The Island of La Gomera: A Nature Lover’s Paradise

Have you ever heard of the island of La Gomera? It's one of the smallest of the Canary Islands, but is super underrated!

Image an island where you can have the chance to stroll through fairytale forests, lounge on a black sand beach, or eat in a cave restaurant all within minutes of each other. The small town charm and lush greenery of La Gomera made it one of our favorite islands we've been to, and we can't wait to share more.

Keep reading to learn all there is to know about visiting this tiny slice of paradise, called La Gomera.

📍 Where is the Island of La Gomera?

La Gomera is in the Western side of the Canary Islands. This island archipelago is situated belongs to Spain, but is actually west of Northern Africa. La Gomera lies to the west of Tenerife, to the south east of La Palma, and to the north east of El Hierro.

What is the Best Way to Get to La Gomera?

The island of La Gomera can be reached in a few different ways. Here is how you can get there.

✈️ Getting to the Island of La Gomera by Flight

The airport of La Gomera is located just north of Santiago, in the south of the island. There are actually only a few flights that come in each day, and they are all from Tenerife. Binter and Iberia, both Spanish airlines, are those that service this short 30 minute flight.

⛴ Getting to the Island of La Gomera by Ferry

Being that Tenerife is so close to La Gomera, we really think that it makes more sense to take the ferry. There are direct ferries from both islands of Tenerife and La Palma, with Fred Olsen and Armas Navierra.

We took the ferry from La Palma to La Gomera, and from La Gomera to Tenerife. The ride from La Palma is about 3 hours, while the route between La Gomera and Tenerife is just 45 minutes. We suggest departing from La Gomera for their later sailing so that you can catch a beautiful sunset on the way back to Tenerife.

🛳 Visiting the Island of La Gomera by Cruise

Tenerife and Gran Canaria are much more frequented when it comes to cruise ships. However, we did see a cruise ship in port when we arrived with the ferry into San Sebastian. You'll find that a few smaller or luxury lines visit La Gomera for a day trip.

Entry Requirements for the Island of La Gomera

The only way to get to the island of La Gomera is domestically, which means you won't need to worry about additional requirements when it comes to visas or Covid 19. Here is a bit of information for entering the country of Spain though: 

🛂 Visa Requirements for Spain

There are many citizenships that can enter the country of Spain visa-free. Travelers from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland can all enter with zero restrictions, while those that don't require a Schengen visa can visit for up to 90 days in a 180 day period.

The 90/180 Rule

It's important to note that those 90 days refer to all countries in the Schengen area, For example, if you spend 40 days in Italy (which is also part of the EU), you will then only be able to spend 50 days total in Spain within that 180 day period.

We use the Schengen visa calculator, which is helpful for those of you who are planning on traveling in and out of the EU for a long period of time.

Schengen Visas

For those of you that are planning on staying longer, or those who are from a country that don't get visa-free access, you will need to in fact apply for a Schengen Visa. Make sure to check the list of countries that need to get a Schengen Visa beforehand.

Local Adjustments for Visiting the Island of La Gomera

When traveling to a new place, there are always certain things you need to know- which we like to call "local adjustments". Here are a few of them for the island of La Gomera.

🗣 Language in La Gomera

The language in La Gomera is the same as the rest of the Canary Islands. They speak Spanish, but have a very different accent and vocabulary as the mainland does. In La Gomera there is also a special "whistling language", although it isn't what you will typically hear. However, you should definitely try to find someone who can speak it!

💶 Currency in La Gomera

The local currency used in La Gomera is the same as the rest of Spain, which is the euro. Currently, (as of October 2024) 1 USD is equal to 92 cents in euros.

Almost everywhere around the island of La Gomera accepts credit card, so you won't need to take out much cash, unless it is for public transportation.

🔌 Electrical Outlets on the Island of La Gomera

The outlets in La Gomera (and throughout the Canary Islands) are the same as the rest of Europe- plug types B, C, & F. The standard voltage is 230V and the frequency is 50Hz. If you are coming from the US make sure to get an energy converter.

🚰 Can You Drink the Water in La Gomera?

There are some islands throughout the Canary Islands in which you can in fact drink the tap water. However, it is not advised to do so in La Gomera due to the chlorine level.

Places to Visit on the Island of La Gomera

The island of La Gomera may be small, but there sure is a lot to see across the island, Here are some of the must see spots in La Gomera.

🏙 San Sebastian

No trip anywhere is complete without visiting the capital, and La Gomera's was one of our favorites! It's extremely small, but has some really cute photo spots, and a super local vibe to it. Our two personal favorites were Torre del Conde and Iglesia de La Asuncion, which you can see down below.

