Description
La Gomera -the walkers paradise
Grade 
Explore the walker’s paradise that is La Gomera – dramatic deep cut gorges, ancient laurel forest, the magnificent Roques, and palm covered valleys with the ever present views of neighbouring Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro.
Price: £1345
– Single supplement £250
Duration:
8 nights/9 days
Next departure:
– Feb 24th 2027
La Gomera has been on my wish list for quite some years, I’d heard rumours of the excellent walking and the quiet, unspoiled nature of the island. However, nothing prepared me for just how amazing a place it is. Stunning scenery, remnants of volcanic activity in the form of the lava plug Roques distributed around the island, beautifully made paths, constant views out across the water to neighboring Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro, and quality accommodation. I went out thinking that it would be good to put a holiday together here, I came back completely blown away by this special island and knowing that I absolutely had to put a holiday together!
If you only ever do one Ads Ventures holiday, make it this one.
Holiday highlights
- Discover the varied and dramatic landscapes of La Gomera.
- Walk amongst La Gomera’s iconic rock formations, the Roques, for far reaching views across the island and beyond.
- Climb the highest peak of La Gomera, Garajonay for views across the island and over to Tenerife, El Hierro and La Palma
- Stay in the lovely family run Tamahuche Hotel in Vallehermoso and walk the trails criss-crossing this spectacular area.
- Ascend to the glass floored view point at Juegos de Bolas on an incredible gravity defying, beautifully engineered path.
Accommodation
We use three centres for this holiday. The first and last nights are spent in the 5* Grand Muthu Golf Plaza Hotel and Spa situated just a few kilometres from Tenerife South Airport to make transfers to and from the airport as easy as possible. On La Gomera two very different and contrasting centres have been chosen to give a true flavour of the different aspects of the island; San Sebastian and Vallehermoso. The first 4 nights will be spent in the capital of La Gomera, at the 3* Torre del Conde Hotel in rooms overlooking the emblematic tower itself. The remaining 2 nights are spent in Vallehermoso nestled in amongst the mountains of La Gomera in the lovely family run Hotel Rural Tamahuche.
Breakfasts are taken in the hotel; evening meals are taken in the hotel or in local restaurants.
Grand Hotel Golf Plaza Hotel and Spa: nights 1 and 8
Grand Muthu Golf Plaza Hotel and Spa is a 5* hotel located in Tenerife Golf de Sur, 5 miles from Tenerife South Airport. On arrival you can settle into your junior suite and take advantage of the outdoor swimming pools, gardens, and spa, or wander down to the harbour of San Miguel de Abona, a 10-minute walk from the hotel to get you into the holiday mood.
Breakfasts and evening meals are taken in the hotel.
Hotel Torre del Conde, San Sebastian: nights 2 to 5
The Hotel Torre del Conde is set in the centre of the main town and port of La Gomera, San Sebastian. Rooms have been recently refurbished, are bright and spacious and overlook the emblematic Torre del Conde Park next to the hotel. All are ensuite and have air conditioning and a minibar. It is an ideal location for which to explore the east side of the island.
Evening meals are taken in the hotel or local restaurants.
Tamahuche Hotel Rural, Vallehermoso: nights 6 and 7
Tamahuche Hotel Rural is a small hotel located in the tiny town of Vallehermoso. It is surrounded by nature and stunning views and is at the center of many of the islands walking routes. The cozy and comfortable rooms are all ensuite.
Breakfasts and evening meals are taken in the hotel’s elegant restaurant.
Single supplement
Single occupancy supplement: £250
Included
- Half board ensuite accommodation for 8 nights.
- Guided walking on 6 days, with a further day free for you to explore the island.
- Transfer from Tenerife to La Gomera by coach and ferry.
- All transport to and from walks.
- Baggage transport between centres.
- 7 evening meals taken in the hotel or local restaurants. The evening of the day off is free for you to sample local restaurants.
Not included
- Flights -you book these yourself, but please do not book until the minimum number for the holiday is reached. I will let you know when this is.
- Lunches
- One evening meal
- Incidental expenses such as bar bill etc
- Transfers to and from the airport, however, please see information below.
