Things To Do in La Gomera

This black-sand beach has a dramatic setting. It’s backed by green fields full of banana plantations, which rise up the cliff sides of the Valle Gran Rey, a 45-minute drive from Playa de Santiago. When it’s time for refreshments, there are a couple of cafes by the sand.

Known as the Green Balcony, Agulo is a mountaintop village surrounded by a patchwork of green banana fields. A lot of the architecture in the village dates back to the 17th century, but the highlight of a visit here is the Church of San Marcos, which was built in 1939. It’s Moorish in design and its four white domes cut a stark figure against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Agulo is about an hour’s drive north from Playa de Santiago.

Set in San Sebastian, this 300-metre stretch of sand is one of La Gomera’s liveliest beaches. There’s a yacht club close to the sand, and plenty of bars and restaurants nearby for when you need something to eat or drink.

This circle of land is one of the island’s most popular picnic spots. It’s on the outskirts of Garajonay National Park, so it’s a great place to fuel up before a hike. The area is steeped in myths and stories. Legend has it that the spot used to be used by a coven of the island’s witches as a place for practicing magic.

Life in the fishing village of Playa de Santiago is as laid-back as it gets. Days here start with sunbathing sessions on the beach and move on to slow walks around the harbour. At lunchtime, the seafood restaurants steal the limelight, as they serve up the catch of the day. Many of them have al fresco eating areas, so you can look out over the sea as you eat.

The crescent-shaped black-sand beach at Playa de Santiago gets the thumbs up from swimmers. Part of the beach is protected from the surf by a jetty, so the water is pretty calm. Plus, the jetty itself makes a great platform for jumping and diving into the sea.

For a quick change of scenery, a few euros will book you a place on a ferry to El Hierro from San Sebastian. It may be the smallest of the Canaries, but its scenery punches well above its weight. The island is home to more than 800 volcanoes, which means you’ll find solidified lava flows, craggy craters and fertile forests around every corner.

You’ll need your hiking boots for this one. El Cedro forest is in the heart of Garajonay National Park, half-an-hour’s drive from Playa de Santiago. It’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since the Eighties. The trails here are lined with tangled trees, blackberry bushes and cacti. The real treat, though, is El Chorro waterfall, which is the tallest cascade on the island.

This traditional fiesta is celebrated all over La Gomera. Processions are led through the streets of towns like San Sebastian, and local music and dance is performed in the open air. In smaller fishing villages, locals get together in the squares to eat, drink and dance.

This festival is held in honour of the patron saint of fishermen. Celebrations happen all over the island, but the largest parties are in Valle Gran Rey, Playa Santiago, San Sebastian and Vallehermoso. There are some key elements in each village’s celebrations. In the morning, a statue of the Madonna is paraded throught the streets and a lot of villages take the same statue out to sea later in the day.

Almost an hour’s walk along the coast from Playa Santiago, this short stretch of black sand is sheltered from the elements by a protective arm of rocky headland. This beach is a favourite with nudists because it’s really private, and it’s a great place to swim because the surf isn’t too choppy.

As the name suggests, this green ravine was home to La Gomera’s most powerful king, before the Spanish invaded the island in the 15th century. It’s easy to see why the island’s royalty chose to live here – the scenery is jaw-dropping. Expect tumbling mountainsides, winding roads and endless views of the sea.

Follow in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus in La Gomera’s capital. Buildings linked to the explorer include Casa de La Aguada, which has a well that Columbus drank from, and the Church of the Virgin, where he prayed before his voyage to the new world. If you’d rather buy your own shoes than walk in someone else’s, though, San Sebastian is also known for its shoe boutiques.

This beach near San Sebastian is still the way nature intended. You won’t find sunloungers and no restaurants cast their shadows on the sand. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a private picnic and extra helpings of peace and quiet.

The marine life off La Gomera’s coast goes beyond fish. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, which is home to 21 different species of dolphin. The waters are also frequented by about 300 whales. The best way to see these mammals is on a boat trip, which run from coastal towns all over the island. One of the island’s biggest whale-watching companies is based in Valle Gran Rey, a 45-minute drive from Playa de Santiago.

In this tiny traditional village, an hour’s drive from Playa de Santiago, goats practically outnumber people. Just 300 residents live in this off-the-beaten-track settlement, so it’s a great place to get away from it all. If you’ve got green fingers, you won’t want to miss the Dragon Trees that grown here. They look like giant stalks of broccoli and, when you cut into their gnarled trunks, they bleed a red resin.