San Sebastian is also where the port is for the ferry, making it very accessible to visit for those traveling via sea from La Palma or Tenerife.

🌊 Valle Gran Rey

As far as the best area to stay for tourists, Valle Gran Rey is where it's at. There is a port area, a few different beaches, and plenty of restaurants and a few shops.

The weather is the best here, and it's a great place to enjoy the sunset each night. The area is full of Germans and hippies, giving it a very unique vibe.

🌳 Garonjay Park

The number one highlight of La Gomera is the huge national park called Garonjay. It makes up the entire center of the island, and you must drive through it in order to get pretty much anywhere on the island.

The park sits up  at the highest point of the island, and it is full of different trails and viewpoints. The area is quite peculiar because once you enter the park the weather and vibe changes completely from the other coastal areas of the island.

Definitely brace yourself from some wind, clouds, and rain, as the weather is closer to the UK than it is to the typical weather of the Canary Islands. You will however find so much beauty and greenery while exploring Garonjay, and see why it is such a unique place to visit.

🌋 Agulo

Now let's jump over to some of the smaller towns in La Gomera! Agulo is a stunning area that has the most beautiful views of El Teide Volcano on the neighboring island of Tenerife.

You can find some great local restaurants and small black sand beaches to check out. Enjoy the views of driving through Agulo as they wind all around the coast, up and down the hills.

💧 Hermigua

Hermigua is located right by Agulo, and is popular for its amazing natural pool with epic views. Unfortunately, there were some accidents of people going in when the waves were rough, so now the area is temporarily blocked off (we aren't sure until when- but it happened pretty recently).

Nevertheless, Hermigua also has some cute coves to enjoy the water where it's safer, as well as some great restaurants and local vibes.

🌈 Vallehermoso

This is one of the most colorful and green cities in La Gomera. Located in the north, you must drive through some windy roads to arrive here. The good news is though, that the views are pretty stunning while driving in and out of Vallehermoso.

🛫 Santiago

Santiago is the closest city to the airport of La Gomera, and a beach city located on the southern coast of the island. The entire area around it is dotted with black sand beaches, and caves that you'll find hippies residing in. There is an even a cave where you can have a romantic meal! (We'll get into that a bit later).

Things to See Around the Island of La Gomera

Now that you know the main areas of the island, let's check out some of the other interesting things to see in La Gomera.

🪨 Roque de Agando

This is one of the highlights and symbols of the island of La Gomera. It is quite easy to visit, as the main highway going through the island passes right by it. You can simply stop and at various viewpoints to appreciate it, or go on one of the many hikes around it.

🏔 El Cepo

We loved this place so much so that we ended spending almost a full 24 hours there! 

El Cepo is a mountain that boasts various colors in the rocks, and has stunning views of the ocean and El Teide Volcano. We first went for sunset to appreciate the golden glow across the unique landscape, and then decided that we wanted to see the sun rising the following day. We didn't have luck with the weather, but it's definitely one of the best spots for sunrise on the island.

El Cepo is free of charge to visit. You can find it along the side of the highway. There are no signs or official parking lot, but simply an area to pull up that has room for one or two cars.

💦 Cascada de Arure

The one thing the Canary Islands lacks is waterfalls. However, we did find a really nice 45-55 minute hike to a small one in La Gomera.

Cascada de Arure has a trail leading up the hill and around the town of El Guro. It is super scenic, but can get quite muddy, so we suggest bringing a good pair of waterproof sneakers, or sneakers and a pair of flip flops for crossing through the river.

The cascade is pretty small, and not a place to swim, but the hike itself is fun, and has some great views.

🪗 Los Organos

Los Organos is definitely one of the top things to see in La Gomera. The area is full of large black basalt columns along the northern coast of the island, and it is simply stunning.

It can really only be reached by boat, which can only be taken when the seas are calm. If you happen to visit in winter like we did, you may not get the opportunity, but if you visit in the summer, your chances are much higher.

We wanted to go so badly that we were willing to drive to the top, walk, and take a drone shot. However, we were warned that it is extremely dangerous, and therefore not so doable as we were hoping.

🎋 Drago de Agalan

If you've been to Tenerife, you may have heard of the famous Drago Tree. Well actually, you can find several of these trees scattered through the Canary islands, and one of the biggest is on the island of La Gomera.

Unlike Tenerife though, the visit to this tree is completely free of charge to visit. The only thing you'll have to do is take a windy trail walking down to it, or admire it from above after walking along a dirt path.

Things to Do on the Island of La Gomera

Now that you've seen some of the highlights, let's check out all the fun things to do in La Gomera!

