How to have fun on La Gomera? What activities are worth travelling to the second smallest Canary Island?
Hiking
La Gomera is a hiker's paradise. The island is criss-crossed with hundreds of kilometres of marked trails that are well maintained and very varied.
You can plan your holiday on Gomera so that you walk the entire island almost exclusively on foot, but it's also good to take short road-trips around the island, stopping to take a short circular route back to your car.
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What do the trails on Gomera look like?
The main trails are well marked and maintained. However, you have to expect very steep sections in places. Climbing equipment or knowledge is not needed on any section of the trails, but good physical fitness definitely is.
After rain, parts of the trails can also be muddy and very slippery!
La Gomera is not as popular as, say, Tenerife or Gran Canaria. You will meet other travellers on the hiking trails, but the frequency is much lower than on the larger islands.
In the more remote parts of Gomera, you will often not meet anyone for more than an hour.
What are the best routes on the island?
Where do the hiking trails lead to and from, and how difficult are they?
There are plenty of hiking trails on Gomera and below we've compiled our experiences and our tips for the best routes.
We were unable to find official online hiking maps and most of the time we used the mapy.cz app, which reliably shows most of the routes.
Medium routes (3-6 hours)
Most hikers use the routes for 3 hours to half a day.
- Ruta 18 - probably the most famous circular route, during which you visit the highest mountain Alto de Garajonay, the famous Mirador del Morro de Agando viewpoint or the picturesque El Cedrovalley
- Camino la Mérica - an ethereally beautiful route that follows a ridge throughout with magical views of the Valle Gran Rey and the rugged dramatic west coast of Gomera
- Ruta 17 - popular circular route from the Degollada de Peraza viewpoint through the village of La Laja and past the famous Los Roques rock formations
- Arure - Alojera - a challenging route through the most beautiful valleys of Gomera, from Arure steeply down and up through Tagulucuhe to the village of Alojera
- Route 15 - runs from Chipude through the deep canyons and past the beautiful chapel of Ermita de Guará to Valle Gran Rey
Short routes (up to 2 hours)
The shorter routes are ideal for travellers with a rental car who always have to return to the same place.
Compare prices for car rental in Gomera
- Alto de Garajonay - 3 options for climbing Gomera's highest mountain, detailed here
- Ruta 37 - a breathtaking route through the steep gorge between El Cedro and Hermigua
- Steep but short
- 3.5 km / 1 hour one way
- Route map
Long distance multi-day routes
There are 2 famous long-distance routes that run across Gomera, usually split over several days.
- GR-131 - the route runs across the island from north to south
- Starts at Vallehermoso beach
- Continues up into the mountains and through the villages of Las Hayas, El Cercado, Chipude and Igualero to reach the highest mountain , Alto de Garajonay
- It continues past the famous Los Roques rock formations down to the sea
- Ends in the largest city of San Sebastián
- Total length - 38.5 km
- Route map
- Tip for overnight stay on the way - Hotel Sonia Chipude **
- GR-132 - a grand tour around the entire island
- Usually divided into 6 stages
- San Sebastian - Hermigua
- Hermigua - Vallehermoso
- Vallehermoso - Alojera
- Alojera - Valle Gran Rey
- Valle Gran Rey - La Dama
- La Dama - Playa Santiago
- Playa Santiago - San Sebastián
- Total length - 138 km
- Route map
- Usually divided into 6 stages
If you wish to stay in hotels or apartments while travelling along the circular GR-132, we recommend booking early, especially in these locations where accommodation is very limited:
- Alojera - accommodation tip: Vivienda Vacacional La Era
- La Dama - accommodation tip: Casa Angel y Carmen
Map of hiking trails in La Gomera
The above routes, which we have at least partially completed, are plotted on our map.
The map is current as of 2026.
Beaches and swimming
Although La Gomera isn't primarily a beach destination, with Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote being the main islands to visit, there are some nice beaches and resorts here too.
View the best hotels near the beach
Where are the best beaches on La Gomera?
Valle Gran Rey
The liveliest and largest resort is the town of Valle Gran Rey in the southwest of the island.
Here you'll find long beaches with black volcanic sand, promenades with plenty of restaurants and shops, and cruise options.
Playa Santiago
This quiet town near the airport is ideal for a relaxing holiday.
There are two black volcanic sand beaches right in town and another deserted one outside of town accessible by road.
San Sebastian
The island's largest city also has its own beaches, although we wouldn't spend our entire holiday here. The previous resorts definitely have nicer beaches, but those in San Sebastian are perfect for a quick break while exploring Gomera.
The rocky, photogenic beaches
Gomera's rugged coastline has dozens of other beaches, but the vast majority of them have large rocks and making entering the water uncomfortable or downright dangerous.
However, some beaches are worth a trip for their beauty alone. We would highlight these two in particular:
Whale and dolphin watching
The Canary Islands are an extremely popular destination for whale and dolphin watching, as the waters and straits between the islands offer some of the best conditions for whales in Europe.
The waters around the islands of Gomera and Tenerife are among the best for large whale watching of all the Canary Islands.
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What are the prices and where to book?
Tourist agencies organising whale watching cruises are mainly based outside the ferry dock in Valle Gran Rey in the Vueltas area.
For all agencies, you can book the tour at the booth on site or online at their website. Especially in the summer season, we recommend booking online at least 2 days in advance.
There are several agencies to choose from:
The trip usually lasts 3 to 4 hours and prices are around 45 eur per person.
Small snacks in the form of drinks and tapas are always included.
When is the best time for whale watching?
The main whale watching season around the island of Gomera is spring and autumn. From the end of March to June, the large whales are most common.
Smaller whales such as sperm whales and dolphins appear year-round, but you can also see large humpback whales all year round.
Even during the winter, the chances of seeing at least the smaller species of whales or dolphins are almost 100%.
The most beautiful sights
La Gomera is one of the most rugged of all the Canary Islands and these conditions make for an incredible array of sights.
There are views literally every few metres along the roads and all the hiking trails, and to list them all here would be completely pointless.
However, we'll add our picks for the viewpoints we've visited and which have charmed us.
- Mirador de Abrante
- Mirador del Morro de Agando
- Alto de Garajonay
- Mirador de El Santo
- Mirador Punta del Belete
- Mirador de Igualero
