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La Gomera

From a distance La Gomera appears as an impenetrable fortress ringed with soaring rock walls. Noodle-thin roads wiggle along cliff faces and up ravines, and the white specks that turn out to be houses seem impossibly placed on inaccessible crags. Up-close, however, that rough landscape translates into lush valleys, awe-inspiring cliffs, glittering black-pebble beaches and bold rock formations sculpted by volcanic activity and erosion.

Without the standard tourist-resort trappings of golden sands and animated nightlife, La Gomera has a tangible bohemian air; many foreign residents arrived here in the 1960s flower-power days. Pastel-painted capital San Sebastián is the low-key hub, while the laid-back southern beach towns draw sunseekers. The island is relatively laborious to reach, and, apart from those day-tripping from Tenerife, most visitors tend to be walkers heading for the hiking trails that weave across this spectacular land, which unravels around the ancient laurisilva (laurel) forests of Garajonay.

Explore La Gomera

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout La Gomera.

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional de Garajonay

    La Gomera's prime attraction, the magical, often-misty Parque Nacional de Garajonay extends across 40 sq km of dense, primeval laurisilva forest at the…

  • Natural Feature

    Drago de Agalán

    The island’s oldest drago (dragon tree) rests in a palm-sprinkled valley, 2km north of Alajeró. Take the signposted road 300m west (downhill) from the…

  • Tower

    Torre del Conde

    Set in a grassy subtropical park, the distinctive, 1477 stone-and-whitewash Torre del Conde is considered the Canary Islands’ most important example of…

  • Museum

    Museo Etnográfico de La Gomera

    Housed in a handsome 20th-century building with maroon trim, this two-storey ethnographic museum explores the island's natural resources and ecosystems…

  • Museum

    Parque Etnográfico Los Telares

    A reconstructed 19th-century gofio (roasted Canarian grain) mill sits at the heart of this multifaceted private ethnographic centre, which also takes in a…

  • Church

    Iglesia de la Virgen de la Asunción

    Columbus and his men supposedly prayed at this ancient church before setting off for the New World. The original chapel was begun in 1450 but destroyed by…

  • Natural Feature

    Los Órganos

    Something like a great sculpted basalt church organ rising from the ocean's depths, the utterly extraordinary cliffscape of Los Órganos clings to La…

  • Museum

    Casa de Colón

    In the style of its 17th-century predecessor, this simple cream-coloured house with handsome wooden galleries and floors is built on the site where…

  • Church

    Ermita de Guará

    Dedicated to the island's patron saint, the Virgen de Guadalupe, this tiny white 1960s chapel perches on a spectacularly scenic crag 6km southwest of El…

  • Viewpoint

    Mirador de Abrante

    High above little Agulo, enjoying sprawling panoramas across the ocean to Tenerife, this Fred-Olsen-owned lookout point revolves around a spine-tingling…

  • Beach

    Playa de la Caleta

    The best beach in the Hermigua area, 5km northeast of town, Playa de la Caleta is one of northern La Gomera's prettiest black-pebble beaches. Framed by…

  • Church

    Convento de Santo Domingo

    At the heart of Hermigua's original village, just off Plaza Victoriano Darias Montesinos, this 16th-century church and monastery contains an intricately…

  • Museum

    Museo Arqueológico de La Gomera

    Occupying part of the mid-18th-century Casa de los Echeverría (you'll spot the noble/military family's crest on the facade), this worthwhile museum…

  • Beach

    Playa de Alojera

    Jagged cliffs, rock formations and natural pools offshore lend a sense of drama to Alojera's sweeping, rarely crowded silty black beach, 1.5km west of…

  • Museum

    Centro de Interpretación Las Loceras

    El Cercado's small but fascinating earthenware museum explores the history of the island's pottery tradition through multilingual panels and collections…

  • Viewpoint

    Mirador Roque de Agando

    Views sprawl across to Tenerife and the 1250m-high volcanic rock 'needle' Roque de Agando (the most impressive in the Canaries) from this sensational…

  • Church

    Ermita de San Sebastián

    With its origins in the 15th century but rebuilt in 1850, the fine whitewashed chapel of San Sebastián retains a few original elements, despite being…

  • Church

    Ermita del Santo

    At the top of the valley, in the village of Arure, this tiny stone chapel is built into the rock face, surrounded by a lookout showing off the southern…

  • Beach

    Playa San Sebastián

    The town’s sandy volcanic beach is perfect for relaxing and taking a swim. Unlike on many beaches in the Canaries, the waters here are almost always calm…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in La Gomera.

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