La Gomera is the greenest of the Canary Islands, with over 30% of its surface covered in forest. While it’s the greenest of the Canary Islands, it also has the least volcanic appearance. Its last eruption happened over two million years ago, which is the longest volcanic dormancy in the archipelago. Unlike islands like Tenerife or Lanzarote, where dramatic volcanic features define the landscape, La Gomera has been shaped almost entirely by erosion, giving way to lush laurel forests and deep ravines. This makes it a hiker’s paradise, and exploring its green core is one of the best things to do in La Gomera.
La Gomera doesn’t have as many iconic landmarks as some of the other Canary Islands, but Roque de Agando, the eroded core of an ancient volcano, is instantly recognizable. Still, La Gomera’s real appeal lies in its lush green core where endless hiking trails await. Oh and did you know that La Gomera is also home to a unique whistled language? A language that’s still taught in schools to help keep the tradition alive, and you might even catch a demonstration at a local festival.
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Table of Contents - The best things to do in La Gomera
Where is La Gomera
La Gomera is part of the Western Canary Islands. It’s one of the smaller islands in the archipelago and lies just off the southwest coast of Tenerife. On clear days you can see Teide‘s peak towering out above the clouds from many parts of the island, which was something I just didn’t get tired of during our stay.
How to get to La Gomera
To get to La Gomera, you’ll most likely need to travel via one of the bigger Canarian Islands, like Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Both offer direct flights↗ to and from La Gomera. Most interisland flights from Tenerife depart from Tenerife North, so if you’re in the south, it’s much more convenient to take the ferry from Los Cristianos, the crossing takes less than an hour.
What is the best time of year to visit La Gomera
My favorite time of year in the Canary Islands is spring. Temperatures are pleasant, visitor numbers are relatively low and wildflowers bloom across the green areas.
This is especially true for La Gomera. The island is only small, with limited infrastructure, but it gets flooded with day trippers from Tenerife in winter. This is the high season in the Canary Islands.Â
Since hiking is among the best things to do in La Gomera, I would definitely aim for spring. Summer can get quite hot in the mountains, and the many colorful wildflowers that bloom in spring really add a touch of magic to the landscape, making the hikes even more enjoyable.
Getting around La Gomera
La Gomera is a small island, but driving times can be longer than you might think. Due to the many ravines, the island’s road network is radial and roads fan out from the center point. Getting from one point to another almost always involves going through the center of the island, around Garajonay National Park and roads are windy.
La Gomera has a limited bus service and it’s possible to explore the island by bus. Buses don’t run often though and timetables might change without notice, so using them requires careful planning. For more flexibility and to visit several places in one day, you’ll need to rent a car.
Which option is best mainly depends on the hikes you want to do. La Gomera has many hiking trails that interlace with each other. Traveling by bus allows you to hike one-way trails, or to connect several trails together into a longer hike. Renting a car means you need to pick a circular trail, or hike one-way trails out-and-back. We opted for the flexibility of a rental car and did some of the circular hikes.
Where to stay in La Gomera
Since La Gomera is so small, and you’ll need to go through the center of the island most of the time anyway, there is not a particularly strategic place to stay if you’re renting a car.
We stayed in La Hermigua, which is a nice and quiet town with a local feel close to the coast. Those who like to stay close to the beach will prefer Valle Gran Rey. Most beaches on La Gomera are pebble beaches, but you’ll find sandy beaches in and around Valle Gran Rey.
If you’re planning to explore La Gomera by bus, San Sebastián is the best place to stay. Being the island’s capital, it has the best bus connections.Â
The best things to do in La Gomera
I think that by now it should come as no surprise that the best thing to do in La Gomera is hiking. But there are also some nice viewpoints on the island and beaches to relax on.Â
| 🌄 Place / Activity | What is it? |
|---|---|
| Roque de Agando | Iconic eroded volcanic core and viewpoint |
| Alto de Garajonay (Route 17) | Short circular hike to the highest point, wildflowers in spring |
| Laurel Forest | Lush green forest, accessible via many hiking trails |
| Playa de Guancha | Natural pebble beach reachable only on foot or by private boat |
| El Silbo Demonstrations | Unique whistled language, cultural festival showcases |
✅ Top hikes & viewpoints | 🏖️ Beaches | 🎠Unique cultural experiences
Visit Roque de Agando
Of course one of the best things to do on La Gomera is visiting its most iconic feature: Roque de Agando. If you’re spending a few days on the island, you’ll see it plenty of times since the roads interlace in this area. The area is often cloudy though, so if you’re driving by on a clear day, make sure to use the opportunity for a (photo) stop at Mirador de los Roques.
You can also do the short hike to Mirador del Morro de Agando for a higher point of view, but we were happy with the views from Mirador de los Roques.
Hike to the highest point on the island
My favorite hike on the island was Alto de Garajonay, the highest point of the island. There are two circular hikes you can do from parking El Pajarito, we opted for the shorter one: Route 17. This hike is about 4.5 km long and doesn’t include a lot of elevation gain. If you’re hiking it counterclockwise, like we did, you’ll have a relatively steep climb in the beginning and the rest of the hike is mostly gradually downhill. In spring, you’ll find many different wildflowers along the trail.
If you’re looking for a longer hike, you can do the big loop from parking El Pajarito to El Cedro and back. The big loop is about 16 km and has an elevation gain of almost 700 m. If the big loop sounds like a bit too much of a challenge, you can do the short loop and do another hike at El Cedro, which is what we did.
