Walking in La Gomera
- A rocky coastline and verdant green gorges make La Gomera a walker's paradise
- Dense laurel forests, remnants of eras past and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Brightly coloured streets of San Sebastian, the tiny colonial capital
- Perfect walking temperatures - all year round
- Coastal and mountain walks and hand picked accommodation
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in the Canary IslandsFly to Tenerife, which has excellent flight links to UK and European destinations. Take the bus or a taxi to Los Cristianos Port and the ferry to La Gomera (from 40 minutes, not included). Keep your eyes peeled as dolphins are regularly sighted on the crossing. If you are staying at the Hotel Torre del Conde, it's just a very short walk. For those in the beautiful Parador Hotel you will be met at the port and transferred.
After checking into your hotel stroll around San Sebastian town and enjoy the laid back pace of island life.
Built in the island architectural style, the Parador offers comfortable rooms, a beautiful swimming pool and lush garden with subtropical plants with spectacular ocean views.
Hotel Torre del Conde sits in a privileged spot, just beside the emblematic Torre del Conde Park and right amidst the historical village of San Sebastián de La Gomera.
After a short transfer you start the day with a glorious walk up toward Garajonay National Park the green heart of La Gomera. Here you enter the rain forest-like atmosphere of the dense laurel wood which covers most of the northern part of the island. The path continues steeply up, among the twisted trunks of laurel trees, through ferns, moss and lichens. From the top, youll enjoy splendid views of the entire island and further on - to La Palma, El Hierro and the stunning volcanic peak of El Teide on Tenerife. The day ends with a short descent to Chipude.
Ascent: 697m
Descent: 432m
A modern and welcoming hotel in Chipude. Offers comfortable rooms and a bar serving traditional home-made dishes.
Begin your day by traversing two lovely barrancos, the steep sided valleys which make so much or La Gomera impenetrable. You then pass the pottery-making village of El Cercado to reach the prettiest valley on the island, Barranco de Valle Gran Rey, with its terraced fields and palm groves.
You really must stop on route for lunch in Las Hayas at a traditional restaurant which serves regional specialities. If you still have the energy you then descend through palms, junipers, heather and laurel trees, into the Valley of Los Loros and on to your hotel in Vallehermoso.
Ascent: 275m
Descent: 1197m
Hotel Añaterve has been carefully renovated recently and offers both an authentic style and modern comfort. The spacious rooms have been designed with careful detailing and have a beautiful view. In the restaurant, you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner, with a view on an old winepress from the original Casa de Vino from 1900.
Today you explore a drier landscape. A long gradual ascent leads up to the chapel of Santa Clara, built high on a ridge, which enjoys breath-taking views – 700m straight down and out over the mountaintops to the sea. Then, following a well-maintained (though very steep) path, you walk down to a tiny cove along the coast, where you will surely be tempted to while away an hour or so before returning to Vallehermoso.
Ascent: 760m
Descent: 772m
Hotel Añaterve has been carefully renovated recently and offers both an authentic style and modern comfort. The spacious rooms have been designed with careful detailing and have a beautiful view. In the restaurant, you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner, with a view on an old winepress from the original Casa de Vino from 1900.
You walk out of Vallehermoso Valley by way of El Cano, a classic ‘frozen’ lava tube. Your route takes you to the village of Rosas and the Garajonay National Park visitors’ centre (Centro de Visitantes), where you’ll find a wealth of information on the island. Next you follow the GR-132 down to the coastal village of Agulo, then take the bus (or continue walking) to Hermigua. Be sure to check current bus timetables before setting off.
Ascent/Descent: 1130m
It is a nineteenth century mansion, with over a hundred years old, carefully restored to maintain its original style and charm of their lordly origin, located in the municipality of Hermigua.
On this circular route you explore the spectacular coastline east of Hermigua and have the option of walking down to the beach at La Caleta, with its pleasant open-air beach bar with canopy. The walk traverses an area filled with varieties of wolf’s milk cacti and succulents, such as agaves and prickly pear cacti.
Ascent/Descent: 572m
It is a nineteenth century mansion, with over a hundred years old, carefully restored to maintain its original style and charm of their lordly origin, located in the municipality of Hermigua.
Today you choose between two fantastic walks, a shorter or longer descent back to San Sebastián. Both routes begin with a short transfer.
The shorter (easier) walk is a well-marked historic route on dirt paths, where some sections have gravel / loose rock, in constant – but gradual - descent.
The longer route takes you to the vista point at Degollada de Peraza, then through a stunning landscape on the southeast coast of the islands. Some sections traverse high terrain, but paths are well-maintained and way-marked. The last section takes you past a beach, where you can stop for a swim. A lovely way to end your week on Gomera. This walk is not recommended for those with a fear of heights.
Shorter walk: 9.6 km, 104m ascent, 1030m descent
Longer walk: 14.7 km, 460m ascent, 1406m descent
Built in the island architectural style, the Parador offers comfortable rooms, a beautiful swimming pool and lush garden with subtropical plants with spectacular ocean views.
Hotel Torre del Conde sits in a privileged spot, just beside the emblematic Torre del Conde Park and right amidst the historical village of San Sebastián de La Gomera.
Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. After being transferred back to the port, take a ferry back to Tenerife and flight home.
This trip has a carbon score of 8kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 8kg is equivalent to 12 pints of local beer at the bar. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?The second smallest of the Canary Islands makes for the ideal year-round escape for keen walkers. The tour is graded moderate to strenuous and daily walks vary between 5 & 7 hours. If you are afraid of heights this is not the destination for you.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This walking tour is graded Moderate to Strenuous. Walks of 5 to 7 hrs a day with long (sometimes very steep) ascents and descents (up to 935m in a day for ascent and 1300m in descent). Not suitable for those who have a fear of heights as there are some steep drop offs on clifftop sections. The walks follow rural tracks, both surfaced and unsurfaced, footpaths and animal trails. You may encounter some loose rock, or muddy / slippery sections in wet weather. Days 3, 4 and 7 (the longer option) are graded as strenuous due to the level of difficulty in terrain for those particular days.
You will spend two nights in San Sebastian, where we use the beautiful 4* Parador hotel and five nights in comfortable rural hotels. All are good family run hotels, with an authentic atmosphere and great hospitality. The rooms are simply but comfortably decorated and have en suite bathrooms. The hotels in Vallehermoso and Hermigua are favourites as the buildings are beautifully converted manor houses.
Please note that some hotels may only offer twin-bedded rooms (no double beds available).
Occasionally we may need to use alternative hotels depending on availability. If the alternative hotel is used in San Sebastian, the evening meal on Day 1 and transfer to and from the port are not included as the hotel is nearer the centre of San Sebastian and therefore easier to get to from the port and more choice for dinner. If you are staying in this alternative hotel a discount will be applied to your booking.
Single Rooms
If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.
Solo Walkers
Unfortunately this walk is not available to solo walkers.
Meals
A breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinners are not included apart from at the first night in San Sebastian where it is included. Your hotel will be happy to provide a packed lunch, this should be requested on arrival, or you can pick up lunch from a local deli or along the trail. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby bars, cafes and restaurants.
If we do have to use the alternative hotel in San Sebastian the evening meal on the first night is not included as there is plenty of choice in the centre of San Sebastian.
The routes on this trip are not generally way marked but we do provide comprehensive route notes and maps so you should not have any problem finding your way.
- 5 Nights in small hotels and guesthouses
- 2 Nights in the 4* Parador in San Sebastian
- 7 Breakfasts
- 1 Dinner
- A detailed information pack, route notes and maps
- Access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App
- Full information pack on local history, culture & traditions
- Transfers on day 2 and 7
- Transfers between San Sebastian port and hotel
- Luggage transfer as per the itinerary
- 24 hour emergency telephone support and assistance
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks (other than dinner on Day 1)
- Travel Insurance
- Transport should you need to skip a stage
- Additional transfers, such as the bus/taxi from Tenerife South airport to Port Los Cristianos
- Return ferry from Los Cristianos (Tenerife) to San Sebastian de la Gomera
- Extra nights during, before or after the tour.
- Extra nights on Tenerife.
You can start this holiday on any date during the year. La Gomera enjoys year-round mild weather with average maximum temperatures ranging from 15-25 degrees Celsius. Being an island it can however experience foggy weather, some strong winds and tropical storms.
La Gomera has the perfect climate for all year walking. Average maximums range from mid teens in the winter to mid twenties in the summer. For more details view climate guide.
Most of our customers fly into Tenerife, and then take the ferry across to La Gomera. Tenerife South is the most convenient airport and served by low cost and charter from throughout the UK. These include TUI, Ryanair, Easyjet, Jet2, TAP and Iberia.
From Tenerife South Airport, you can take a taxi to Port Los Cristianos or take the bus (40 line towards Estación Costa Adeje) and get off at Los Cristianos – then it is approximately a 15 min walk to port Los Cristianos.
At the port, take a ferry to San Sebastian de La Gomera (approx 1hr, €30-40 per person) The last ferry leaves at 20.00. For timetables, see Fred Olsen. You need to take the route 'Los Cristianos' (on Tenerife) to 'S.S. La Gomera' (San Sabastian)
Latest arrival time: Tenerife South: 17:30.
Earliest departure time: Tenerife South: 11:30.
We can book extra nights in Tenerife near the airport if required.
Alternatively you can fly from Tenerife North to La Gomera (duration approx. 30 mins). Further details Binter Canarias.
On arrival at the port in San Sebastian, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Most of our clients take the ferry from La Gomera to Tenerife to fly out as per arrival details.
We can book extra nights in Tenerife near the airport if required.
Your bags will be transferred between your accommodation as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Getting Around
Required transfers are included. If you wish to skip a walk you can use local taxis or buses.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as this holiday is extremely popular especially in the winter months. You will find current pricing on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.
The walking is graded moderate to strenuous and is challenging, so you should enjoy a good level of walking fitness. The paths are rough and exposed in places so a head for height is an advantage.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
You will need good walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack, warm clothing in the early/late part of the year and hats etc during the summer. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.
The best months for walking are October to April as the summer can be very hot.
Tenerife South, which is served by low cost, charter and scheduled airlines.
You can use public transport or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.
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