Car Hire La Gomera - Mini guide to La Gomera

La Gomera’s lack of a commercial airport has spared it the kind of insensitive developments that blight parts of nearby Tenerife. Fortunately, this lesser known Canary Island is still a relatively undiscovered gem, boasting year-round warmth, dramatic landscapes and clear blue skies. On La Gomera you can enjoy a different kind of Canary Island without having to negotiate the crowds.

The port town and capital, San Sebastian, will be your first stop. Its biggest claim to fame is that Christopher Columbus lived here while preparing for his voyage of discovery to the Americas, and the 18th century house in which he lived is now a museum.

Most visitors to the island brave the hair-raising, yet exhilarating mountain road to Valle Gran Rey. This stunning two-hour drive takes you through spectacular terrain before dropping dramatically through the terraced valley and to the sea. The town itself is a relaxing and popular hideaway.

The jewel in the valley’s crown is La Calera, a tranquil whitewashed village with narrow streets and cascading bougainvillea. There is a handful of good, friendly bars, eateries and guesthouses here, and nearby La Playa resembles a resort.

La Gomera’s breathtaking beauty and unusual flora and fauna have attracted a dedicated following of ecologists and walking enthusiasts. The outstanding natural attraction is the ancient laurel forest at the heart of the national park which covers most of the central high ground of the island. The Parque Nacional de Garajonay was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1981.

To reach La Gomera you must first fly to Tenerife and then get a taxi to the port of Los Cristianos. From there you can catch one of the regular hydrofoils to San Sebastian.

A car is necessary to fully appreciate this destination, as the majority of the island’s attractions lie well off the beaten track.