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La Gomera is the second smallest island in the Canarian archipelago situated to the west of the largest island, Tenerife. Even today it is largely unspoilt due to its rugged mountainous terrain.

To illustrate this, a journalist once remarked that although Gomera is just 200km across and 20km high, if it was ironed out it would probably be the size of France!

The crowing glory is the Garajonay National Park which sits on the top of the island occupying about one fifth of its surface. This was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 for containing the largest example of 'laurisilva' forest left on the planet since the ice age destroyed most of the rest. The forst is very beautiful as are the steep vallies and ravines that stem from it. Over the centuries a maze of paths and goat tracks have been trodden all over the island providing hikers with countless walks through stunning and varied countryside. This is probably Gomera's best asset which is appreciated by the many independent visitors who come back year after year on walking holidays.

There are black sand, pebbly and rocky beaches dotted around the Gomera's coastline. The sea is clear and refreshing although swimming in the north of can be dangerous especially in winter.

It has a population os 18,000 people with 6000 living in the capital, San Sebastian, on the east coast. Here there is a market on Wednesday and Saturday, an increasing selection of shops, bars and restaurants, a museum and one of the oldest building is the Canaries, the Torre del Conde, where Chirstopher Columbus stayed before discovering the new world in 1492.

Of the population of 20,000, roughly 6,000 live in San Sebastian, the island's capital on the east coast. This was Christopher Columbus' last port of call before discovering the Americas in 1492 not long after the Spanish had conquered the Canary Islands. All the ferries call in at the port of San Sebastian - some then go on to Playa Santiago and Valle Gran Rey. The town has a busy marina and a fruit and vegetable market on Wednesday and Saturday.

The north of Gomera has a higher rainfall making it both greener and a rich agricultural area specialising in bananas, tropical and citrus fruit although in recent years more vines are being cultivated.

La Gomera is probably best known for its famous whistling language or 'silbo' which was used for hundreds of years to communicate from hill to hill. It is still in use today. Perhaps you will hear it when you come over!