Postcard from La Gomera

[nicholsong]

Gosh, the access to Stigliano is tricky - it's challenging in a car! I think we've been three times, but knew from the first visit that the van might be a step too far for us.

But we did manage to stay at Viehhofen, Austria with it.

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And I know what you mean about the drive up the hill at Alfaix. It seems particularly popular with motorhomers there.

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I had to laugh at the MH registration 'M25 FUN'

An oxymoron if ever I heard one.

 

[mikebeaches]

I had to laugh at the MH registration 'M25 FUN'

An oxymoron if ever I heard one.

Couldn't resist it when I saw it for sale at the DVLA about five years ago.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I have a friend from Stockport who lives on gomera. He has not left the island for nearly 20 years. Loves it !

 

[Miggs]

Looks like Jardin Tecina, stayed there a few years ago. Very nice

 

[mikebeaches]

Looks like Jardin Tecina, stayed there a few years ago. Very nice

The Jardin Tecina Hotel is on the cliffs on the eastern side of the village, we are at El Balcon de Santa Ana, on the cliffs to the west of the village - it's owned and managed by HPB.

But I agree, Jardin Tecina is lovely too - owned and run by Fred Olsen. Believe the manager here used to work there years ago.

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[mikebeaches]

A few more vans turned up around Playa Santiago, La Gomera.

A couple parked right next to the pebble beach. And another couple in the large car park.

 

[Yorick]

Nice blue skies there. We've had calima last 2 days.

 

[mikebeaches]

Interesting, I heard that was likely in the eastern Canaries.

We had a big storm Friday pm with heavy rain, and when we got up on Saturday, noticed the top half of Mount Teide, on Tenerife, covered in snow - it wasn't there the previous day.

But yes, plenty of sun here apart from Friday afternoon / evening.

Hope the Calima clears soon.

 

[Beany 996]

We have been to La Gomera 4 times to shake off the winter blues.
The Island is a wonderful destination and so laid back and relaxed.
We stayed in valle Gran Rey with its fabulous sunsets, theres a sizeable hippy community so plenty of street music and people watching. It really is a hidden gem away from the hustle and bustle of more tourist Islands. We even stumbled across the yearly drag queen festival where I meet my new best friends

 

[mikebeaches]

We have been to La Gomera 4 times to shake off the winter blues.
The Island is a wonderful destination and so laid back and relaxed.
We stayed in valle Gran Rey with its fabulous sunsets, theres a sizeable hippy community so plenty of street music and people watching. It really is a hidden gem away from the hustle and bustle of more tourist Islands. We even stumbled across the yearly drag queen festival where I meet my new best friends

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Valle Gran Rey is great and, as you say, a real alternative vibe left over from the hippy days.

The drive down the mountainside to get there is something else with stunning views - looking at the scenery it's hard to believe it's in Europe really.

And swimsuits strictly optional on the beach...

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[Brendan + Kath]

We're staying at Playa Santiago, on the southern tip of La Gomera, a small sub-tropical volcanic island in the Canarian archipelago. It's a 50-minute fast ferry ride west from Los Cristianos on Tenerife, but feels a world away from the concrete and razzmatazz of its big brother.

Sadly we're sans van, which has had to stay at home in Blighty on this occasion. But for any intrepid Funsters who fancy an extended adventure in the warmth of the winter sun, I reckon a tour of these Atlantic islands would take some beating. There are direct ferry crossings from southern Spain to Gran Canaria and Tenerife I believe. And all severn inhabited islands are interconnected by ro-ro ferries.

The scenery on La Gomera is breathtaking and the roads generally very good, albeit with plenty of hill climbing. It is sparsely populated and boasts its own extensive rainforest in the Garajonay National Park. But all of the islands have their individual attractions, each varying significantly from one to another.

