Best Areas to Stay in La Gomera, Canary Islands

San Sebastián de La Gomera, known locally simply as San Sebastián or “La Villa”, is the most populated town and the capital of the island of La Gomera.

Located on the eastern coast of La Gomera, off the coast of the island of Tenerife, San Sebastián stands out for its typical Canarian architecture and its colourful houses built on steep slopes.

San Sebastián is home to La Gomera’s main port. Puerto de San Sebastián de La Gomera offers a marina and the main ferry terminal on the island. It also has boat connections to other parts of La Gomera, such as Playa Santiago and Valle Gran Rey.

San Sebastián de La Gomera is famous for being the last port of call for Christopher Columbus before leaving for the Americas in 1492. The house where Columbus stayed during the month he spent on the island is now a museum (Casa Colón).

The compact historic town centre of San Sebastián de La Gomera stands out for its colonial buildings. Among the main historical attractions of the island’s capital are the Torre del Conde, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the Hermitage of San Sebastián.

The Archaeological Museum of La Gomera offers cultural exhibitions about the Gomeros, the aboriginal people who inhabited the island before Spain conquered it.

La Villa is also home to famous beaches such as San Sebastián and La Cueva and other attractions such as the San Cristóbal Lighthouse.

Some of the sights around La Villa include Ávalo Beach, the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Playa de la Guancha and the Barranco del Cabrito.Being the most populated settlement and the island’s capital, San Sebastián de La Gomera also has the best public transport connections. From here you can travel by bus to other towns such as Valle Gran Rey, Vallehermoso, Alajeró, Hermigua, Playa Santiago and La Gomera airport.

Valle Gran Rey is a town located on the west coast of the island of La Gomera.

Known mainly for its beaches, Valle Gran Rey also includes the settlements of La Calera, Vueltas, La Puntilla and Playa del Inglés.

The port of Vueltas, located in the southern core of the town, offers marina facilities, recreational and diving tours and a boat transport service to Playa de Santiago and San Sebastián de la Gomera. In the nearby area, you can find numerous restaurants, bars and a large number of tourist apartments.

The coast of La Gomera is characterized by its white waters, and the beaches of Valle Gran Rey are no exception. That said, the nearby Charco del Conde, a natural pool, offers calm and crystalline waters, ideal for the whole family. The Charco del Conde bathing area also has services such as bathrooms, showers and areas for children.

Vueltas is connected to La Calera through Avenida Marítima La Playa – La Puntilla, a sea promenade with excellent views of the ocean and the nearby islets.

Near Playa del Inglés, in the northern end of town, you’ll find the Insular Centre for the Captive Breeding of the La Gomera giant lizard. Known as “Lagartario“, this conservation centre is dedicated to preserving this endemic endangered species. The centre is open to the public (visits must be arranged in advance).

The nearby Charco de Cieno is one of the last examples of natural marshes on the island and a meeting point for migratory birds.

Valle Gran Rey is connected to the island capital by bus line 1. The town also has direct connections to the airport (line 6). Additionally, the island ferry service Fred Olsen Express connects Vueltas with San Sebastián and Playa Santiago.

Playa de Santiago is a town in the municipality of Alajeró, in the south of the island of La Gomera.

Located 35 km by road from San Sebastián de La Gomera, this resort town is known for having one of the longest beaches on the island.

Like many places in the Canary Islands, Playa Santiago emerged as a small fishing village. In recent years, the settlement has experienced great growth thanks to its booming tourism industry.

Playa de Santiago is considered one of the main destinations for scuba diving tours of the archipelago. Thanks to its many caves and the incredible variety of ecosystems found on its seabed, Santiago is perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Avenida Marítima, which runs alongside its main beach, is home to many restaurants, bars and pubs.

Other beaches near Playa Santiago include Playa de Suárez, Playa del Medio, Playa de Chinguarime and Playa Ereses.

Playa Santiago is home to Tecina Golf, the only golf course on the island, and it is also very close to La Gomera Airport.

Garajonay National Park is the largest protected area in La Gomera.

Covering ​​40 square kilometres, this lush national park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Garajonay, like the rest of the island, has a volcanic origin and stands out for its extensive laurisilva and heather, fire and pine forests. The mild temperatures and high humidity of La Gomera have created the perfect microclimate for the development of unique ecosystems. A good part of the plant and animal species found in these forests can only be found on La Gomera.

In addition to its dense forest and endemic species, Garajonay is famous for Los Roques, impressive rock formations product of volcanic activity and erosion.

Some of these formations, such as La Fortaleza, were considered sacred by the Gomeros (the native people of the island) and were used as shelters during the conquest of the Canary Islands by the kingdom of Castile.

With an altitude of 1,487 metres, Alto de Garajonay is the highest point on the island. You can catch spectacular views of La Gomera and the neighbouring islands in the distance from its multiple viewpoints.

The park’s many forests are easy to explore. There are 18 hiking trails starting from different parts of the island. From the Garajonay National Park Visitor Centre, located in Juegos de Bolas (Agulo), you can hire free guided tours (available every Friday).

Being a sparsely populated area with little public transport, the best way to explore Garajonay is by car. Additionally, the park can be reached with organized tours and on foot through its many hiking trails.

Hermigua is a municipality located in the northeast of the island of La Gomera, 12 km from its capital, San Sebastián de la Gomera.

This municipality occupies a fertile valley extending from the centre of the island, in the vicinity of Garajonay National Park, to its northeast coast (Playa Hermigua).

With rugged terrain full of volcanic ravines, Hermigua Valley offers some of the best scenery on the island.

Its location, near Garajonay National Park and Majona Natural Park, makes Hermigua Valley one of the best areas to stay in La Gomera for nature enthusiasts.

A low population density characterizes this municipality. The main settlements are distributed throughout the valley and include Hermigua, Las Casas, Santa Catalina, El Estanquillo, El Tabaibal and El Estanquillo.

Some of the attractions of the Hermigua Valley include El Cedro Forest, the Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the Hermitage of San Juan, the Iglesia de la Encarnación, the Davit of Hermigua, the Gofio Los Telares Mill and the Ethnographic Museum of La Gomera.

The accommodation in Valle de Hemigua is made up of small hotels, rural houses and family-run guest houses.