Transfers
Transfers from the airport to the hotel in Golf de Sur are not included in the holiday cost. On arrival, Grand Muthu Golf Plaza Hotel is close to the airport and can be reached by taxi (25 euros approximately) or local bus. More detail will be included in the final joining instructions.
On departure we stay at the same hotel, and so again it is possible to take buses or taxis the short distance back to the airport.
Day-to-Day Itinerary
The following is the proposed itinerary for this holiday. However, please bear in mind that in the event of local conditions changing, for example, due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary to change the itinerary.
Day 1: Arrive in Tenerife South Airport
Transfer to 5* Muthu Golf Plaza Hotel and Spa.
Flights are not included in the cost of the holiday, however, flights to Tenerife South are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. Once the minimum number to run the holiday has been reached, I will give you the go-ahead to book your flight. Please do not book before then.
The hotel is situated 8 km from Tenerife South Airport. On arrival, take a taxi from the airport taxi rank (25 euros approximately) or a bus to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax by the pool, visit the spa, or walk down to the harbour of San Miguel de Abona.
We will meet at 7:15 pm in the hotel bar to discuss the week ahead.
Meals included: dinner
Day 2: Transfer to La Gomera and the Torre del Conde Hotel.
Walk the GR132 through the Majona Natural Park to San Sebastian
Our private transport picks us up from the Muthu Golf Plaza in the morning to transfer us to the port of Los Cristianos for the 50-minute ferry journey to La Gomera. On arrival, we drop our bags at the Torre del Conde Hotel, our home for the next 4 nights, and then head out of San Sebastian, up to Casetas a few km away. From here we climb into the Parque de Natural Majona and cross the shoulder of the peak of Jaragan before beginning our gradual descent down to San Sebastian. Our journey along this beautiful ridge takes us past etched out caves and the old terraces of Lomo de las Nieves before reaching the outskirts of San Sebastian itself. The views around us are incredible. To the left, out over the north of the island, to the right, tantalising views of the Roques to be explored on future days, and in front of us, Teide on neighbouring Tenerife, is our constant companion. Could there be a better introduction to walking on La Gomera?
Distance 10.5 km, ascent 375 m, descent 795 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 3: La Laja and the Roques
Today we take transport up to Mirador Degollada de Peraza and descend on an ancient stone path to the village of Laja for superb views from this sunny slope up and along the valley as we walk. From the tiny village of Laja we ascend, this time through the ancient pine forest that the island is famous for. Periodically, views of the giant lava plugs of Los Roques appear in front of us through the trees. On reaching the GR131 the full extent of Los Roques opens out in front of us, Agando, Zarcita and Ojila. We follow this route into their midst for a few hundred metres to take in views from the various miradors before turning back to return to Degollada de Peraza. Our route takes us through a beautiful section of pine wood and up to the mirador at the Ermita de las Nieves for more stunning views before our final descent and transport back to the hotel.
12 km, 600 m ascent, 750 m descent
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 4: Chipude and Garajonay
A UNESCO World Heritage Park since 1986, the ancient laurel forest of the Garajonay National Park also contains the peak of Garajonay which at 1487 m is the highest point on La Gomera and offers fantastic views across the island, over to Tenerife, La Palma, and El Hierro and is our objective for today’s walk!
We start from the mountain village of Chipude and follow the GR131 as it passes through a couple of hamlets and then close to the peak of Fortaleza, the distinctive table-top mountain of La Gomera. For the remainder of the trail up to Garajonay the views down the valley to La Dama on the coast are breathtaking. Once at the peak, we will take some time to explore the various miradors to take in the views before we return to Chipude via a different route through Los Manatiales. There may even be time to have a refreshing drink in the excellent Bar Sonia before returning to San Sebastian.
Distance 12.5 km, ascent 600 m, descent 600 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Free day
Today is free for you to make your own explorations of La Gomera. You could stay in San Sebastian for the day, and explore the pretty harbour, Columbus’s house and well and the church of the incarnation. Alternatively you could take a bus over to explore Valle Gran Rey or one of the other valleys that we won’t get a chance to visit on this holiday.
Dinner is not included this evening so that you can make your own arrangements and try one of the restaurants in town.
