DURATION

8 days

STARTS IN  ENDS IN

San Miguel de Abona  /  San Miguel de Abona

Itinerary

This twin island walking trip in the Canaries explores lesser-known La Gomera and Tenerife's volcano, Mount Teide. Walk through varied and dramatic scenery including beautiful steep-sided valleys, quiet villages, black sand beaches and verdant cloud forests. Garajonay National Park - Explore La Gomera's lush landscape of dense laurel forest Mount Teide - Admire this iconic cone volcano Agulo - Ascend to this charming town perched on a jagged cliff with undisrupted views

Day 1: Join trip in Los Cristianos, Tenerife; ferry to La Gomera Island

Start Point

Royal Park Albatros, Hotel reception,

Av. J.M. Galván Bello, 38639 Oasis del

Sur, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

19:00

Our trip begins at the reception area of Andrea's Hotel Tenerife in Los Cristianos at 6pm. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Tenerife Airport South (TFS) which is around 20 minutes' drive from the hotel. The latest time your flight can arrive is 5pm. You are free to arrive in Los Cristianos at any time before 6pm. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, luggage storage and bathroom facilities will be available if required at Andrea's Hotel. You may choose to stroll to the beach, which is only 450 metres away and in Los Cristianos there are lots of restaurants to choose from. Your leader will meet the group at the hotel reception at 6pm to walk to the ferry port together (15min walk, the luggage can be taken by a taxi). We will take the 7pm ferry to the green, verdant island of La Gomera. Docking in the small, pretty port of San Sebastian we immediately get an idea of the terrain, as impressive mountains loom up from the ocean behind the colourful town. Our hotel is located just a 5 minute walk from the port, so you will be asked to carry/wheel your own luggage

Day 2: Descend to Chejelipes via La Laja village

This morning we drive up to Collada de Peraza, the start of our first walk. From here we follow the trail along a winding stone-paved path, through a variety of vegetation including aloe and asphodel, and later pines and then palms. Our first view of La Laja village is with a beautiful backdrop of the domes of Los Roques, prominent striking rock formations that are a major feature of this part of the island. We descend into the valley, ascending on the other side and arrive to the village. We then continue along a quiet rural road following the valley to Chejelipes where we meet our bus and return to San Sebastian. This afternoon is free to can explore the harbour and backstreets of the town. San Sebastian was Christopher Columbus' last stopping place before discovering the Americas, so there are several 'Columbus' sites that can be visited including the well where he drew water, his house, and the church where he prayed. In addition, San Sebastian has two beaches, a host of restaurants and bars, and narrow streets bursting with life. Today's 12 kilometre walk is expected to take around four-and-a-half hours with 300 metres of ascent and 1,000 metres of descent. We descend on stone-paved paths, unmade hillside paths and a rural road.

Day 3: Explore cloud forest and ascend to Alto de Garajonay

Today we drive to Pajarito from where we begin our walk through Garajonay National Park. We start by ascending the island's highest peak, Alto de Garajonay (1,484m), from where on a clear day we will have a splendid 360-degree view of the island. We then continue on the trail through the dense vegetation of the Laurisilva cloud forest, ancient Canaries' jungle only found on the Outer Canary Islands: La Gomera, Tenerife and La Palma. Later we reach the chapel of Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, and Barranco del Cedro a deep ravine surrounded by lush vegetation with a bubbling stream at the bottom. The trail then passes through the hamlets of El Cedro, from where we walk over the final hill to meet our bus and return to San Sebastian for the evening. Today's 10 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 300 metres of ascent and 900 metres of descent. The terrain is unmade paths.

Day 4: Walk to the black sand beach of Playa Caleta

This morning we drive to the northeast of the island to Hermigua for a walk down to Playa Caleta. Starting from the village we ascend through rugged terrain, banana plantations and a spectacular deep gorge, after four kilometres we begin the descent towards the beach. Playa Caleta has a volcanic black sand beach and the area is well known for its delicious fresh fish. From here we have the option to take a circular walk to Punta San Lorenzo (three kilometres, one hour). Alternatively, you can relax on the beach or in one of the local cafes, before meeting our bus and returning to San Sebastian. Today's 10 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 400 metres of ascent and 600 metres of descent, walking on unmade hillside paths.

Day 5: Free day to relax or enjoy an optional walk

Today is free to relax in San Sebastian or explore more of the local area. Options include a walk along the coastal path to Cabrito Beach, a 10 -15 kilometre walk following the same path there and back.

Day 6: Walk from Vallehermoso to coastal town of Agulo

Our day starts with a drive to Vallehermoso in the north of the island. This peaceful small town is surrounded by steep hills, palm trees and dry zone vegetation and is the starting place for some of La Gomera's most beautiful hiking trails. We follow a trail passing Roque Cano (a distinctive rock feature of the area), terraced fields and banana plantations to the coastal town of Agulo. Agulo was one of the island's first towns and its colonial buildings, winding streets and position directly above the sea have led to it being known as one of La Gomera's most beautiful places. On a clear day the volcanic cone of El Teide on Tenerife dominates the horizon. We spend some time exploring the town or relaxing in one of the cafes before returning to San Sebastian for the evening. Today's 14 kilometre walk is expected to take around five-and-a-half hours with 770 metres of ascent and descent. We walk on unmade hillside trails, unmade roads and a short distance on pavements.

Day 7: Ferry back to Tenerife; circular walk on El Teide

This morning we take the ferry back to Tenerife then immediately drive up onto the slopes of the magnificent Mount Teide, whose crater we have been admiring all week from La Gomera. Passing through the fertile cultivated zone we reach the desert landscapes of the Teide National Park above the 2000 metre mark. Our picturesque circular walk across the El Teide Plateau takes us around the Roques de Garcia among many interesting lava formations. For those not wishing to walk today there is the option to go up to the summit of Teide by cable car (requires advance reservation, not included). Later this afternoon we drive back down the mountain to the resort of San Miquel de Abona on the coast for our final night in Tenerife. Today's four kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours with an ascent and descent of around 150 metres

Day 8: Trip ends in San Miguel de Abona, Tenerife

End Point

Royal Park Albatros, Hotel reception,

Av. J.M. Galván Bello, 38639 Oasis del

Sur, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

09:00

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in San Miquel de Abona. There are no activities plannedtoday, so you are free to depart from San Miquel de Abona at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Tenerife South Airport (TFS) which is around 15 minutes' drive from the hotel.

What’s Included

 

• Accommodation

7 nights standard hotel

• Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader's ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.

• Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options

7 Breakfasts

Transport

Bus, Ferry

• Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information