The Island of La Gomera is a small and peaceful little piece of paradise. Between the land and the sea you will find mystical cloud forests, miles of rugged coastline, black sand beaches and quaint cobble stone streets lined with bakeries, cafes and traditional historic Spanish homes. The winding two lane road that crosses the island offers views at every turn to die for (which I thought I would as we made hair pin turns along cliffs and alongside mountains). As far as legends go, La Gomera has it’s share. A colorful history that includes pirates, conquistadores and even a visit from Columbus. It is said that La Gomera was a stopover for Christopher Columbus and his ships before heading east to the Americas.

Getting There

The two main ferry companies that service the Canary Islands are Fred Olsen Express and Naviera Armas. We booked the Fred Olsen ferry on Ferryhopper R/T to La Gomera from Tenerife. Tickets for passengers only were about $150. pp …but you can also bring a car on for an additional fee. I backed a car onto a ferry once and there may be a law stating that I am not allowed to do so again. The ferry ride from Tenerife to La Gomera took about 45 minutes. 45 minutes of me trying not to puke on my travel companion. There is also a small airport on La Gomera as well as the other islands if you prefer to fly.

Things To Do

Explore Garajonay National Park– The park has an amazing variety of hiking trails to explore. The Las Creces circular trail goes through a laurel forest that was covered in a blanket of mist when we visited. The fog created a mystical atmosphere and the humidity magically turned me into a troll. We hiked another trail called Alto which felt like a never ending uphill climb. I guess the name should have given it away…Alto = tall! I’d like to say it was all worth it once we got to the top. If you enjoy a stunning view of thick fog, then it was. On a clear day they say the views are incredible.

Helpful Tip; The park is free to enter and there’s a small visitor center where you can grab a map and park information. There are also public bathrooms. You can download the Alltrails app for details about all of the hikes, but phone service was hit or miss in the park.

Make sure you have gas before you head to the park….there’s no gas stations in the park, or anywhere nearby. You would not want to run out of gas there.

Rent a Boat and Get Out on the Water– There are several boats that can be rented in La Gomera depending on your price range and license. We rented a Zodiac boat from Gomera Rent a Boat for 3 hours. Some might say, “a three hour tour”…..A three hour tour. It cost about 150.00 USD and came with a full tank of gas, a laminated map of the coastline, 2 lifejackets and one paddle. Why only one paddle? Seemed a little ominous to me. This was actually a really fun day out with a true sense of adventure. You can stop and visit coves and private little beaches along the way, but you are not permitted to pull the boat onto land, so would have to anchor off shore and swim to shore. If you ever saw a cute little film from the 70’s called Jaws.…you might decide to stay on the boat.

Hike up to the Parador from Town– We actually hiked down, then back up one evening to enjoy all of the sights along the way. It’s a good workout and the views of the harbor are fantastic! There are even little plaques along the way. The ice cream shop in town is a good incentive …

Spend Some Time Exploring the Town of San Sebastian-The town of San Sebastian is the capital of La Gomera and the main town on the island. Ferries from Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro stop right at the port of San Sebastian. Along with the port, there is a bustling town with shopping, restaurants, the ornate and inviting Church of the Assumption and even a tower which is all that remains of a 15th century fortress. I can’t forget to mention the dramatic black sand beach right next to the marina! The beach is public and free to use.

Where To Stay

Parador de la Gomera– In my opinion, this would be the only place to stay in La Gomera! I don’t even know where to begin…The historical architecture? The views? The pool? This hotel made me love the island even more… When we stayed it was appx. 200. USD per night.

Where To Eat

Coffee Wings– This was an amazing place to have breakfast down by the harbor. 10. euros got us eggs, bacon, potatoes (papas fritas) fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee….the best coffee I had on the island.

Junonia– A really cool courtyard cafe serving basic Spanish food. If you don’t speak Spanish, take a picture of the menu at the entrance and translate on your phone. The empanadas were great! Super simple and low key. A glass of wine was a few euros.

El Asador de Lara– Another fantastic place for dinner. A small and cozy restaurant right in town with traditional food.

Restaurante el Pejin– Had one of our best dinners here. The chef was so enthusiastic and the food was incredible.

La Salamandra-A good place to stop for some ice cream down by the harbor. Cash only.

Travel Tips

Money– The Canary Islands are on the Euro…Have some handy for small places that only accept cash .

Tipping– It is not a requirement to tip like we do in the U.S. 10% for really good service is your choice and is appreciated.

Parking in La Gomera– I had heard what a nightmare parking could be in the town of San Sebastian. The main street, a few blocks from the center of town seemed to always have a few spots though. The street is called Avenue Del y Centenario.

Transportation-A rental car is the best way to get around the island. We rented from Cicar Car Rental right at the ferry terminal. This was entirely too easy! Insurance was built into the rental price and the man at the rental counter actually told us not to worry about what we did to the car, it was totally covered…. Clearly he never saw me back a car onto a ferry before. Challenge accepted….

A small and peaceful piece of paradise? Most certainly. La Gomera may only be a speck in the Atlantic Ocean, but it has a tremendous amount of natural beauty, a fantastic history, lovely weather and great restaurants. It has a much more laid back and relaxed feel than Tenerife with old school charm and friendly locals. If you make the journey, be sure to pack hiking boots, a light sweater or jacket, a bathing suit and your sense of adventure! Adios for now and viajes seguros!!!