🌿 Explore Garonjay Park

As we mentioned earlier, Garonjay Park makes up a very large part of the island, and it is definitely a place you can't miss out on! Go to Altos de Garonjay for stunning views, walk through the mossy trees, or simply enjoy driving through tunnels of trees. The park is 100% free of charge to visit, but you are not able to camp there.

❣️ Roam the Colorful Streets of San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a super color city. Roam the streets and admire the colorful buildings from down below, or walk up the road to get a great view of the whole city.

🏖 Enjoy the Beaches of Valle Gran Rey

Valle Gran Rey has plenty of beaches to enjoy, and it's the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the sunshine. Make sure to stay for a beautiful sunset as well! Our personal favorite was Playa Charco del Conde.

🥾 Go For a Hike

La Gomera is a hiker's paradise. There are trails all over the island, and you'll find that many people even spend a few days trekking from one end to the other! The views are super beautiful, and there are plenty of areas with shelter if you want to camp for the night.

🚐 Rent a Campervan

Our favorite part about our trip to the island of La Gomera was renting a camper van for 4 days. It really allowed us to experience all the beauty that La Gomera had to offer, without having to go back and forth across the island, or the carry all our luggage with us.

We rented with Green Campers, and the van was super spacious, and fully equipped with a bathroom, shower, double bed, and kitchen. There was even a table that we could work from, making our lives so much easier for the digital nomad lifestyle.

🤩Check Out the Viewpoints

The island of La Gomera has a very particular shape. It is round and flat around the coast, and then is high all in the middle. It's almost like one large mountain, without a peak, but rather tall and flat on top.

This means that driving around La Gomera comes with a lot of windy roads, and a lot of ups and downs. It's definitely not ideal for those that get car sick, but it comes with some of the most spectacular views! Here are some of our favorites around the island.

Mirador de Abrante

Mirador de Abrante is definitely one of the most beautiful and and Instagrammable viewpoints in all of La Gomera. This glass triangular platform juts out in the sky overlooking the town and sea below, with the most breathtaking view of El Teide as a backdrop.

The mirador is one of the only spots that can't simply be accessed 24/7, but it still is free of charge. It is open from 10 am to 4 pm

Mirador de Igualero

This viewpoint is a great spot to enjoy the stunning views of Fortaleza de Chipude from a distance, as well as the beautiful greenery down below. Unfortunately when we went it was too foggy, but this was recommended to us by a local, and is one of the best views on La Gomera.

🪟 Look For Window Caves

We'll have to admit, we weren't so successful with being able to access any. However, there are in fact a number of natural window caves through the island, which boast some really stunning views of the greenery of La Gomera, and some even of Roque de Agando in the distance!

🍴 Dine in a Cave

This was one of the most unique dining experiences we've ever had! Hotel Jardin-Tecina offers reservations to have a three course romantic meal inside a cave. There are no servers so that you have the ultimate privacy. They send your food up in a box via an electric wire, and they give you a phone if you want to contact them.

The cave has stunning views of the hotel and ocean behind it, a candlelit table, and a bed. If this isn't the ultimate package then we don't know what is.

🖤 Visit a Black Sand Beach

La Gomera isn't particularly known for its beaches, but there are definitely a few worth checking out. Being a volcanic island the majority of them actually have black sand, which makes for a truly unique experience.

One of the beast areas for black sand beaches is Santiago, where you can walk along rock formations to get from one cove to the other. Start at Playa del Medio, and then in just minutes you'll come across Playa de Chinguarime and Playa Suarez. 

Two other beaches on the island that we didn't get to go to but heard good things about were Playa de la Rajita and Playa la Guancha.

🌅 Climb Fortaleza de Chipude

Looking for one of the most stunning views on the island? This beautiful rock formation sits high up and overlooks the whole southern coast of the island of La Gomera.

Unluckily for us we had a huge amount of fog and wind take over, making our experience not the most pleasant. We weren't able to get the view that everyone raved about, but imagine that the sunset there would have been super magical.

😗 Learn About the La Gomera Whistle

There is something that is super peculiar about the history of the language of La Gomera. It is said that the earliest settlers int he 15th century came from North America, and communicated through different whistling sounds. This language is known as Silbo, and you can ask locals if they still know it so you can hear it.

🏺 Check Out the Local Pottery

La Gomera is known for their local pottery, and there are plenty of shops and workshops throughout the island that you can check out. Head to one of the traditional villages such as El Cercado, to learn about the ancient techniques still used today.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Take a Yoga Class

The island of La Gomera is the perfect place to escape the crowds and connect with yourself and nature. For this reason, there are a ton of hippies that gravitate to La Gomera, and you can find plenty of great yoga classes.

