The Slow Life Connecting with Nature in the 21st Century

La Gomera connects with life through its virgin nature and the richness of its marine waters

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Living the moment in nature without haste occurs automatically in La Gomera. Unspoiled nature welcomes you and surrounds you with its 600 kilometers of trails; its impressive Garajonay National Park, declared a World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO; its paradisiacal coves with waters recognized as European Whale Heritage by the World Cetacean Alliance and a gastronomy where the quality of Km 0 products has become an indisputable sign of identity. It is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and has 17 Protected Natural Spaces. Here we propose some stops to get into the slow life in all meanings on an island that values its traditions without haste:

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San Sebastián de La Gomera, Christopher Columbus’ last port before leaving for the discovery of America for Europeans, is dotted with typical houses and monuments with history such as the Torre del Conde, the well of La Aguada, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption or the Columbus House Museum. It is also the starting point of routes possessing mystical beauty such as the one that takes us to Jerduñe. Another trail that will leave us in complete harmony begins at the lookout of La Laja, Degollada de Peraza, from where the nature trail Cumbres de La Gomera runs, 43.5 kilometers of direct contact with nature. As a reward, on our return we will be able to enjoy the delicious almogrote or watercress potage in the restaurants of La Gomera. Its flavor will awaken our senses to new sensations. The Natural Monument of Los Roques crowns a journey of singular beauty that will leave you speechless. 

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Overlooks the Atlantic from its privileged location on a hill, surrounded by the intense green of the crops. The lookout of Abrante, designed by the Canarian architect José Luis Bermejo, will support our feet on the landscape, to later approach later the urban fabric with narrow cobblestone streets by car. The church of San Marcos and the hamlet of Lepe, a place where the clocks stop wandering aimlessly while overlooking the mountain, deserve a special stop. 

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Garajonay National Park conceals the great treasure of the island: the largest redoubt of laurel forest in the world. It is a nearly extinct forest of the Tertiary Era, but with unique species that could have come out of a fairy tale. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, it is not surprising that when we enter its trails we understand why life follows a natural rhythm that has nothing to do with that imposed by the cities. With 18 signposted routes, we can start with the Meriga Arboretum Route as a first contact, to continue with the route of Las Creces or Raso de Bruma and Risquillos de Corgo. Especially magical are the routes around the El Cedro forest. 

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The upper area of this municipality is a truly authentic place for its wine with La Gomera denomination of origin, its impossible landscapes, its ancestral traditions and good food. There we will find Chipude Fortress, ceremonial center of the ancient aboriginal religion and, in the Cercado, Las Loceras Interpretation Center, a museum dedicated to the typical pottery of the island that sinks its typological roots in the times before the conquest. To discover the properties of palm sap, a treasure of La Gomera obtained from the palm tree, we will visit the Palm Honey Interpretation Center, located in Alojera. Its elaboration process and the intensity of its flavor are unforgettable. In addition, on the north coast lies the Natural Monument of Los Órganos, a cliff of basaltic columns that seems to reign over the sea, leaving us speechless. 

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Its white houses are surrounded by green ravines and enjoy privileged views of the sea, where its black sandy beaches await us, such as Santiago Beach, where the ravine of the same name flows into the sea. In addition to the Church of El Salvador and the Hermitage of San Lorenzo, of special interest are the Alajeró Cliffs, which have been declared a Site of Scientific Interest, with an incomparable wild beauty. In addition, we will be able to see the Drago de Agalán in this locality, a tree that has united the earth with the sky of La Gomera for more than 400 years. 

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We will enjoy the calmness of the sea and its serene company thanks to the good weather of La Gomera. After going deep into the mountains and through vertical paradises, we arrive at a coast full of possibilities. Then, our hunger for sun is satiated in Charco del Conde, a natural pool of La Gomera ideal for children; Playa de Las Vueltas, also for family enjoyment sheltered from the currents; La Calera, near the village, or Playa del Inglés. The latter are perfect for getting lost, always taking into account the peculiarities of the open sea.