dossier
Gomera (11 days)
TravelInformation
Season: Any month exceptAugust.
Access: Flight to Tenerife SouthAirport to arrive no later than 5pm; taxi to port of Los Cristianos (approx. 18-20Euros/US$24-$27) for onward ferry to La Gomera, 40 or 90 minutes depending onthe type of craft. Only buy a single ticket (20-25 Euros/US$27-US$33), as itmay be more convenient to use another operator on your return. You will then bemet from the ferry and taken to hotel in Hermigua.
Please note that if you arebuying your own flight, Iberia operate some flights to Tenerife North Airport,a long way from the ferry port. These should be avoided, as the taxi fare tothe south of the island is about US$80.
End of Tour: After breakfaston Day 11. Order taxi to the port or walk it if you don’t have too muchluggage, for ferry to Tenerife. Ferry to leave no later than 3.5 hours beforeflight departure.
Level of Difficulty
Fitness: We grade the tour as 'Moderate'. However the walk should present nodifficulties for anyone in reasonable condition and accustomed to walking inhilly areas. Short sections of some walks may be vertiginous but if you areworried, consult our local reps for advice. It may be possible to get a lift part of the way.
Day Stages: 10 - 20 km (6-12 mi) per day, with ascentsand descents of up to 1200 metres. 5 - 8 hours walking per day. On most walksthere is the option of a lift part of the way for those feeling less energeticas your luggage will be transferred for you when moving to a new hotel.
Waymarks: Waymarking is very patchy but you will bearmed with our walking notes (showingvillage plans) and a contoured map of the island showing paths and tracks.
Accommodation & Meals
Three out of seven nights are on ahalf-board basis (evening meal and breakfast). For the remaining evenings wethought it is more fun to choose where to eat from the selection of restaurantsin the neighborhood (approx. US$30 for a meal for two including wine or beer).Two packed lunches and one lunch at a bar are included for the days when it maybe difficult to buy your own. On the other days you will be able to go shoppingand buy what you want to eat. It is always wise to carry a bottle of water andsome fruit and bread/biscuits to eat on the way.
Night 1 & 2: Hermigua You will be staying at one of the twosmall country hotels in the beautiful valley of Hermigua. Both are in a lovelysetting overlooking the valley and both are old country houses, which have beenrefurbished.
Night3 & 4: Vallehermoso. You will be staying at one of the two very goodaccommodations. The new Aparthotel thatopened in 2004 is inbetween being a hotel and apartments. The rooms are very spacious and are builtaround a central patio which is full of plants OR a hotel which has also beenrecently renovated in 2004. We tend toalternate the bookings between both these accommodations.
Nights5 & 6: Chipude. You willbe staying at Bar/Pension Sonia. Chipude is the highest village on the islandat over 1100 metres and can be cold. This is a family run business, Sonia isthe daughter and Angela is the mother and cook. Dinner, bed and breakfast areincluded on both evenings. A picnic will be provided for lunch on the day youleave.
Nights 7, 8 & 9: Playa de Santiago. You will be staying inApartamentos Bellavista situated on a pedestrian lane in Laguna deSantiago. It is a short walk through abanana plantation to the beach, restaurants and shops in the main part of thevillage. Here you will have your ownapartment equipped with food and drink essentials to greet you on arrival. Breakfast is taken in your apartment,ingredients supplied. A picnic will beprovided for lunch on the day you leave. Dinner is not included. Choose one ofthe many local fish restaurants at the beach. Don't forget to check out therestaurante La Cuevita towards the harbour. It is built into a cave. We have chosen to have 3 nights here as thisis where your Reps, Liz & John are based. They are then in a better position to advise you on what to dolocally. This is also the sunniest andwarmest part of the island.
Night 10: San Sebastian, We use a 2* hotel situated in thecentre of San Sebastian on a Bed and Breakfast basis. Dinner can be taken inone of the many restaurants in town. There are two beaches within easy reach onfoot. The ferry port is a ten-minute walk away. Alternatively upgrade youraccommodation to the Parador Hotel.
Outline Itinerary
Day1: Arrival. Arrive by ferry at theport of San Sebastian by ferry from Los Cristianos. You will be met and takento your hotel in Hermigua. We ask you if possible to phone our local reps totell them your ferry time.