The one that we wanted to go to was Casa Amaya, but unfortunately we ran out of time. If you do have time however, we suggest calling in advance to find out when their classes are!

🌄 Catch the Sun Rise or Set

Speaking of beautiful sunsets, there are so many great spots to watch the sun rising and setting around La Gomera. It can get tricky, as some of the best spot are up high, and unfortunately the views can get blocked from the clouds. However, if you check the weather then you might be able to take advantage of the best spots to go each day.

Best Places to Catch the Sunrise

We actually preferred watching the sun rise in La Gomera, as it rises just behind El Teide volcano on the next island over, Tenerife. Here were a few of our favorite spots.

Playa de la Cueva

This small beach is located just outside of the port of San Sebastian. There is a long jetty there, stairs up to the torch of the Mexican Olympics, or you can simply enjoy the view right from the  comfort of the black sand.

Playa de Santiago

The night before we went here there was a huge storm, and we didn't actually get to watch the sun rise. However, we have seen pictures, and it is definitely one of the best spots to watch the sunrise in La Gomera.

Moñtana El Cepo

This is another great spot to be able to watch the sunrise. Not only can you watch the sun peaking out from El Teide, but the lighting at this time really brings out all of the colors of the mountain, making it extra magical.

Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves

We absolutely loves this spot for sunrise, especially because we were able to park our van in the lot and sleep right on site. Not only is the view spectacular, but there is plenty of shelter and seating in the area.

Best Places to Catch the Sunset

You may not be able to witness the sun setting at El Teide, but nonetheless there are plenty of great spots to watch the sunset in La Gomera. Here are a few of our favorites.

Playa de Arguamal

This isn't one of the easiest spots to catch the sunset, but it is definitely a beautiful one. Arguamal is located down a windy road, and then can only be reached by hiking down to the bottom.

It takes about 20-25 minutes, and is pretty steep and rocky. But once you get to the bottom, you'll be greeted by large volcanic rock formations, and turquoise waters crashing against them.

Valle Gran Rey

Valle Gran Rey is definitely one of the most popular areas to catch the sun set, and also one of the best spots to stay on the island. There are a number of beaches along the whole area to choose from, our personal favorite being Playa Charco del Conde.

Fortaleza de Chipude

We didn't experience much luck at this one, but as we mentioned earlier, it is supposed to be one of the best sunset spots on the island.

Local Food & Drinks in La Gomera

We absolutely love the food in the Canary Islands, and each island has some of its own specialties. Here are a few things that you should try while visiting La Gomera.

🥘 Local Dishes in La Gomera

Almogrote

Almogrote is the number one thing that is 100% typical to the island of La Gomera. It is a spicy cheese spread that is usually served with bread at the start of a meal. In our opinion, the cheese was a little too strong for our liking. However, if you like this type of cheese then you'll love it! If not, it's still worth a try.

Gofio

Gofio is a special pulverized cereal found through the Canary Islands. We found it as a staple in the restaurants around La Gomera. It is often found as the base of stews, or is used as a side to accompany meats or vegetables.

Mojo

Mojo is something you will also find all over every single one of the Canary Islands. There are two types of mojos- green and red. These sauces are often served at the start of the meal with bread, or with papas arrugadas (small Canarian potatoes).

Miel del Palma

The translation of this is "honey of palm trees". Rather a syrup than a honey, this thick and sweet local trees is used on so many different things from drinks to marinating meats. Make sure to take home a jar at a local shop!

Berenjenas con Miel del Palma

This dish is one of our favorite appetizers- fried strips of eggplant drizzled with palm honey. It's super popular throughout the Canary Islands, but we found it very often around the island of La Gomera.

Ñames

This is a local vegetable that the locals of the island of La Gomera love to use as a side/ garnish with their dishes. Essentially, they are yams, and they are a big staple in the area.

🍴 Our Recommendations For Best Restaurants in La Gomera

Now that you know some of the specialities, here is a list of some of our favorite finds around the island of La Gomera.

Amparo Las Hayas

This was actually the place we stayed for the first few nights in La Gomera. While the place itself wasn't our favorite stay, the restaurant was fantastic.

We got the tortilla every morning for breakfast, and the dinner there was just incredible. Portions were huge, service was great, and the food full of flavor. our server even let us keep our leftovers in the fridge so that we could get it the next day.

Restaurante Casa Efigenia La Montaña

This is just down the road from Amparo Las Hayas, and is run by the sweetest family ever. The inside is full of beautiful plants, homemade cakes, and local jams that you can take home. We sat upstairs on the balcony and just went for coffee and cake, but their menu also looked super good.

