinny dipping'.
On the south coast is also one of the most beautiful places to visit on La Gomera: Los Órganos. These spectacular basalt cliffs, which can only be reached by boat, look like gigantic organ pipes rising from the ocean. They were formed by centuries of volcanic activity and erosion, and form one of the most iconic images of the island.
The views here are fantastic, with the rugged coastline and the azure blue sea as a backdrop. A boat trip to Los Órganos is the only way to see these impressive cliffs up close and these boat trips leave from Valle Gran Rey or Playa de Santiago.
The Sun-Drenched South: Playa de Santiago
Back on the GM-2, the route now takes us to the sunny south of La Gomera, to Playa de Santiago, a charming fishing village known for its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful beaches. Here you can enjoy quiet coves with clear water, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. The village itself has a number of cozy restaurants and bars where you can enjoy fresh fish dishes, often caught by the local fishermen.
The Inland: Alajeró and Imada
Before we return to San Sebastián, we make a few more stops inland, in both Alajeró and the nearby village of Imada. Alajeró is a quiet village that is best known for it's spectacular walking routes. The path to La Fortaleza, an imposing table mountain, offers not only great views but also a chance to follow in the footsteps of the island's original inhabitants, the Guanches.
Imada is one of the best preserved traditional villages on La Gomera, where time seems to stand still. The surrounding mountain terraces and impressive mountains make this an ideal place for hiking enthusiasts.
Mirador de los Roques
On the way back to San Sebastián we make a final stop at the Mirador de los Roques, another spectacular viewpoint on the island. Here you have a panoramic view over the deep ravines and the green landscape of La Gomera. The rocks themselves, such as Roque de Agando, are impressive basalt formations that rise from the landscape and are an important symbol of the island.
With this last stop we conclude the road trip around La Gomera. The circle is complete, as we return to San Sebastián.
La Gomera, an Island for Peace and Nature Lovers
La Gomera is an island that you can explore very well at your own pace. You can easily do this route in a small week, but you can also, like us, just live on the island for 6 weeks and then visit all the cool places to see one by one.
The peace, the stunning nature and friendly locals make it an ideal destination for those looking for an escape from busy life. Whether you want to walk through the forests of Garajonay, relax on one of the quiet beaches of Valle Gran Rey or simply enjoy the breathtaking view from the cliffs, La Gomera has something for everyone.
It is an island that invites you to return and discover more and more of it's hidden treasures.