A Day Trip from Tenerife to La Gomera

It never ceases to amaze me how few of the millions of annual visitors to Tenerife have ever set foot on the island that lies just 39 kilometres (21 miles) off the coast and forms the backdrop to nightly sunsets all the way from Los Cristianos to Los Gigantes. Despite its proximity and the fact that there are daily ferry sailings from Los Cristianos, La Gomera remains by and large as distinct from Tenerife as it’s possible to be.

Second smallest of the Canary Islands after its westerly neighbour El Hierro, La Gomera is only 25 kilometres from east to west and 22 kilometres from north to south. But don’t let that fool you into thinking you can probably explore it in half a day and still be back at your Tenerife hotel for lunch. Carved into deep barrancos (gorges), La Gomera is a time consuming island to travel around and it takes a confident driver to feel relaxed on its mountainous roads. So the best way to spend a day on La Gomera is either to stay in and around the capital of San Sebastian or to take a coach tour.

What to see in San Sebastian de la Gomera
La Gomera’s greatest claim to fame is that it was Columbus’ last point of call and therefore the setting off point for the voyage that was to change the face of the globe. Unable to lay anchor at Tenerife which at that time was still unconquered, Columbus ‘stocked up on supplies’ at La Gomera, or at least that’s the excuse he gave for visiting the island’s beautiful, widowed wife of the Governor – Beatriz de Bobadilla.

Pozo de la Aguada/Casa de la Aguada. Home to the Tourist Office where you can pick up a street map, there’s a small well in the courtyard from which Columbus allegedly drew his water supplies for the onward voyage to the end of the world.

Torre del Conde. Clearly visible and an icon of San Sebastian is the brick tower which stands in a small park and in which the island’s cruel governor, Hernán Peraza, tried to keep safe from uprisings of the natives.

La Asunción Church is sometimes billed as the place where Columbus prayed before setting sail. In fact the church Columbus visited fell into ruin centuries ago and this one is built on the site.

Take the Tour
To see a little more of La Gomera, book a coach tour which will take you on the early ferry to explore San Sebastian and then drive you up through the island’s mountains to the ancient rainforest of the Garajonay National Park. In winter be sure to take a fleece with you as temperatures in the forest are a far cry from those on the beaches of Costa Adeje. Stopping to breathe in the incredible views from various points on the route, a demonstration of the island’s whistling language of El Silbo is usually included in the tour.

Getting there:
Ferries depart from Los Cristianos port to San Sebastian three times daily and take around 40 minutes. The current first ferry out is at 9am and last ferry back is at 5.30pm but schedules change with the seasons. Tickets are from €30-€35 per person each way but there are regular offers which you’ll see on billboards around the resort and at the port ticket office.