Best Things To Do in La Gomera

Thanks to its mild and temperate climate all year round, any time is a good time to escape to La Gomera and discover the treasures of this charming island close to Tenerife: wild nature, dream beaches, picturesque villages, delicious gastronomy... Take note of everything you can do on La Gomera!

Many travellers visit La Gomera attracted by the island's spectacular landscapes, and the Garajonay National Park stands out in particular for the beauty of its ancient Canary laurel forests, which date back to the Tertiary era, after the extinction of the dinosaurs millions of years ago.

It is one of the must-see sites on La Gomera and the most impressive jungle to visit on the European continent. With its misty and mysterious appearance, full of large trees covered with vines, ferns and mosses, this place doesn't look real but like something out of a fairy tale. It leaves no one indifferent!

To discover the Garajonay National Park you can go on your own by car or join one of the organised excursions that take you there as part of a tour of La Gomera.

A fun and interesting way to explore La Gomera is to go hiking along the more than 600 kilometres of trails that cross the island.

This way you can get to know its rich landscape and incredible biodiversity step by step while you enjoy a day outdoors breathing fresh air.

Advantages of hiking in La Gomera

One of the advantages of hiking in La Gomera is that in its extensive network of trails you will find routes of different lengths and intensities adapted to all ages, both for the most experienced hikers and for beginners or families with children.

Another advantage for hiking on this island, compared to other provinces in Spain where this sport is usually practised, is that La Gomera is not yet dotted with mass tourism, so when it comes to doing sport or going on an excursion you won't feel that everything is overcrowded. On the contrary, travellers choose La Gomera to enjoy a few days of relaxation in nature because it is a very peaceful place where time seems to stand still and you can disconnect from your routine.

For hiking in La Gomera you can choose to go on your own or join an organised excursion along the island's most beautiful trails where you can take fantastic photographs as souvenirs.

There is no doubt that the interior of the island is home to spectacular scenery that is a tourist attraction in itself, but if you head a little further inland you'll find that the seascapes are second to none.

Nature has blessed La Gomera with black sandy beaches, turquoise waters and green palm groves that look like something out of a dream. In the clean waters of the Atlantic you can snorkel and swim among colourful little fish or take a stroll along the ocean shore while you sunbathe and relax with the views.

In La Gomera you will find beaches of all kinds (virgin, quiet, family, lively, naturist...) and for all tastes. In the post The best beaches in La Gomera you'll find some examples where you can take a dip and watch the beautiful sunset over the sea, so grab your hat and swimming costume because the island's beaches are waiting for you!

Another of the coolest activities I recommend you to experience during a trip to La Gomera from Tenerife is a jeep safari around the island where you will visit places that are otherwise inaccessible.

You will take the vehicle in San Sebastián de la Gomera once you disembark from the ferry that will take you from Tenerife and, together with a guide, in just one day you will travel through some of the most impressive landscapes of La Gomera that are inaccessible on foot or with a normal car. For example, some corners of the Garajonay National Park with its famous laurel forest or the spectacular Hermigua Valley.

Before returning to Tenerife you will have the opportunity to recharge your batteries with a delicious lunch and to attend a silbo gomero exhibition.

Isabel's Traveler Tip

Doing a jeep safari is exciting and fun but also exhausting. The next day I recommend you to do a quiet plan to recharge your batteries.

If you have taken a ferry to La Gomera from Tenerife, it will drop you off at the port of San Sebastián de la Gomera, the island's capital.

What is the town like?

It is a small village of no more than 9,000 inhabitants, charming, peaceful and welcoming, and I recommend you take a stroll around it to discover the old town and take the pulse of the island.

What will you see?

It's not a place with too many tourist attractions, so you can easily walk from one place to another, as the distances are not great. The main sights are located around Calle Real and there are plenty of shops and bars.

You will be particularly struck by the colourful low houses with balconies in the Canarian style and you will also be able to see some places of interest related to Christopher Columbus ' voyages to America after the discovery of the New World, such as the Casa del Pozo de la Aguada (where it is said that he took the water to bless America) or the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (where there used to be a chapel where the navigator prayed before setting sail).

San Sebastián de la Gomera is not the only village you can visit on the island during your stay - there are many more and they all have their own charm!

Which beautiful villages to visit?

For example, Vallehermoso is located in a beautiful valley full of emerald palm trees that blend into the terrain under the gaze of Roque Cano, a rock formation that reaches an altitude of 250 metres and is a symbol of La Gomera. The best way to get to know the essence of the island is to explore the streets and squares of Vallehermoso.

Another very interesting place to visit on your holidays is Valle Gran Rey. A town full of tranquillity and good vibes nestled in a narrow valley where traditional houses, Canary Island palm groves and terraces coexist in perfect harmony, resulting in a beautiful landscape. Make the most of your visit to Valle Gran Rey to go to the Palmarejo viewpoint where you will have breathtaking views.

There are many other picturesque villages on La Gomera. To get to know them I recommend a road trip in a hire car or join one of the organised excursions that take you on a short tour of the island.

Surely you have heard of gofio, papas arrugadas or almogrote, all of them Canarian dishes that perhaps you have not yet had the chance to try.

This is yours! Make the most of your trip to La Gomera to discover the island's ancient culture and popular recipes through your palate. A diverse and authentic cuisine full of character that will surprise you.

In the post Where to eat in La Gomera you will find several gastronomic proposals where you can live some of the best experiences of your trip. Don't miss it!

This is one of the most original activities you can do on the island to get in touch with popular culture: practising the Gomeran whistle. You'll be amazed!

This is an authentic language based on whistles that the ancient inhabitants of the island developed from time immemorial to communicate due to the deep ravines of the region.

It is the most vivid custom that the island still preserves from its pre-Hispanic past. Something that did not go unnoticed by UNESCO, which declared the silbo gomero an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Make the most of your getaway to La Gomera to attend a demonstration as ancestral and original as this one. You'll leave with fond memories and learn a lot about the local culture, and who knows, you might even be able to communicate by whistling yourself at the end!

During your stay on La Gomera, I recommend you visit the Los Roques viewpoint, where you'll have spectacular views of one of the island's most iconic natural monuments, Los Roques, with the Agando rock in particular standing out.

These are four large blocks of rock surrounded by the laurel forest of the peaks of La Gomera, which were once volcanic chimneys that spewed magma outwards and were shaped by erosion.

From the viewpoint you can enjoy the views and take photos from different angles of this imposing natural monument, as well as seeing the Teide peak in the distance over the Atlantic.

If you like nature, this is a must-see in La Gomera. Los Roques is located near the Garajonay National Park, next to the TF-713 road linking San Sebastián de la Gomera and Valle Gran Rey.

If you are visiting La Gomera attracted by its beautiful landscapes, you should definitely add the Los Órganos cliffs to your list. You won't get tired of taking photos here!

This is an imposing cliff of volcanic rocks located in the town of Vallehermoso (in the north of the island), whose name sounds like music and which is striking for its unique silhouette, in the shape of organ pipes, which leads vertically into the ocean.

To appreciate the beauty of this natural monument in all its splendour you'll have to join a boat trip along the coast as it is only accessible by sea. There are tours departing from popular tourist spots such as Playa de Santiago or Valle Gran Rey.