The Island of La Gomera

The numerous ancient paths throughout the island make it a walker’s paradise.  Cars or mountain bikes can be hired to explore the land while scuba diving or a boat trip round the island will reveal it’s spectacular coastline, where steep cliffs plunging down to the sea are interspersed with pebble or exotic black sandy beaches.
	La Gomera is the second smallest and also the oldest of the 7 Canary Islands. It is barely 30 kms - a 45 minute ferry ride - away from Tenerife, but it is a different world! The island is almost circular, with the lush, laurel-forested heights of Garajonay rising to 1,487m. (5000 ft approximately) in the centre, from which deep, palm tree filled ravines (barrancos) radiate out to the coast. This laurisilver forest has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
There are magnificent views from almost every spot on the island. Villages are scattered along its circular perimeter and in valleys; lush, terraced hillsides make use of every foot of arable land; and twisting winding, hairpin roads lead from one town or sight to another.	La Gomera has an even climate all year around, with temperatures at the coast usually between 20 - 25 C°. But in the mountains it can get quite cold.  The cool trade winds blowing in off the Atlantic and warmer breezes clash to create mists which float through the dense forest,  providing a valuable source of moisture for the forest as well as feeding the island's springs.