What to expect
Garajonay National Park
Walk through this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site
Untouched Natural Beauty
Explore one of the most unspoilt islands in the Canaries
Breathtaking Panoramas
Marvel at the mesmerising viewpoints & vistas
- <
- >
About this trip...
About the trip
Welcome to La Gomera - the island that time forgot. Thanks to its size and steep landscape, La Gomera remains one of the most untouched Canary Islands and a true paradise for hikers. Join us on this escorted group walking holiday as we marvel at steep cliffs, laurel rainforests, canyons, black sand beaches and endless views.Activity Level:
What's this?What's included?
Return flights & transfers-
Airport taxes & charges
Single room at Hotel Sonia & Hotel Villa Gomera
Evening dinner in hotel & local restaurants-
Breakfast in hotel daily
-
4 x picnic lunches on walking days
Welcome drink
Four fully guided exclusive walking days
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully Financially Protected
What's extra:
- Insurance click here
Itinerary
- UK - Tenerife - Chipude, La Gomera
- Alto de Garajonay (1,487m)
- Chipude to Arure
- Day At Leisure
- Vallehermosa
- Day at leisure
- Garajonay National Park
- La Gomera - Tenerife - UK
What you’ll be doing
Day One: Arrive in Tenerife and transfer to Chipude, La Gomera
After landing in Tenerife, we transfer to Los Cristianos before transferring by ferry to San Sebastián de la Gomera. We will be directly transferred to the quiet village of Chipude, where we stay for the first three nights.
La Gomera, the second smallest island of the Canaries, is also the least explored. Rising 1,487m above sea level, the island’s emerald peaks are home to one of Europe’s last remaining cloud forests. Add this to the island's lush valleys, awe-inspiring cliffs, glittering beaches and dramatic rock formations sculpted by centuries of volcanic activity, and you have a landscape that’s too beautiful not to explore on foot. Without the standard Canaries’ tourist-resort vibe, La Gomera has an adventurous air about it. The quiet, rural village of Chipude will be our home for the first three nights of this walking tour, before moving on to the pretty and low-key capital of San Sebastián.
Transfer time: 20 mins & 45 mins
- Welcome Drink & Dinner Included
Day Two: Journey to the top of Alto de Garajonay (1.487m)
The first walk of the week starts from our hotel. We head to the top of the island - the Alto de Garajonay. We pass near La Fortaleza, a massive volcanic mesa (flat-topped) formation used by the ancient Gomeros to pray to their gods. We flank the magnificent Erques Barranco and climb to Igualero, the highest village in La Gomera, where stands the monument to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Silbo Gomero, the whistled language of Gomera!!. From here to the top is a short distance.
On clear days, we can enjoy fantastic panoramic views across the whole of Gomera and several neighbouring islands. We then take the final descent to the main road and transfer back to our hotel.
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Length: 9,3 km / 5.8 miles
Walking Time: 4 hours
Ascent: +650m
Descent: -375m
Day Three: Chipude to Arure
Departing from our hotel in Chipude, an old paved path links the main mountain villages of this area. Our route takes us to El Cercado, famous locally for its traditional pottery, still made by women generation after generation without a potter’s wheel. We will also sample some local drinks - guarapo, mistela and gomerón. We continue to Las Hayas to discover the importance of palm trees for the local economy. From here we enter the evergreen laurel forest, intensely used before in this area and now protected as a National Park. A final descent to Arure leads us through the countryside where we will enjoy jaw-dropping views from Mirador del Santo where today’s walk come to its end.
It has been a long time since the island has experienced any volcanic eruption however the erosion over many centuries has made its part to sculpt La Gomera as we know it today.
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Length: 12,1 km (7.5 miles)
Walking Time: 5 hours
Ascent: +550m (1,800 ft)
Descent: -825m (2,700 ft)
Transfer Time: 20 min
Day Four: Day at leisure - Transfer to San Sebastian
After breakfast, we transfer to San Sebastián, on the east coast, our base for the final four nights. You can also join an optional whale watching excursion from Valle Gran Rey including views of the spectacular southwest cliffs.
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Five: Hike Vallehermoso
Our bus transfer takes us to the north of the island, passing by Hermigua valley and the lovely town of Agulo. Our hike starts from Vallehermoso and ascends until the ridge of Santa Clara and Chijeré. As we gain elevation over the valley, we come across several forms of vegetation: euphorbias, junipers, palm trees and laurel forests at different altitudes and require the various natural conditions to grow. La Gomera is an outstanding place for biodiversity.
After the picnic, we follow a gentle path offering great panoramic views over the northern part of the island. A steep rocky descent takes us down to the coast of Vallehermoso. Transfer back to San Sebastián.
