Valle Gran Rey is the most touristy area on Gomera, combining a lively beach resort with Gomera's longest beaches, beautiful villages and absolutely breathtaking views of the deep valley from the high surrounding mountains.
In addition to beach hiking, Valle Gran Rey is one of the main centres for hiking trails that run along the edges of cliffs up to 900 metres high and through the peaceful landscape of fields and villages on the valley floor.
Book a hotel in Valle Gran Rey
The best beaches
Valle Gran Rey is the destination of choice for travellers who love beaches and swimming in the sea. Nowhere else in Gomera are the beaches as long and as sandy as here.
All the beaches here are covered with black volcanic sand and are usually mixed with pebbles or cobbles, especially at the entrance to the water, but they are still pleasant to lie on and walk on.
Where are the best beaches in Valle Gran Rey?
Playa de La Puntilla + Playa de La Calera
Although these two beaches are formally separated by a dry river for most of the year, they actually form one long beach stretching from La Calera to La Puntilla.
The two beaches together measure about 750 metres and there is always plenty of space.
At the northern and southern ends, the beaches encroach on the towns and are surrounded by a promenade with restaurants and shops. The middle part of the beach runs outside the town and is quieter.
Playa de Vueltas
This small urban beach is located near the port of Vueltas and has beautiful scenery as the 650m high cliffs rise directly above it.
The beach is considerably smaller than the ones mentioned above, but on the other hand, it's right in town, so you'll have complete facilities at your fingertips.
Just a 2-minute walk away is the ferry port, as well as stalls from companies offering whale watching cruises.
Playa del Inglés
This very natural beach can be found about 800 metres from the town of La Calera and is surrounded by beautiful photogenic cliffs.
The beach is nude, but many of its visitors routinely wear swimsuits.
There are no facilities immediately adjacent to the beach, the nearest restaurants are about 700 metres away in the village of La Calera.
Views of the valley
Valle Gran Rey is the name for a deep and one of the longest valleys in all of Gomera, in addition to a collection of villages.
Already when you drive along the main road along the countless serpentine roads, there are viewpoints built in many places with safe parking spaces.
The most famous viewpoint is undoubtedly the Mirador de la Curva del Queso.
The lower and lower you drive down to the sea, the more idyllic villages with fields and palm-covered hillsides will appear.
With so many sights to see, be sure to add at least 20 minutes to your scheduled trip when driving to Valle Gran Rey to make frequent stops for photos.
Lively resorts
Valle Gran Rey is made up of several towns that form one community. After the largest town , San Sebastián, this is definitely the busiest part of Gomera.
By the sea, there are three main districts separated by a strip of beaches.
- Vueltas - a district with a small beach, a marina, tourist agencies and a few restaurants. There is also a SPAR supermarket about 400 metres from the beach.
- Playa de La Calera - a smaller and very touristy neighbourhood with a lively promenade full of restaurants and also a SPAR supermarket
- La Calera - a more inland village with a petrol station
Where to stay
Valle Gran Rey has the most accommodation of any place in Gomera.
The best classic hotels by the beach
If you prefer conventional hotels, in Valle Gran Rey we'd recommend these:
- Hotel Playa Calera **** - a good hotel in the centre of the town just 50 metres from the beach, restaurants and supermarkets
- Hotel Gran Rey *** - a well rated hotel in the quieter area of La Puntilla
Most of the accommodations are apartment complexes with fully equipped apartments (usually with a kitchen where you can fully cook for yourself).
- Complejo Las Tres Palmeras - The cheapest apartments with very good ratings in the quieter part of Playa de la Calera
- Casa Camilo - the best apartment right by the sea with a terrace from where you can watch unforgettable sunsets
How to get there
The resort is easily accessible by car and bus.
Parking
Valle Gran Rey is accessed by a beautiful main road that descends from the mountains to the sea through a deep valley via many serpentine roads and several tunnels.
Parking in high season from May to October is a big problem. You can park anywhere for free (except where there is a yellow line along the road, where parking is not allowed).
However, parking spaces right next to the sea are scarce and tend to be taken already around 8:30 in the morning.
Your best chance of parking is along the main streets away from the sea.
Buses
In Valle Gran Rey, there is a central bus station near the petrol station about 1.5km from the sea, however all bus routes also go directly to the beaches in both the main resorts of Playa de La Calera and Vueltas.
The following bus routes run to Valle Gran Rey:
- Line 1: Valle Gran Rey - Arure - El Cercado - Chipude - Igualero - Pajarito - Mirador de los Roques - Degollada de Perasa - San Sebastian
- 5 times a day from Monday to Saturday; 2 times a day on Sundays and public holidays
- Map and timetable
- Line 6: Valle Gran Rey - Arure - El Cercado - Chipude - Igualero - Alajeró - Gomera Airport
- Runs according to the current flight schedule 3-4 times a day
- Map and timetable
- Line 8: Vallehermoso - Arure - Valle Gran Rey
- 3 times a day Monday to Saturday; no service on Sundays and public holidays
- Map and timetable
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in La Gomera.
