Are you going to visit La Gomera? We will tell you the basics to start preparing your trip
Lush, quiet and wild. These are three adjectives that best define the small island of La Gomera. But its small dimensions, barely 370 km2, do not rob it of any charm. From its highest point in the Alto de Garajonay, at 1487 metres, to its beaches and cliffs, the island offers a diversity of wonderful landscapes. If you visit La Gomera, these are the ten things you cannot miss. Take note!
Traveling through Mirador de Los Roques
The rugged terrain of La Gomera, with its steep slopes, is ideal for observing the surroundings. One of the best viewpoints to contemplate these incredible views is Los Roques. This landscape, one of the most representative of the island, consists of four enormous slabs of rock of great geological interest, vestiges of ancient volcanic chimneys through which magma flowed and which subsequent erosion has not managed to completely dismantle. There are also numerous protected endemisms integrated in Garajonay National Park, such as the beautiful blue Echium wildpretii .
Garajonay National Park
If there is one element that stands out in Garajonay National Park, it is undoubtedly the laurel forest, a unique ecosystem in the world. This is a mass of prehistoric vegetation typical of the Macaronesia region, which also covered the Mediterranean basin millions of years ago and has been preserved on the island thanks to favorable climatic conditions in terms of temperature and humidity.
Valle Gran Rey
Located in a large ravine that leads to beautiful beaches of black sand and blue waters, this site has become one of the most visited points of the island , as it boasts of one the most beautiful sunsets in Europe. The beauty of its green landscapes full of palm trees contrasts the small white houses of the municipality. To contemplate the landscape in all its fullness, do not miss the views from the Palmarejo viewpoint, designed by the artist César Manrique, which offers the best panoramic view of the area with one of the most spectacular examples of Gomeran agricultural landscape and its terraces “climbing” the slopes of the ravine.
Los Órganos
In the north of the island, on the coast of the municipality of Vallehermoso, there is a cliff where music resounds. Los Órganos is a curious natural monument formed by volcanic rocks with a silhouette in the form of organ pipes that fall into the sea. This is a point of great geological interest and great scenic beauty, which can only be appreciated on a boat trip along the coast.
San Sebastián de La Gomera
The capital of La Gomera, this small town’s colorful town centre is full of low houses in a markedly Canarian style. Quiet and welcoming, San Sebastian de La Gomera also has interesting monuments such as the Torre del Conde or the church of La Asuncion, as well as two peaceful urban beaches: La Cueva and San Sebastian.
Agulo
A little over half an hour’s drive from the capital you will find this small town which, because of its charm and beauty, has been christened “the bonbon of La Gomera”. Its historic quarter, one of the best preserved on the island, is raised on a natural platform that makes it a viewpoint with beautiful views of the ocean and Teide, on the neighboring island of Tenerife.
Sighting of cetaceans
The maritime area that separates Tenerife and La Gomera is an ideal place to observe several species of cetaceans in the wild at any time of the year in a sustainable and respectful manner. The most common are the bottlenose dolphin and the pilot whale, but in this area of the ocean you will be able to see almost a third of all the species that exist in the world due to its transparent waters, the ideal temperature and the abundance of food.
Yoga Retreats
La Gomera is a renowned destination at the European level in health and well-being tourism. If you need to disconnect and renew your strength, you will discover several specialized centers with yoga, meditation and personal growth retreats on the island, as well as activities in contact with nature and ecology.
Learn about the Silbo Gomero
Silbo is a form of communication that dates back to the time before the conquest of the island, so it was already practiced by the aboriginal population. Declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, this whistled language still survives in La Gomera and its inhabitants are making efforts to preserve it, to the point that it is included in the educational plans of all schools on the island.