Enjoy the Laurel Forest
Even if you don’t want to hike, you’ll be able to enjoy the Laurel Forest from the road. But the best way to enjoy and connect with it, is by hiking of course. Since such a big part of the island is covered in Laurel Forest lots of hikes will pass through it. If the Laurel forest is your main focus, many recommend Ceres as one of the best hikes in La Gomera for this. I didn’t do it myself, since we hiked through it on other islands and as part of other hikes and we drove through it a lot as well exploring other parts of the island.
Hike to Playa de Guancha
Playa de Guancha is a natural pebble beach not far from San Sebastián. This beach can only be reached on foot (or by boat), which is part of its charm.
You can hike here from San Sebastián (best option if you don’t have a car), or from the parking at the Monuments al sagrado corazĂłn de Jesus statue, just outside of San Sebastián. If you have a car, I recommend this option so you can shorten the hike a bit and save yourself a bit of elevation. We hiked from here as well and I didn’t have the feeling that I would have missed out on any views or anything. Instead, I was quite happy to have saved myself another up and down, since there is no shade on the trail.Â
The hike to Playa de Guancha is a coastal trail, but it does involve some elevation gain. It’s not a difficult hike, but it’s good to know that there is no shade and there are no facilities on the beach.Â
Those who are looking for a bigger challenge can continue to El Cabrito from La Guancha, which is another 3 km more or less. Playa El Cabrito does have some facilities, but no road access either. So from here you’ll need to hike back, or hike about 4.5 km to Degollada de Peraza, from where you can take bus 1 to San Sebastián.
Watch a Silbo demonstration if you can
Make sure to check the local event calendar when visiting La Gomera and check for any cultural events where they might demonstrate “El Silbo“. El Silbo Gomero is a unique whistled language native to La Gomera, originally used by inhabitants to communicate across deep ravines and valleys. It’s not commonly used anymore, mobile phones are much more practical, but it’s still taught in schools (to a certain level) and demonstrations during local festivals.Â
We missed out on it while we were here, but we attended a local canary festival in El Hierro where we saw a demonstration. Very cool to witness! Intrigued? You can learn more about El Silbo on the UNESCO website↗.
Other things to do in La Gomera
Those looking for a chilled beach day will enjoy a day in Valle Gran Rey, which is home to one of La Gomera’s few sandy beaches. While La Gomera isn’t known for its beaches, Valle Gran Rey is a great option for a relaxing beach day when you need a break from hiking. From here there are boat tours leaving for Los Ă“rganos, cool rock formations which are shaped like the pipes of an organ.Â
If you prefer natural pools, head over to La Hermigua. We very much enjoyed this pool and spent a few afternoons here since we were staying so close.
Looking for nice little towns to stroll through? Agulo is named one of Spain’s prettiest towns. I don’t necessarily agree with that, I think Spain has plenty of towns more worthy of that title, but it is a pretty little town and nice to stroll through if you’re close by. There is also Mirador de Abrante, a glass viewpoint overlooking Agulo.
Finishing thoughts about the best things to do in La Gomera
La Gomera might not offer the same volcanic drama as the other islands, but it’s a rewarding destination for those who simply enjoy hiking. If you don’t care about iconic tourist attractions, but just want to immerse yourself in nature, La Gomera is definitely worth it. Not sure whether La Gomera is the right island for you, or thinking of visiting another island as well? Check out this comparison guide of the Canary Islands.
| Guide | What You'll Find |
|---|---|
| Which Canary Island Is Best to Visit? | Not sure which island to choose? This guide compares all the Canary Islands to help you find your perfect match. |
| Best Things to Do in La Palma | Discover the natural beauty of La Palma, from its volcanic landscapes and stargazing spots to lush forests and charming villages. |
| Best Things to Do in El Hierro | Venture to the smallest and most remote Canary Island for incredible diving, natural pools, and unspoiled landscapes. |
| The Best Free Things to Do in Lanzarote | Experience Lanzarote's volcanic wonders, stunning beaches, and unique landscapes without spending a euro with this budget-friendly guide. |
| Gran Canaria Itinerary Ideas: From 2 Days to 2 Weeks | Planning your Gran Canaria trip? Find the perfect itinerary for your timeframe, whether you have a weekend or two full weeks to explore. |
| How to Visit Mount Teide | Plan your trip to Spain's highest peak with this complete guide covering permits, cable car tickets, hiking routes, and timing tips. |
FAQ about La Gomera
Yes, many visitors take a day trip from Tenerife to La Gomera. There are frequent ferries from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera, with crossings taking less than an hour. But a day trip is quite a rushed way to visit La Gomera and it’s much better to spend at least 2 days on the island and enjoy some of the hiking trails.Â
Absolutely. If you love hiking, nature, and peaceful landscapes, La Gomera offers a huge network of hiking trails through laurel forests and other landscapes.
Not in daily life. It’s still taught in schools to preserve the tradition, but only to preserve the tradition and the goal is knowledge and heritance, rather than fluency. Some Gomeros have mastered the language though and demonstrate it at cultural festivals. Check for events during your stay!
La Gomera mostly has pebble and rocky beaches, but you can find some sandy spots, especially around Valle Gran Rey.
Hiking in Garajonay National Park and visiting Roque de Agando are top highlights. And if there is a Silbo demonstration on La Gomera during your visit, that’s a must-hear too!
La Gomera’s volcanic activity ceased over two million years ago, much earlier than the other Canary Islands. Scientists believe it’s because the volcanic hotspot that formed the island moved on, leaving La Gomera geologically dormant while younger islands like La Palma are still active. This doesn’t mean that La Gomera is also the oldest island in the archipelago though, that title goes to Fuerteventura.