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Length: 9,7 km / 6 miles
Walking Time: 4 hours
Ascent: +650m
Descent: -825m
Transfer Time: 60 min + 70 min
Day Six: Day At Leisure
Today we enjoy a well-earned day off. Perhaps discover the capital town of the island, the charm of Torre del Conde park and La Asunción church, or relax at La Cueva beach.
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Seven: Hiking in the National Park of Garajonay
Today, we enjoy a superb walk through the Laurisilva forest. Garajonay National Park has been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site title for being the best-preserved primary forest of its kind on the planet. Many species of trees, plants and animals have found its home in this green paradise. Our local guide will introduce you to its botanical richness outlining the importance of running water while crossing the park from south to north following the stream of El Cedro, until we reach the tiny hamlet of El Cedro, where we taste the local gastronomy.
The final part of the walk takes us to the imposing rock formations of Los Roques. We transfer back to our hotel in San Sebastián ready to enjoy our last evening together.
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Length: 9,8 km / 6.1 miles
Walking Time: 4 hours
Ascent: +550m
Descent: -800m
Transfer Time: 30 min + 25 min
Day Eight: Departure Day
We say goodbye to La Gomera and take the ferry back to Tenerife for our return flight back to the UK.
- Breakfast Included
Accommodation
Hotel Villa Gomera Two-star
The family-run Hotel Apartamentos Villa Gomera is located in the centre of San Sebastián de la Gomera. Just a five-minute walk from the beach and marina.
Facilities include
Breakfast room, as well as a reading and TV room.
Room includes
All rooms feature a flat-screen TV and private bathroom. Rooms have a safe, desk and wardrobe.
Dates & Prices
Frequently asked questions
Transfer Time
The transfer time from Tenerife South Airport to Chipude, La Gomera is approximately 4 hours, depending on weather and traffic and includes a ferry crossing.
Walking programme
Four guided walks are included in the programme. Your walking guide will advise you in resort of the daily programme. The walking programme is graded as Medium and you can expect to walk 9.3 to 11.7km per day, with ascents/descents (some of which are steep), rough underfoot terrain and high altitudes involved. This is not suitable for those who are nervous of heights or suffer from vertigo.
Below are the distances for each walk, however please bear in mind these are approximate and subject to change due to local conditions
Alto de Garajonay (1.487m)
Length: 9,3 km / 5.8 miles
Walking Time: 4 hours
Ascent: +650m
Descent: -375m
Chipude to Arure
Length: 12,1 km (7.5 miles) Walking Time: 5 hours Ascent: +550m (1,800 ft) Descent: -825m (2,700 ft) Transfer Time: 20 minHike Vallehermoso
Length: 9,7 km / 6 miles Walking Time: 4 hours Ascent: +650m Descent: -825m Transfer Time: 60 min + 70 minHiking in the National Park of Garajonay
Length: 9,8 km / 6.1 miles Walking Time: 4 hours Ascent: +550m Descent: -800m Transfer Time: 30 min + 25 min Length: 9,8 km / 6.1 miles Walking Time: 4 hours Ascent: +550m Descent: -800m It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in your chosen activity holiday. If you are unsure as to whether the walks are within your capabilities, please contact the office to discuss this matter, thus making sure you appreciate the terrain that you will be walking. You could be walking across uneven ground in some areas and extreme care must be taken, especially if wet. If used to using a pole/stick, it is advisable to bring it. Please appreciate the route and content of the holiday may change at the time and at the discretion of the guide/organiser, should conditions require. Solo’s Holidays Ltd cannot be held responsible for personal injury, accident or damage to property whilst on these walks other than incidents arising out of the company’s negligence. The guide has the right to refuse to guide a walk with anyone not properly attired.What to wear
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort.
The weather on La Gomera, is unpredictable – particularly in mountainous areas. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
- Walking boots with good ankle support
- Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
- Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
- Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
- Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
- Walking socks – several pairs
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Hat & gloves
- Daysack/rucksack for walking
- Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
- Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
- Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellant, etc
- Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
Gratuities
We suggest a Group Collection to cover transfer drivers, and hotel staff of €25 per person. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate % to add on.
Passport & Visa Entry
To enter the Canary Islands your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
- less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
A visa is not required by holders of passports endorsed “British Citizen” for stays of upto 90 days in any 180-day period. Please note that stays in other EU countries counts towards this 90 day period. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa, a valid passport and any other travel documents for your holiday.
All information provided relates to British citizens who hold or are entitled to apply for a British passport. For the most up-to-date visa information please visit; Spain Foreign Advice If you are not a British citizen and do not hold a British passport, you must make your own enquiries as to the applicable requirements.
Health Requirements
Compulsory vaccinations: None.
All clients are responsible for acquainting themselves with up to date health information of the countries being visited and where necessary take the required precautions. We recommend that you check with your doctor prior to departure as this information can change. You can also visit the travel health website for more information; Travel Health Spain
Currency
Euro
