Updates and Corrections for the 8th Edition
Page 4. The Three Kings Day festival actually takes place on 6 January.
Page 7-10. What to Take: A walker suggests that those visiting La Gomera bring their own elastoplast strips (there are not many on the island).
Pages 9, 18 & 33. Camping on La Gomera: Please note: The Camping Permissions office as shown on the San Sebastian map (p. 18), and as mentioned on page 33, no longer exists; there are no longer any public camping places on the island (and therefore no permits to acquire). However, there is one private campsite, as listed on page 9, column 2. Please also note: the 50 metre rule as described on page 9 should be applied cautiously - please ensure that you are not inside the national park, not camping on private land and please be considerate to the environment and to others.
Page 11-12. Accommodations: Jan recommends Sonia's guest house in Chipude, where heating, hot water, double beds, towels, shampoo, and body wash are provided for €18 a night. *Same as Bar Sonia?* Tim Flinders & Roz Tarry have a pair of apartments in the La Calera (Los Orijamas, really, towards the Farmacia) ideal for walkers,very quiet and done out to a simple, well equipped standard. The charge per apartment is £30/night plus a one-off 25 euro cleaning charge. Further details are on http://www.elpicacho.com/ or their 'phone number is 01223 212721 for more information.
Page 17. Language: A walker suggests the addition of main menu items such as meat, fish, soup, orange juice, desserts, etc., as well as the Spanish numbers for one to ten.
Page 21. Camino Forestal de Majona to Hermigua: There is now a bus service from the seafront to the start of the Camino Forestal de Majona for less than two euros. Catch the Line 2 bus to Vallehermosa. The first bus leaves at 09.30 (Mon - Sat).
Page 23. A walker suggests that the directions to Casas de Enchereda give warning to NOT take the path that veers to the right when the house appears on the bend to the left.
Page 24. Column 1, once through the corrugated iron gate, for several hundred meters, trees and rock have fallen across the track. The descent is now difficult. The approach car track to the beach, column 3, is now an asphalt road.
Page 25. Hermigua: The Pension Castellana has closed.
Page 27. Hermigua: Ketil Vaas and Svein Sture from Norway recommend Restaurante Iratxe near the main square and church (Ctra General 161, tel 922 880740) run by Minoska Armas from Venezuela and her Basque husband and cook, Angel Fernandez: "They served us a delicious seafood starter and superb lamb main course."
Page 27. To travel from Lepe to Agulo, follow the sign posts along the path, through the terraces and across the barranco, instead of walking along the main road.
Page 27. Agulo: A walker alerts us that it is no longer possible to stay in the old couple's house, as was previously possible.
Page 27. Women travelling alone should be aware that Bernardo of the Pension Casa Bernardo can be rather flirtatious, and they should be firm with him if they do not wish to spend time in his company.
Page 29: Hermigua: Ketil Vaas and Svein Sture from Norway recommend Restaurante Iratxe near the main square and church (Ctra General 161, tel 922880740) run by Minoska Armas from Venezuela and her Basque husband and cook, Angel Fernandez: "They served us a delicious seafood starter and superb lamb main course." The faint trail mentioned at the bottom of column 2 is now a prominent feature.
Page 30. The car road track mentioned in column 1 is now a asphalt road that leads to El Tion. There is now a signpost at the house with the red circle. It shows two different routes to Vallehermoso. Take the right hand one.
Pages 31/32. Vallehermoso: John O'Brian, who lives in Vallerhermoso, advises us that the tourist office is now open all week, located next to the market in the north-east corner of the square. The Hostal Vallehermoso has closed down. However, the Castille, alongside the beach, is apparently now up and running, serving food and entertainment on Saturday evenings (closed Monday). There is also a swimming pool and restaurant by the beach. John also recommends, for accommodation and food, Casa Simon (Garabato s/n E-38840 Vallehermoso, La Gomera, Canary Islands; tel. 0034 922801204; e: garabato@myway.com) 2km from Vallehermoso on the El Tion car road track overlooking the Garabato mountains. Casa Simon has a garden cafe, Cafe Linda, and a two-bedroomed house with terrace for rent, Casita: €30 for 2 persons for one night, plus €6 for each additional person, plus €20 for cleaning. Bed & Breakfast in the old renovated house costs €20 per person per night. Dinner (vegetarian or vegan) costs from €8-12. John says it's easy to find, 'just follow signs to Garabato. Simon & Linda have lived on Gomera for ten years and can offer a lot of information about the island. They speak German, Dutch, Spanish and English.'
Page 33. A walker mentions that the restaurant in Arure is nice but very expensive. In 2005, Ketil Vaas and Svein Sture stayed at the "beautiful" Hotel Rural Tamahuche (La Haya 20, tel 922 801176; hoteltamahuche@ecoturismocanarias.com paying 66 Euros for a double room which included a "great breakfast".
Page 37. When leaving Bar Montana, the walker should now turn sharp left and follow the signposted route. Continue straight on when the asphalt, not concrete ends.
Page 44. Walkers wishing for a clearer view of the pottery workshops, can go past the workshops and down the other steps to their right.
Page 47. The building that was mentioned as under construction near the Ermita de Santa is a mirador, but it is still unfinished.
Page 49. Day 4: Chipude to Alajeró: When attempting to get a ride from Chipude to the turn-off to El Drago, one walker suggests pointing out to the driver the turn-off on a map before you leave.
Page 50. The earth car track, mentioned halfway down column 3 is now an asphalt road.
Page 58. Alajeró, Pension Hilda Villaverde: You may now check availability and reserve a room at the pension by email to hildavillaverde@wanadoo.es (this email address will be checked every few days by Hilda's niece). Alternatively, if you have the time to wait for a reply by snailmail, her postal address is: Hilda Villaverde, Fagundo 82, 38812 Alajeró, La Gomera (S.C. Tenerife), Canary Islands, Spain.
Page 59. The map should correspond with the Day 2 walk, but it instead goes with the Day 4 walk.
Page 60-62. Day 5: A round trip back to Alajeró via Imada: There is now a sign opposite Las Palmeras restaurant pointing towards Targa and Imada. The path that this sign demarcates avoids the main road for about 30 metres. Where the path heads right and rejoins the main road, continue to follow the water pipe straight ahead into Targa.
Page 61. Day 5: A round trip back to Alajeró via Imada: The house, which was previously white with green windows, is now painted clay/ochre. There is also a wooden sign pointing down the barranco that says "Barranco Santiago" just before the quarry hole.
Page 61. Day 5: A round trip back to Alajeró via Imada: It is suggested that walkers take the left hand path after passing into the aqueduct descending into the barranco, as the right hand path is overgrown.
Updates and Corrections for the 7th Edition (2003)
Page 3. Jim Hudson writes: 'Although La Gomera in January is a pleasant temperature for walking, it's a bit like Scarborough in January lots of places are closed eg:
- Hermigua (Los Prismas, El Piloto, El Faro);
- