La Gomera

Facts
Size: 378 sqkm
Population: approx. 1.8990
Capital: San Sebastian (approx. 5.000 inhabitants)

La Gomera , the small, green, mountainous island is a paradise for hikers with its rugged ravines, palm tree groves and its magical laurel forest. La Gomera and El Hierro the two smallest islands of the archipelago and not as opened up to tourism as the bigger islands. Because of that, they could maintain a lot if their original charm. La Gomera surprises the visitor with a variety of natural beauty and spectacles: picturesque artificial lakes, waterfalls at the end of a hiked through ravine, sheer rock landscapes with cactus showing off orange fruits or lovely valleys rich in water were fig trees grow like in a sub tropic natural garden. But the most noticeable thing are the more than 100.000 palm trees that grow in La Gomera and dominate the landscape. Gomera combines the most contrasting climate zones in a very small area. The green and rain rich north, the damp and foggy high lands and the dry south. The richer north of the island with its old churches, attractive mansions, exhibitions of traditional art and handiwork and its island museum is the more interesting part for one who is interested in culture. One should also participate in a wine tasting and visit the old ‘Gofio’-mill. The charm of the famous ‘Valle Gran Rey’ (Valley of the Great King) originates in the mixture of contrasting people. Here, there are hippies living in caves, dropouts who founded their own business and esoterics. The most beautiful sun sets one can experience at the slightly remote beach ‘Playa del Ingles’ with its rugged rock landscape.