La Casa Creativa

This is another family run business that we absolutely loved. We stumbled across is while in Hermigua, and were lured in by its cute decor and lit up terrace. We had a tapas stye dinner, which we really enjoyed both the food, and the service of the brother and sister working there.

Club Laurel

Want to splurge and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Well, Club Laurel is a beach club with a restaurant that belongs to a hotel near Santiago. This is where we had our incredible lunch in a cave, and was the perfect cap to our trip in La Gomera. 

Make sure to book in advance, as there are limited spots available for this. You'll want to book through the website of Hotel Jardin-Tecina, which is who the beach club belongs to.

Where to Stay on the Island of La Gomera

We personally loved our van rental, and thought it was the most fun and practical accommodation option on the island. However, if vans aren't your thing and you want to stay by the beach, we suggest staying somewhere in Valle Gran Rey, or at Hotel Jardin-Tecina in Santiago.

Book a stay in Valle Gran Rey:

Other Things to Know About Visiting the Island of La Gomera

Now that you know all about visiting the island of La Gomera, here are a few other things to keep in mind.

☀️ Weather in La Gomera

Many people flock to the Canary Islands for its warmer weather. However, we were in for a big surprise on some of the islands, as the weather can really vary greatly!

La Gomera blew our minds the most, as the coast is super warm and sunny, but just 10-15 minutes up the road (towards the center) the weather can change from Caribbean to UK weather. We found many of our days in Garonjay Park to be windy, cloudy, foggy, and overall gloomy. While Valle Gran Rey was super hot and sunny.

👗 How to Dress on the Island of La Gomera

As the weather can vary greatly, we suggest bringing both a bating suit, as well as a jacket. You may want to bring a poncho or hooded sweatshirt for the top fo the island, as well as some good sneakers for all of the hiking trails.

Skip the fancy dresses, as there is little nightlife on the island. Rather bring some comfy clothes to enjoy all of the great places in nature.

Note: Our outfits are purely for the photos, and are not what we actually wear all day long.

📆 What is the Best Time of Year to Visit La Gomera?

In our opinion, the best time to visit La Gomera is from late spring to early fall. This way you can enjoy all of the beautiful flowers in bloom, and warmer temperatures at the park. The summer never gets too hot, so it is still a lovely time to visit and enjoy all of the landscapes around the island.

We suggest visiting a solid 5 days to be able to experience all areas of this beautiful island. If you have 2-3 days you can still do quite a bit, but the vibe is definitely a slower pace to enjoy each place. We visited one week, and definitely could have spent a few more days.

🎒 Packing for a Trip to the Island of La Gomera

Here is a list of things to bring with you to La Gomera:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Towel 
• Bathing Suits 
• Light Jacket for the forest area of the island
• Flip flops (our favorites are Havaianas)
• Power bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
• Zippered bag or backpack (here are our top picks for backpacks for travelers)
• Sneakers (for all of the hikes)
• Action Camera (for all water activities) we use the Insta 360 X3 because it's small & waterproof
• Drone (You can get epic shots from above. We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro because it's super light and has great quality)
• Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
• Standard Lens for a dynamic range (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
• Wide Lens to capture great panoramas and astrophotography (we use the Sony GM 14 F1.8)
• Telephoto Lens to capture the landscapes up close (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
• Tripod to get pictures while no one is around or for multiple shots from far away (We use the JOBY Rangepod Tripod)
• Waterproof Phone Pouch (we use the Casemate Waterproof Phone Pouch)
• Travel Adapter (we use Insignia travel adapters as they are affordable and reliable)
• Water Bottle (we use Cafago Water Bottles because they hold the temperature well)

🤔 Is La Gomera Worth Visiting? Why Visit La Gomera

So why visit La Gomera? Not only does La Gomera have stunning nature, but it is much less touristy than some of its neighboring islands. It's small, but diverse, and it's where the true hidden gems of the Canary Islands lie.

⏳ How Much Time to Spend in La Gomera

While some people like to do a day trip to La Gomera from Tenerife, we definitely feel that La Gomera deserves a few days. We spent 1 week, which was perfect if you are working while traveling like we were.

If you are visiting simply as a tourist, we'd recommend 3-4 days to explore all of the highlights of La Gomera.

So what do you think? Are you interested in visiting the island of La Gomera now? 

We absolutely loved our time in La Gomera, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for some hidden gems and unique experiences, with fewer crowds. Want to learn more about the Canary Islands? We have Canary Islands travel guides on a few already, and are continuing to work to share more! 

Need help planning your trip? We can help you save money and explore more. We have a few different travel planning packages that are affordable, and we don't charge any commission on, so you can be sure we're here to save you money.

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