Updated in January 18, 2019
In the UNESCO world heritage list since 1987, here you’ll find the largest laurisilva forest in Spain. It is a type of temperate and extremely humid forest. The mountainous orography of La Gomera, with a central raised area and multiple mountain peaks, makes the clouds become trapped in the valleys between these crests. Plants grown here have evolved so they not only capture soil water but also the environmental humidity. The result is one of the most spectacular and unique national parks in Europe, as this type of rainforest does not exist in any other part of Europe apart from Canary Islands in Spain, and Madeira and the Azores in Portugal.
There is public transportation, but definitely the best way to get around the park and the island is by a rental car. It will allow you to go more areas in forest, because all of them are not contiguous.
Also famous in the park is the Roque de Agando.
HERMIGUA VALLEY
Hermigua is in our opinion the best place to stay as it is near the Garajonay and it is set in a beautiful valley that is also a hiking path which leads to the park. We stayed at Los Telares.
A basalt columns cliff. These columns are formed by fracturing quenched lava during the solidification process; they are generally vertical. Reminds organ pipes, that’s why its name. It is one of the most important of its kind in Spain along with Castellfollit de la Roca in Gerona or Rapadura on Tenerife Island. It can only be seen from the sea. The boats are taken on the beaches of Valle Gran Rey and Playa de Santiago, cost between 35 and 40 € and takes around 3 hours.
The same companies that offer trips to the organs usually offer dolphins and whale watching tours also for 40 € approximately.
BEACHES
La Gomera is not known for its beaches compared to other Canary Islands, since although beautiful, they are mostly rocky coves of black volcanic sand. In some walls have been built to form seminatural pools for bathing. For those interested, the main are in Hermigua (highlighted by the pillars of a large abandoned load crane), Vallehermoso and Valle Gran Rey.
THE SILBO
It is a whistled language in La Gomera, developed and used for hundreds of years to communicate over long distances. Included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Unesco. Close to disappear in the twenty-first century because of mobile phones, it’s currently studied in Canary schools. You can attend demonstrations at some restaurants. For more information visit the Tourist Office in San Sebastián de La Gomera or Valle Gran Rey.
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Impressed you have seen los organos! After several months on Gomera we never got to see it…
Definitely one of our favorite islands as you see on our blog.
Peace!
PS
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