Although regular visitors to Gomera ourselves, we have explored all of the others too, with the exception of the smallest, El Hiero. But it is the less populated ones that fascinate us most and we would recommend to others, with or without a motorhome. We especially enjoyed La Palma. There aren't many campsites, or indeed any, on the smaller islands. But there are lots of places to stopover, either in the villages or out in the wilds. There were a couple of campers at the back of the huge, almost empty car park, less than 100 metres from the sea, in Playa Santiago this morning. The whole place is relaxed and the locals friendly.

I'm sure there are some Funsters who have brought their vans over to the Canaries? Wonder if anyone has made it to La Gomera?

Views from our apartment terrace.

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Along the seafront at Playa Santiago with its black rock and shingle shore.

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The big car park close to the sea in Santiago.

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And finally, a couple more pics from the resort we're staying at - El Balcon de Santa Ana.

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We've brought our van to the Canaries for 12 years. We've been to 5 of the islands but not yet to La Gomera. Great way to spend the winter but the ferry costs have gone up dramatically this year. We never book returns but the voyage back is well over 400 euro dearer than the voyage out this year. Previously always the sane price

 

[Brendan + Kath]

We've brought our van to the Canaries for 12 years. We've been to 5 of the islands but not yet to La Gomera. Great way to spend the winter but the ferry costs have gone up dramatically this year. We never book returns but the voyage back is well over 400 euro dearer than the voyage out this year. Previously always the sane price

 

[Brendan + Kath]

Oops same price

 

[nicholsong]

We've brought our van to the Canaries for 12 years. We've been to 5 of the islands but not yet to La Gomera. Great way to spend the winter but the ferry costs have gone up dramatically this year. We never book returns but the voyage back is well over 400 euro dearer than the voyage out this year. Previously always the sane price

Have you looked at going via Morocco and taking the shorter and cheaper ferry crossing?

 

[mikebeaches]

Have you looked at going via Morocco and taking the shorter and cheaper ferry crossing?

Is there a direct ferry from Morocco to the Canary Islands? And if so, what is the route?

I recall a connection had been proposed, but does one exist currently?

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[mikebeaches]

We've brought our van to the Canaries for 12 years. We've been to 5 of the islands but not yet to La Gomera. Great way to spend the winter but the ferry costs have gone up dramatically this year. We never book returns but the voyage back is well over 400 euro dearer than the voyage out this year. Previously always the sane price

Good to hear you've taken your van to the Canaries over a number of years - must have been quite an experience. Do you have a favourite island for motorhoming, of the ones you've been to?

Shame the price has gone up so much.

Which ferry operator do you use to get there - I believe there are a couple from southern Spain?

 

[Brendan + Kath]

Ye

Yes, now I recall chatting to Howard at the time about his trip. Not sure if he did Gomera or not - think he may have done?

We meet up with the people from GB tours most years. I gink they do La Gomera for a day but not sure

 

[Brendan + Kath]

Is there a direct ferry from Morocco to the Canary Islands? And if so, what is the route?

I recall a connection had been proposed, but does one exist currently?

There use to be one until I think here was a disaster then all connections stopped

 

[Brendan + Kath]

Good to hear you've taken your van to the Canaries over a number of years - must have been quite an experience. Do you have a favourite island for motorhoming, of the ones you've been to?

Shame the price has gone up so much.

Which ferry operator do you use to get there - I believe there are a couple from southern Spain?

We have always used Naviera Armas but this year when we tried to book the return to Spain they said they had no places for a van our size until April. This was 6 weeks ago. I even went to the office in Santa Cruz because I couldn't believe it. We have never had this problem in all the years we have been coming here. Fortunately we are in no hurry and we at some point we will go with Fred Olsen Express to Gran Canaria and a while later back to the Peninsular

 

[mikebeaches]

We have always used Naviera Armas but this year when we tried to book the return to Spain they said they had no places for a van our size until April. This was 6 weeks ago. I even went to the office in Santa Cruz because I couldn't believe it. We have never had this problem in all the years we have been coming here. Fortunately we are in no hurry and we at some point we will go with Fred Olsen Express to Gran Canaria and a while later back to the Peninsular

Interesting to hear you can't get a booking back with Armas until April.

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