La Gomera

La Gomera http://www.la-gomera.co.uk/

Location: In the Atlantic Ocean midway between the Canary islands of Tenerife and El Hierro.
Position: 20 miles West of the port of Los Cristianos in Tenerife from where ferry boat and hydrofoil services operate to la Gomera.  La Palma and El Hierro. Small aircraft fly to the local airport at Playa Santiago from the neighbouring island of Tenerife (Los Rodeos - N airport).  From Los Rodeos Airport on Tenerife you can fly to the other Canary Islands.
General Description: Smallest and oldest of the 7 Canary Islands, La Gomera is also the tip of an extinct volcano: circular and a mere 15 miles across. The central peak is only 4,879 feet high and usually shrouded in mist creating a microclimate ideal for the island's unique bay laurel forest, a protected World Heritage Site forming the Garajonay National Park. The park is threaded with well-marked walking trails and is a hiker's delight. Steep-sided valleys descend from the cool and damp of the peak to the warm equable climate enjoyed on the coast where the main villages and resorts are situated. Like Tenerife, the north is verdant while the south is arid. The major activity for the small native population of 17,000 is still agriculture with cochineal, bananas and tomatoes the major produce. Tourism is very undeveloped as yet but accounts for an increasing part of the island's economy.

PLAYA de SANTIAGO is a small working fishing port on the South coast which gets lots of sun and although slowly developing is otherwise quiet and unspoilt. Alongside the harbour-side are several restaurants offering local cuisine where you can while away the hours watching the fishing boats unloading their catches. The village offers a modern medical centre, an excellent bakery, two banks, a pharmacy, dentist, post office, two hair/beauty salons, two grocery shops and some local craft/gift shops plus a stationery/newsagents’ shop.  To the West of the village lies the island airport, here only small aircraft can land and there are two flights daily to Tenerife. The largest hotel on the island, Hotel Jardin Tecina, which has an 18 hole golf course, is situated on a headland at one end of the village. Here you may enjoy the hotel entertainments or sample one of the five restaurants, which offer a variety of local and international dishes. Development on the island is strictly regulated and any new buildings within the village blend in with the traditional architecture and dramatic cliffs which act as a backdrop.