Canary Islands: La Gomera (1999)
In May 1999, Corrie, Ineke and I (Jan) had a nice warm and sunny week at
Hotel Jardín Tecina,
near Playa de Santiago, on the isle La Gomera,
one of the smaller Canarian Islands. We reached the hotel late in the evening,
when it was already very dark. So the next morning would offer us the surprise
where we were.
The tour was organised by Neckermann. At each connection point a Neckermann
hostess informed us where to go, which gave us a positive feeling. Also in the hotel,
Neckermann was the best travel agency with good advices.
- Playa de Santiago: In the morning we admired the nice area of
the Hotel, the great view over the bay, the many flowers. A lift brought as 100m
downwards through the rock to the beach. Here the village is quite desolate: a few bars,
very few shops, noice and dust from the stone quarry and its shipping. Quite a contrast to the
hotel area!
In the afternoon I made a walk over the ridge of the Alta Mache on a rocky path,
which was quite unpleasant to my feets. But I had some nice views over Santiago,
the first look to Pico del Teide on Tenerife (3718m, what a vulcano!) and to the
Benchijigua Valley
and Roque de Agando.
- Bosque del Cedro: The bus took us through Alajeró (shortly after
this a dragon tree El Drago could be seen downwards in a valley). Here we had
magnificent views over a bare, redstoned landscape with nice gorges. Just near
the highest point we stopped for the famous walk through the
ceder forest with its fog: starting point was on the central highway, Carretera del
Centro, at an altitude of ca 1250m (Alto de Contadero). Here a steep descent
through the wood with its many laurel trees brought us to the chapel Eremita de
Nuestra de Lourdes and than to the village
El Cedro (ca 850m), where we had lunch.
A 1 hour climb brought us again to a main road where the bus took us home.
We passed the Roque Carmona (1234m) and the famous landmark Roque de Agando (1250m)
and admired the nice views over the
Benchijigua valley. Along Vegaipata and Las Toscas
we reached the hotel.
- Alto de Garajonay (1487m): We had a pleasant and shady walk to the highest point of the
island, where we could see the islands La Palma, El Hierro and Tenerife (however,
all had quite a pile of clouds above them). A narrow
road brought us north to the Visitors Centre Juego de Bolas. At the viewpoint
Mirador del Vallehermoso we had a nice view to the green
valley of Vallehermoso
and its landmark, Roque El Cano. A stop was in the mountain village El Cercado
where a goat-meat lunch was taken in the Bar Maria and two small potteries were
visited. Here you can view through the
upper part of Valle Gran Rey. Via Chipude, Igualero again as climax the Roque de
Agando was visited.
- Roques de los Organos: The boat MV "Tina" made a round trip along
the island. We shipped at 9.00h in the harbour of Playa de Santiago. The
south part
of the island had nice views to its many barren valleys and steep rocks. In the
harbour of Valle Gran Rey additional people joined the tour. Soon after this
the waves had more influence on the ship than before.
The west coast was more
dark and wet than the south. At its most north point,
at the vulcanic wonder of the
Roques de los Organos,
we were nearly seasick: the
ship made terrible movements. However, we were still able to admire the
basaltic columns at the
Roques (which have a large V-sign when viewed from the south-west).
After passing San Sebastián at the east, the sea
became quiet again. We made a stop where we could see dolphins, one could swim
there in a bay, and a fish meal was prepared.
- Banchijigua Valley: After breakfast I walked uphill along the main road.
The first part was quite disappointing, but it was quiet and not too hot. After passing
the Roque de Tecina (560m) I had some nice views in the valley of the Barranco de las
Torcas and to the east, to Tenerife. At Las Toscas (700m, with terrible dogs!) a rocky way
brought me in the Benchijigua Valley. Many trees were here, many flowers, sweet
smells and a nice view to Lo del Gato.
A mountain path brought me to Pastrana,
where again an asphalt pavement was found: appearantly new prosperity had reached
the level of 250m. Indeed, new houses were build. After
Taco, the Santiago gorge
became quite isolated again (but with a road). Here it can be very hot, but I had
a nice wind from the sea. At 3 o clock I reached Playa de Santiago, which meant
that the small shop in the village was still closed because of siesta. No beer!
I reached the Hotel via the lift from the beach.
- Jeep Tour: Promised as a photo-tour, the jeep-tour was disappointing.
Indeed we passed points with great views, but our jeep was closed, had small
windows, and only vary few stops were made. But we had some good new views
in the north at the Eremita de
Santa Clara, to
Tenerife and to the
Roque del Diablo (730m, near Hermigua). In Agula a lunch with a Silbo demonstration
was included.
Next time we will hire a car and drive ourselves!
- Tenerife: On wednesday there is no afternoon ferry to Tenerife. Hence
we had to leave already in the morning. The boat trip was pleasant, the arrival at
Tenerife one of wondering: what a flats. We could spend the afternoon at a hotel
in Los Cristianos and walked under a hot sun along the boulevard. To us it was
a large pile of small restaurants and many, too many, people. We were glad when
the bus took as to the airport Reina Sofia, where the Transavia flight of 19.00h
brought us to Schiphol, Amsterdam (reached at 00.30h). At 03.00h we were at home.
Some related links
- Hotel Jardín Tecina
- Ferry Tenerife-La Gomera: Lineas Fred. Olsen
- Fred. Olsen, S.A.
- Conocer la isla La Gomera
- Welcome to Valle Gran Rey
- Uwe Bechmann: Homepage La Gomera
- Kees Dijkman: La Gomera (Dutch)
-
- La Gomera
- La Gomera (Kayaking)
- La Gomera (Pictures)
- La Gomera - Reisebericht in Bildern
- Norwegian pictures from La Gomera
- Dutch pictures from La Gomera,
(with on main Home Page some nice
mathematical links [in Dutch])
- (Nice) Hiking tour on La Gomera
(Dutch)
-
(Educational) The Flora on the Canary Islands (Dutch)
- La Gomera - Some Pictures
- La Gomera - Naturaleza y Magia
- La Gomera Info
- La Gomera Walking - Pictures
- Canarias
Date of modification: 23-10-1999
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Jan ter Maten's Home Page.
