La Gomera is known as the quiet and more secretive of the Canary Islands, attracting nature lovers due to its huge forested park and varied geography which hosts a wide variety of animal life. It is the second smallest of the Canary Islands, being only 25km wide.
This is a place to head for endless beaches and blue skies, where you can enjoy quiet restaurants proud of their excellent local Canarian cuisine. La Gomera is a short boat trip from Tenerife or Costa Adeje and though small, provides plenty of adventurous exploration for an excellent holiday.
La Gomera has everything you dream of in a romantic, beautiful, island holiday. The food is excellent and the beaches are secluded, the weather is sunny and hot but with the foggy atmospheric mountains and shaded forests providing shade and cooler areas. Spend the day swimming or lying on the beach or hike in spectacular surroundings before sipping cocktails at a beach side bar in the evening, La Gomera will offer it all.
Whether on a romantic retreat or family getaway, La Gomera offer plenty of choice, with quiet villages as well as the busier Los Cristianos a stone’s throw away.
The bustling capital San Sebastian is ideal for shopping and is home to the port that Columbus set sail from before heading to America. It is from this port that you can explore the seas between La Gomera and Los Cristianos Harbour in Tenerife. You can always stop off at Playa Santiago where you can improve your skills on the golf course, while a visit to Hermigua, the centre of the island's banana industry, is an absolute must if you’re in search of things to do. However, the highlight of holidays in La Gomera is the world heritage site La Garajonay National Park, with stunning forest scenery, mountain peaks, mists and waterfalls that make for truly spectacular walks.
Although La Gomera is small, you will find a variety of food across the island. Eating will be a big part of your holiday in the Canaries as the food will be local and excellent. The specialities will always be the fresh seafood found along the bars and restaurants along the coast. Try the local speciality, cazuela, a delicious fish stew that is eaten with gofio, a kind of flour that is sprinkled onto the stew. Stews made with all kinds of meat are a staple in La Gomera, if you are looking for vegetarian cuisine then Las Hayas in La Montana is a good place to head where you can also taste local cheese and wine. Casa del Mar on the marina in San Sebastian serves an excellent cazuela. El Puerto is another excellent fish restaurant with grilled fish platters to sample a variety of local specialities. For a spectacular dining experience seek out the Mirador de Abrante restaurant which has a glass walkway overlooking the coast, an absolutely breathtaking place to eat.
Cress soup is another delicacy that is worth seeking out as well as papas arrugadas, new potatoes boiled in salted water and eaten with mojo, a peppery dip. The recipes for these dips are closely guarded.
The best way to sample the many fine foods of the Canaries is to eat tapas, so that you can try little tastes of local foods and sauces washed down with delicious local wine and for treat, an after dinner carajillo (espresso laced with a shot of brandy).
As La Gomera is quiet and fairly small it is a safe and friendly place to travel with a family. Nature and animal lovers will find plenty to do. Head to the Garajonay National Park for a day out in nature, the park is made up of forest and mountains that are shrouded with fog. The forests make for magical exploration and are home to a diverse range of vegetation and animal life. Guided tours are available or you can walk one of the many wooded walks with a picnic. The Laguna Grande in the park is set out for children with a play park and picnic areas.
Whale-watching boat trips will be popular with all the family and there are plenty of family-friendly beaches.
Get your walking legs on for a visit to La Gomera as this is a hotspot for hikers. The National Park has many walks of different lengths over spectacular terrain. You can choose whether you want to stroll through the forest and stop for a picnic or if you are feeling more adventurous take the longer hikes over the fog covered mountains and really stretch your legs. La Gomera has a very rugged and adventurous terrain with canyons, mountains, dense forest and beach so there are plenty of amazing walking areas.
If you want to take to the water, then this is the place to try a sailing excursion or whale watching. Or try your hand at diving or snorkelling in the sparkling blue sea. Or for golfers, head to Tecina Golf course for golf in a beautiful setting.
Though not as large as neighbouring Tenerife, you can still find luxury resorts and hotels just moments away from the captivating coastline. Stay just 50 metres away from the calming waves and pebble beaches; close enough to be lulled to sleep by the ocean and far enough to enjoy a beautiful view. The unspoilt and mesmerising dark volcanic sands are positioned alongside traditional beaches with golden sand and blue seas. The stunning Valle Gran Rey area sits around a large ravine running down to the ocean, with family-friendly beaches nearby at El Charco and Vueltas.
Whether you're looking to sunbathe, swim, snorkel or indulge in water sports, you'll really be spoilt for choice on your La Gomera holidays. The weather in Tenerife is warm year-round, reaching its hottest points between June and September, making the island popular for those in search of a quieter environment across the course of the year. After a long day in the sunshine, the La Gomera nightlife offers a tranquil end to your day. Explore the quaint streets of old towns such as Agulo and sit back to watch the sunset from a bar while enjoying the local wines. The food is varied and well-priced with many traditional seafood dishes from the Canary Islands to try, as well as international cuisine in San Sebastian and larger resorts.
La Gomera is a quiet cousin of some of the more party-centred Canary Islands so for clubbing it's best to head to nearby Costa Adeje for a wild night out. La Gomera is perfect for a romantic, quiet evening enjoying the beautiful location and sitting outside sipping wine. However, bars and restaurants along the beaches open late and lots play music into the night. San Sebastian or Valle Gran Rey are the places to head after dark and are where most of the livelier bars are located. The Cacatua Bar in Valle Gran Rey is a great place to get a cocktail and watch the sun go down. Bataplan is a terraced bar with a club attached to it so you can choose to take the night onto the dance floor if you're feeling it. The best way of spending the evening in La Gomera is a quiet beach-side drink of local wine nibbling on tapas but in San Sebastian there are bars that play Latin based music with live flamenco dancing or beach bars with cocktails.
La Gomera is THE place to head in the Canaries for a romantic holiday. The quiet, secret places of the island make for a private and special stay surrounded by the lushest nature. Spend a day relaxing on one of the quieter beaches then take a romantic boat ride before heading back to a beach side restaurant eating fresh fish and local wine while watching the sun set over the sea. There are so many romantic spots on the island or places to take an evening stroll. Or, for a day out you can rest a private boat and head out into the blue to find a quiet beach or just lounge in the sun and explore the island.
La Gomera has a strong South American and Latin influence and fiestas are held throughout the year. The summer solstice is celebrated in La Gomera with processions and music and dancing. Saint days all year long are celebrated mixed with pagan traditions. In July, the Fiesta del Carmen, the patron saint of fishermen is held with processions through the towns with a statue of the virgin Mary ending with festivities and feasts. The Fiesta de la Candelaria or festival of the Assumption takes place in August and is a huge festival all over the island with local music and dancing.