Key details
What will you see on La Gomera?
La Gomera is 40 minutes by ferry from Los Cristianos and it is another world: no big airport, no resort sprawl and half the island protected. If the touristy south of Tenerife has been too much, this is the antidote. The trip runs every day except Sunday, meeting at the Terminal at 08:40 or with pick-up in your area beforehand, so expect an early start.
The route takes in San Sebastián, the port Columbus sailed from in 1492; Garajonay National Park, a laurel forest that is a living fossil from the Tertiary period and where you really understand why the island is protected; the Roque de Agando; and the village of Agulo. It is a lot for one day, so it moves fast: think of it as a taster to decide whether to come back and stay, not an in-depth visit.
It includes a demonstration of silbo gomero, the whistled language used to speak from one ravine to the next, listed by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage, plus a local lunch. Who it works for: anyone who has already spent several days in Tenerife and wants a different one. Who it does not: if you only have three or four days on the island, this eats a quarter of your trip and you may prefer to spend it on Teide.
Is La Gomera worth it in a single day?
Yes, but it helps to know what you are signing up for. It is ten to eleven hours door to door, meeting at 08:40 in Los Cristianos, and the day is split between the ferry, mountain roads and four stops. You see the essentials of the island, but you see them in passing: at each place you have just enough time to take it in properly, not to wander off into it.
What justifies the day is the contrast. In forty minutes of ferry and an hour of road you go from the dry south of Tenerife to a laurel forest with mist and damp, a landscape that has almost vanished everywhere else in Europe. That feeling of having changed worlds without boarding a plane is what people remember afterwards.
When we would not recommend it
We would rather say it beforehand than afterwards. There are cases where this plan is not worth it:
- If it is your only free day and what you want is beach and rest: this is a long day on a coach, not on a sunlounger.
- If you are travelling with small children: between the early start, the ferry and the winding mountain roads, the day gets very long for them.
- If you get travel sick in cars and on boats alike: the crossing is short, but the roads on La Gomera are one bend after another.
- If what you want is to genuinely hike in Garajonay: an organised day gives you stops and viewpoints, not a walking route. For that you need to stay overnight on the island.
Organised excursion or going on your own by ferry
Going on your own is perfectly possible: you take the passenger ferry in Los Cristianos and rent a car when you arrive in San Sebastián. You gain the freedom to stop wherever you like and linger as long as you want in Garajonay. You lose the guide’s explanations, and the hours go into organising it.
One detail catches a lot of people out: you cannot take your Tenerife hire car over to La Gomera. Rental companies do not allow the vehicle off the island, so you have to rent another one there. If it is your first time on La Gomera and you only have one day, the organised excursion pays off; if you are coming back or staying overnight, go on your own.
Included
- Pickup and return at your accommodation (depending on the zone)
- Return ferry with Fred. Olsen Express
- Bus transport throughout the excursion
- Official guide for the whole day
- Visit to Garajonay National Park (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Stop at the Roque de Agando
- Visit to the village of Agulo
- Free time in San Sebastián de La Gomera
- Silbo Gomero demonstration
- Typical Gomeran lunch
Not included
- Personal expenses
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to get up very early?
Yes, and it is worth knowing before you book: it is 10 or 11 hours including the ferry there and back, leaving the hotel at dawn and returning at dusk. It is a whole day of your trip. If you are only in Tenerife for three or four days, think twice: that day would probably be better spent on Teide.
How much does it cost and is there a child fare?
€110 per person with everything in: ferry, coach, guide, Garajonay, silbo and lunch. No small print apart from personal expenses. We confirm the child fare and the minimum age when you book, because they depend on the ferry company and the provider and we do not want to publish a figure that is not honoured later.
Where does the ferry to La Gomera leave from?
The Fred. Olsen ferry leaves from the port of Los Cristianos and the meeting point at the Terminal is at 08:40, with the booking already confirmed. Depending on where you are staying there may be a closer pickup, which we confirm beforehand. If you are coming from the north, allow a margin for the journey: missing that ferry means missing the whole excursion.
Is it worth it with small children?
With children who can cope with a long day, yes: the ferry, the silbo and the forest usually go down well. With very small children we advise against it: an early start, a boat, many hours of coach and a meal at whatever time it comes is too much, and there is no way to come back earlier. We confirm the minimum age when you book.
Can I go on my own with the hire car?
You can take the passenger ferry and hire another car over there, but almost no Tenerife company lets you take theirs on board: check your contract before trying, because it voids the insurance. If you already know La Gomera and want to get lost on your own, going independently makes sense. If it is your first time and you have a single day, the guided excursion makes far better use of the hours.
Can I go to La Gomera from the north of Tenerife?
The ferry to La Gomera leaves from Los Cristianos, in the south. From Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna or Santa Cruz it can be done too, but you have to allow for the journey down south before 08:40, and that turns a long day into a very long one. If you are staying in the north, tell us and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth it.
Is there time to walk in Garajonay?
Not much: the excursion goes through the National Park with stops and the guide’s explanations, but it is not a hiking route. You see the laurel forest from inside, without hours of walking. If what you want is to walk through a forest like this, the Anaga excursion on Mondays gives you two hours of trail for about half the price of this one.
What is Silbo Gomero and why is it shown to tourists?
It is a whistled language that reproduces Spanish and was used to communicate from one ravine to another, where the voice does not carry. UNESCO declared it Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and today it is taught in the island’s schools, so it is not a re-enactment for tourists: it is a living language demonstrated during the excursion.
What is the weather like in La Gomera when it is sunny in the south of Tenerife?
Almost never the same. Garajonay is above a thousand metres and lives precisely on the moisture of the clouds: fog and several degrees less are normal even if you left Los Cristianos in full sun. It is not bad luck, it is the climate that makes that forest exist. Bring a warm layer even if it does not seem necessary in the morning.
What ID do I bring and what if the ferry does not sail?
ID card or passport: it is an inter-island crossing and it may be requested at boarding. If the ferry company suspends the crossing because of rough seas, the excursion does not run that day and we look for another date during your stay; that is why it is best not to leave it for your last day. Changes and cancellations on your side, with 24 hours’ notice.
How is the booking confirmed?
Naventia Trips checks availability, provider conditions and the traveller's level before confirming the experience.
Can you tell me what else to do on those days?
Yes, and it is what we get asked most. Tell us which days you have free and where you are staying, and we will say what pairs well with this excursion and what should not go on the same day.