Meals included: breakfast
Day 6: Vallehermoso and the Cumbre de Chijere
Today we transfer to Vallehermoso, literally beautiful valley in Spanish, to continue our exploration of this amazing island. The trails leading in and around Vallehermoso are so extensive that you could walk here for weeks. Sadly, we have to limit ourselves to the best two or three! We drop our bags at the charming family run, Tamahuche Hotel, our new base for the next two nights, and then head out on the stupendous Cumbre de Chijere circuit. We ascend on a well-maintained old camino to the Teselinde massif -the hills between Vallehermoso and the coast -and the Ermita Santa Clara. What a view! A pleasant mountain ramble follows along the Cumbre, fantastic views open up across the northwest tip of the island and the Roque de Los Organos. As we descend to Playa de Vallehermoso, astounding views of the Vallehermoso Valley and Roque Caro open up. A pleasant walk up the valley returns us to the town, and our hotel. What a walk!
13 km, 500 m ascent, 700 m descent
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 7: Epina
Today we walk to exactly the same point as the previous day, Ermita Santa Clara, but this time we approach from a completely different direction, for a splendid walk offering a succession of incredible views of La Palma and El Hierro as well as the north of the island from a lovely trail.
There is only one useful service bus on the island, the 9:30 out of Vallehermoso, the others are either too early or too late. And so this morning we will take the bus to Chorros de Epina.
We start by exploring the Epina springs and then return to the GR132 trail descending at first but then climbing to follow an easy up-and-down path with a constant view of neighbouring La Palma to start and then El Hierro as we progress. There is an optional out and back (1.5 km and 50 m ascent/descent) to the Ermita of yesterday but worth it for the outlook, before we return to Epina via a different and slightly higher lying route which also offers excellent panorama views. We can wait for our return transport in the Chorros de Epina Bar.
Distance 12 km, ascent 400 m, descent 400 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 8: Agulo to Juego de Bolas
Transfer to Grand Hotel Golf Plaza Hotel and Spa, Tenerife South
I must admit that when I first researched this route I thought, “nah, there is no way I’ll be able to do this with a group”, but then I recced it and I realised that it is just too remarkable to leave out! Who made this path and why? Clearly ancient and beautifully engineered, it seems to defy physics to take you to the viewpoint at Juego de Bolas. It is truly one of the most remarkable paths I’ve ever walked on. We transfer in the morning to Agulo, reputedly the prettiest village on La Gomera (and it is lovely) we will begin by trying to trace the path up the cliff face in front of us. I didn’t manage it, but we can have a go! And then we climb, steeply at first and then slightly less steeply as the path zigs and zags its way up. At the Mirador we will have elevenses and photos, maybe even a group photo in the glass cube for those who have the head for it! From here we complete a short circuit around the bizarre Mars type landscape that we have walked into and then return to Agulo by an altogether more forgiving route. There should be time to explore Agulo before we continue the transfer to San Sebastian to take the ferry to Tenerife for our final night and dinner in the Muthu Golf Hotel and Spa.
Distance 7 km, ascent/descent 570 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 8
The holiday finishes after breakfast, all that remains is the short transfer to Tenerife South Airport for your return flight back to the UK.
Meals included: breakfast
Kit list
Please note that whilst we hope that it will be warm and sunny on La Gomera, as a small island it is prone to changeable weather and that some of the walks take us to relatively high altitudes ie it could be cold!
- Good walking boots or shoes suitable for rocky terrain.
- Walking/trekking poles strongly recommended for this trip
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Lightweight, quick drying trousers
- Base layer
- Mid-layer such as a fleece jacket and an additional ‘spare’ layer depending on the forecast
- Walking socks
- Warm hat and gloves -just in case the weather turns
- Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun block
- Day sack (25 litre capacity is a good size) to comfortably carry your kit, lunch and water
- Dry bag or rucksack cover to keep the contents of your daypack dry
- Water bottle
- Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic etc)
- Some snacks to keep you going
Maps
La Gomera and El Hierro Tour and Trail Super Durable map.
Group size
This guided holiday will have a maximum group size of 14.
Insurance
It is a condition of booking (see terms and conditions) that you have insurance for this holiday.