Day 2: A first glimpseof the National Park. This is anexceptionally beautiful but strenuous walk through lush sub-tropical vegetationwith spectacular views over the Hermigua valley. On the way up theascents are steep in places but the path is well defined but the beauty of thearea rewards the hard work. In roughly three hours you reach El Cedro(1000m) and the Bar La Vista for a well-deserved break. Inunsettled weather we do not recommend the return route, as there is a verysteep and slippery downhill stretch. Instead either return by the routeyou came up or spend some time exploring the forest and order a taxi from Bar La Vista to take you back down to thehotel.
Day 3: Across the north. After breakfast you willbe taken to the exquisitely situated village of Agulo (250m), which looks outto sea cut off from the rest of the island by the shear basalt cliffs risingbehind. The walk begins with a steep ascent to bring you after 2 hours to theVisitor’s Centre of Garajonay National Park, (800m) where you can learn aboutthe park and the island in general. Then down to the lunchtime stop at BarAmalahuigue in Las Rosas or at Roque Blanco (a further hour); then continue onto Vallehermoso, for the last two hours down hill (in one place steeply) withexpansive and stunning views over the north west of the island. (6 hours fromAgulo).
Day 4: Panoramicviews of the north coast and the cruel sea. A four and a half hourfairly strenuous circular walk, with a very steep, gravelly descent for whichyou need to be surefooted and have a head for heights. The alternative is toturn round at roughly the half way point at the Ermita de Santa Clara viewpointand retrace your steps back. This is one of the wildest parts of LaGomera where the sea is usually quite rough and there are some dramatic viewsof waves, rocks and windblown terrain as well as picturesque villages nestledin sheltered valleys below. A different and interesting corner of LaGomera. Recommend taking food and drink with you as there is nowhere tobuy anything en route.
Day 5: Into the cloud forest. With plenty of water and in winter long trousers and waterproofjackets (if necessary), you head south from Vallehermoso (300m) up hill towardsthe centre of the island through lush, terraced farming country, past reservoirs,ever upwards until you enter the forest and the National Park. A Gomeran lunchawaits you in Las Hayas. After this, an easy walk with occasional glimpses downto the magnificent Valle Gran Rey. From here you can take the path to ElCercado, home to Gomera’s tiny potteries and on to Chipude and Hotel Sonia at1100m
Day 6: Rest day; Relax on the west coast. Optional walk to seethe biggest and often considered the most beautiful valley in Gomera, ValleGran Rey, via Gerian (4 hours); swimming, sunbathing etc. Try lunch in a fishrestaurant at the port of Vueltas. Bus or taxi back to Chipude. The superenergetic can of course walk back!
Day 7: To the summit and down to the warm south. Armed withpicnic lunch from Bar Sonia, the fairly gentle uphill walk to the summit of theisland, E1 Alto de Garajonay (1486 m) is completed in 2 hours. Beautiful viewson a clear day down into the rainforest and across to see the islands ofTenerife, E1 Hierro and La Palma and occasionally Gran Canaria; then steeplydown into the hidden valley of Imada (800m.) where there is a shop/bar normallyopen. Then it is down into a garden ofEden of palms and canes until you reach Santiago and the south coast (3 hoursfrom Imada).
Day 8 & 9: A well-earned rest. Relax by the pool, lounge around Santiago andthe beach or explore the hidden beaches to the east of the village. For therestless, take the bus past Alajero and walk to the only dragon tree on theisland. Then back down to Santiago via the villages of Alajero and Targa. There is plenty to do and see, this is thewarmest & sunniest part of the island.
Day10: Back to San Sebastian. After breakfast at your apartment, you (and yourpicnic!) will be taken to the start of this final days walk at Pastrana. Another wonderful day with a gentle startbut becoming steep uphill until you reach the amazing Roque de Agando (1250m) -Gomera’s biggest basalt volcanic chimney; 3 hours. You arrive at the main road with wonderful panoramic views.Crossing over the road, the walk descends through pinewoods to La Laja (1.5hours) and then on asphalt for two hours to San Sebastion (4 hours; it may be possible to get a liftto reduce the last stage; ask the rep in the morning.
Day11: End of tour
What's Included
10 nights bed & breakfast, three evening meals andtwo picnics and 1 bar lunch. Written descriptions of each day walking itineraryand a 1:35,000 scale maps. Not included are taxi fares or ferry fares.