West Canaries Tourism Guide - La Gomera Excursions

La Gomera Excursions from Valle Gran Rey

Take an Island tour of La Gomera from Valle Gran Rey. Ascend into the interior via Arure, stopping at the Mirador de Alajero which affords views across to the island of La Palma, weather permitting. The La Gomera Island Tour then moves through Laguna Grande, Apartacamino and Pajarito. A stop is then made at the lookout point of Tajaque from where you can see the spectacular ravine of Benchijigua. The tour then moves down the Rejo road towards to the valley of Hermigua and Vallehermoso (an optional lunch can be taken here). After lunch the tour travels towards Los Chorros de Epina for a short walk, before returning to Valle Gran Rey.

The Garajonay National Park Touru departs from Valle Gran Rey to Arure, with a visit to the Mirador de El Santo for views of the picturesque town of Tagaluche and the island of La Palma, weather permitting. Then the tour moves on to Laguna Grande and the superb visitors centre Juego de Bolas. Then the tour moves to Contadero where the walk commences taking in the highest point within Garajonay (1487m high) from where you can see the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro. The walk then descends to Las Paredes where the bus is waiting. The walk is relatively easy lasting 1 1/2 hours. The Tour then moves towards Igualero (the highest village on the island), Chipude (ceramics) and El Cercado (lunch optional here). The Tour then returns to Valle Gran Rey.

The Cedro Excursion from Valle Gran Rey departs from the resort through Arure to El Contadera where a walk commences which lasts approximately 2 1/2 hours and heads towards Caserio del Cedro. This walk crosses the spectacular La Gomera National Park of Garajonay, taking in the laurisilva laurel forests. A visit to a typical bar (optional lunch here) is included, then the walk continues for another hour until we reach the Rejo road where the bus is waiting for us. The Tour then returns to Valle Gran Rey.

La Gomera Excursions from San Sebastian and Playa Santiago

Island Tours of La Gomera are available from both San Sebastian and Playa Santiago, but without the walk as per La Gomera Island tour departing from Valle Gran Rey.

The Excursion to Valle Gran Rey leaves from the south east part of La Gomera, heading towards Playa Santiago (Hotel Tecina). The tour then passes through the small villages of Alajero, Chipude and Cereado, where the 2 hour walk will commence, and which descents through the picturesque ravine of Valle Gran Rey and finishes in the higher part of Guada (those clients who wish to go by coach may do so, and therefore wait for walkers). We then continue on to Playa de la Calera where we have one hour free in order to enjoy one of the best beaches on the island. The route continues on up to Arure (optional lunch) and returns via the National Park, Laguna Grande, Pajarito, Playa de Santiago and San Sebastian.

Other walking excursions on La Gomera include the Monte Del Cedro Walking Excursion which departs from the island's capital San Sebastian towards the southern part of the island, passing through Alajero and Pajarito until reaching the heights of Contadero, where we begin the 2 1/2 hour walk to the hamlet of Caserio del Cedro, crossing through the National Park, which has one of the most important laurel forests on the Canary Islands (typical lunch optional here). We continue walking for another hour until we reach the Rejo Road, where the bus is waiting. We then return to Playa Santiago and San Sebastian.

The Garajonay National Park tour departs from San Sebastian in the direction of Playa de Santiago (Hotel Tecina), passing through the hamlets of Antoneojo, Targa and Alajero. On arrival at Las Paredes we start to climb to the highest part of La Gomera - Alto de Garajonay for excellent views across to Teide and Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro (weather permitting). We then descend to Contadero where the bus is waiting for us. The walk lasts around 1 1/2 hours and is relatively easy. A visit is then made to the Juego de Bolas visitor Centre with informative video, exhibitions and optional lunch at Bar Maria - El Cercado. We then return to Puerto Santiago and San Sebastian.

More La Gomera Tours from Puerto Santiago and San Sebastian

The Northern route La Gomera Island Tour also departs from San Sebastian on to Playa de Santiago, passing through Alajero, Apartacamino and Pajarito. A stop is made at the Mirador de Tajaque where we can see the stunning Barranco de Benchijigua. The tour then proceeds along the Rejo road to the valley of Heermigua, continuing on to the village of Agulo, 'the jewel of La Gomera'. (optional lunch here at the restaurant La Zula with a demonstration of Gomeran whistling). Then we carry on along the northern road, past Las Rosas, Tamargada and Vallehermoso to the edges of the National Park, where we take a short walk to Los Chorros de Epina, then return to Playa Santiago and San Sebastian.

Also departing from San Sebastian to Playa de Santiago is the Benchijigua Ravine Tour. This tour ascends via Alajero and Pajarito to the Roques de Agando. The walk starts at approximately 10am and takes approximately 4 hours. Halfway through the walk we will stop at the Caserio de Benchijigua (St Johns hermitage). Along the way we will go past other hamlets such as Pastrana and Lo del Gato (client should take his own picnic). The walk ends at Playa de Santiago, and return time to the Hotel Tecina is approximately 16.00hours, and to San Sebastian at 17.30 hours. Maximum group numbers per guide is 30 max.