Best Day Trips to La Gomera from Tenerife
La Gomera is an island of breathtaking wild and natural beauty: I tell you how to visit it from Tenerife and discover its rural charm.
Garajonay National Park | ©Lochabad
La Gomera is an island with landscapes that seem to be from another time and another place: wild vegetation, valleys covered with jungle and cliffs and sea views that transport you directly to infinity.
On your trip to Tenerife, you can take advantage of a day trip to La Gomera to marvel at its incredible beauty and discover a unique ecosystem in the world and World Heritage Site, the Canary laurel forest of the Garajonay National Park.
La Gomera Day Trip from Tenerife
The best value for money day trip to La Gomera
The best option to make the most of the day. You will visit the most charming villages of the island and its national park, the Garajonay, by bus. It also includes lunch and transfers to and from your hotel.
On this excursion you will discover the most impressive natural environments of the island with a local guide, in an air-conditioned bus and with a typical lunch included. You will depart by boat from the south coast of Tenerife (pick up at your hotel) and head to San Sebastian de La Gomera.
Once you arrive there, you will start the ascent to the Garajonay National Park. Declared a World Heritage Site, inside you will discover the ancient laurel forest. Another treasure of the National Park is the viewpoint of Degollada de Peraza, which offers stunning views of the Barranco de la Laja and Chejelipes dams.
You will follow the route through La Palmita until you reach the villages of Las Rosas and Agulo, in the north of the island. There, you will enjoy a typical Canarian meal while watching a live demonstration of the silbo gomero, an ancient method of communication created by the aboriginal Canary Islanders and adapted to Spanish over time.
On the way back, you will pass by some historical places of Christopher Columbus' life such as the Torre del Conde or the Casa de Colón, and you will see the villages of Chipude and El Cercado.
Positive: Among the operators that make excursions to La Gomera from Tenerife, this is the most complete in relation quality-price. You will discover the Garajonay and the most charming villages of the island in a full day and for a very good price for all that it includes.
Negative: Although an organized excursion is comfortable to visit the most essential parts of La Gomera, you will share the day with the group of tourists who will travel with you in the bus.
La Gomera Jeep Safari Tour from Tenerife
The most premium option to tour La Gomera in small groups.
You will live a less touristy and much more authentic experience in La Gomera. You will cross the island in 4x4 by less explored roads and you can make a one hour trekking through the Garajonay.
Another more expensive option, but which is a step up in experience, is this Jeep excursion. You will cover the less touristy corners (but more popular with the locals) and by going in smaller groups, you will be able to connect better with the guide and with the nature of the island.
After picking you up at your hotel in Tenerife, you will depart to La Gomera and by boat and 4x4 to the Garajonay National Park. You will cross the laurel forest and make a short walk of about an hour, before heading to the Hermigua Valley.
You will walk through the valley and its rural environment, with small houses along the road and crops on terraces. You will pass by banana and aloe vera plantations and you will stop on numerous occasions to enjoy the impressive panoramic views offered by the natural viewpoints scattered around the island.
Before returning to San Sebastian de La Gomera, you will enjoy a lunch of typical Canarian food in a local restaurant overlooking the Teide while being taught how to communicate in silbo gomero.
Positive: This excursion is much more intimate and personalized. Only 6 people can go at a time in the Jeep, so you can enjoy the day in a very small group, almost private. In addition, it includes a walking route through the Garajonay.
Negative: It is a long excursion that lasts a whole day, but the price$ 99 per person) is not affordable for everyone. Traveling in a very small group has an exclusivity that increases the cost compared to the previous option.
Why it is worth to visit La Gomera with an excursion from Tenerife
You will save time
If you are in Tenerife because you are looking for a vacation of sun, beach and lots of relaxation, spending a full day in La Gomera is the perfect plan to combine your trip. If you tried to do it on your own, it would be practically impossible to enjoy everything in one day: organizing the day, driving from one place to another, etc. With an excursion, the local guide will make sure you don't miss the most spectacular spots.
You will save money
If you visit the island on your own, it is important to have a vehicle, otherwise it is not worth it. The cost for 2 adults and 1 car is 185 € round trip, higher than the organized excursion.
You will have a local guide at your service
If you only have one day to visit La Gomera, time is money and a local guide will ensure you know the places you should not miss on this island. Let yourself be guided by his recommendations, take the opportunity to ask him all your questions, etc. If you also decide to take the Jeep tour, you will see a natural and wild perspective of the island in an almost private group that you could not get in any other way.
The ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera
The ferry for all excursions to La Gomera departs from Playa de los Cristianos in Tenerife. There are currently two companies operating this route: Fred Olsen and Naviera Armas. Both ferries are similar and make the journey in only 50 minutes. The ferries are very large and stable, with very comfortable padded seats.
If you want to go on your own, it is advisable to buy tickets in advance. You can find their official websites here and here.
The cost of round trip Tenerife - La Gomera for 2 adults and 1 car is around 185 €. Without a car, the price decreases significantly, but it limits so much the possibility of visiting the island that it is not worth it.
Practical tips to keep in mind during the excursion
- Don't forget your ID card or passport, as it will be necessary to board the ferry that will take you to La Gomera.
- In the case of the Jeep excursion, La Gomera port fees are not included in the price (10,50 € per person).
- If the weather is bad, the excursion will be postponed or cancelled, and your money will be refunded. Speaking of which, if for any reason you want to cancel the excursion, please do it at least 24 hours in advance to get a full refund.
What to see in La Gomera
These are the most outstanding places in La Gomera, which you can visit with an excursion or on your own:
San Sebastian de la Gomera
Taking the ferry from Tenerife you will reach San Sebastián de La Gomera in about 50 minutes. You can visit some of its points of interest, such as the Museo Casa de Colón (in this small town, Columbus stopped before setting sail to the Americas) and the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, a beautiful temple that will transmit you the rural charm that you can find in other places of La Gomera. Either on arrival or before taking the ferry back to Tenerife, it is worth taking a short walk through the streets and visit its squares and stores.
Tower of the Count
The Torre del Conde is the most outstanding monument of San Sebastian de La Gomera. It is a very special 15th century fortress for two reasons: the very original white decor mixed with the brick and, above all, it is the southernmost medieval (gothic) construction in the world! The Torre del Conde is a real eye-catcher with a background of palm trees.
Alojera
The beautiful village of Alojera is off the beaten tourist track, and to reach it you will have to cross roads along cliffs where you can stop to enjoy the views. The local product is palm syrup, a delicacy that you can taste and even take bottled as a souvenir.
The beach of Alojera is a marvel and you can bathe with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean in a natural environment of palm trees and paradisiacal sand.
Garajonay National Park
The Garajonay National Park is the jewel of the island. Declared a World Heritage Site, it is a spectacular Biosphere Reserve along with the entire island. It is located in the center of La Gomera, full of trails to walk and viewpoints with breathtaking views. It is a trip to the past of the planet because it has the best preserved laurel forest in Europe. This type of rainforest covered practically the entire Old Continent millions of years ago.
Roque de Agando
If you are looking for photos of La Gomera, there is a high probability that you will find a rock formation that stands out among green, clouds and palm trees: it is the Roque de Agando. The excursion should not miss a stop to immortalize the most emblematic point of the island.
Valle Gran Rey
Finally, the viewpoints on the way to Valle Gran Rey: the viewpoint of the Ermita del Santo offers spectacular views from a huge cliff where you can see, on a clear day, the islands of El Hierro and La Palma, and from the viewpoint of César Manrique you cansee the valley in all its splendor.
A good restaurant to eat is Restaurante El Mirador, an unpretentious place but with nice views from the terrace, and it also has a small cactus garden that you can visit.
Alex's Traveller Tip
There are some very nice souvenirs you can take back with you from La Gomera: a bottle of palm syrup, traditional pottery from El Cercado, or a jar of almogrote or mojo are perfect souvenirs of your trip.
What else can I see and do in Tenerife?
Tenerife is an island full of contrasts and places to discover so do not worry, you will never have too much time. If you feel like enjoying the Atlantic waters, the best option is to take a whale watching boat trip (dolphins and whales), as Tenerife is one of the best places in the world to do so.
You can also go kayaking and snorkeling with turtles and of course, climb the Teide, the jewel of the island.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth going to La Gomera from Tenerife?
Yes: La Gomera is a unique island for its vegetation and landscapes and its small size makes it the perfect excursion to spend a day discovering its most striking corners.
How long does the ferry to La Gomera from Tenerife take?
The ferry takes 50 minutes, and is large, stable and comfortable.
Is it worth joining an excursion to La Gomera from Tenerife or is it better to go on your own?
If you only have one day, it is best to join an organized excursion where you will be taken to see the essential points of the island so that you can optimize your time to the maximum, without having to rent a car or invest time in elaborating your own itinerary.
Is one day enough to discover La Gomera?
La Gomera is an incredible island and the more days you can dedicate to it, the better. But if you only have one day, it is worth taking a tour so that you can get to know this magnificent island while taking advantage of your trip to Tenerife.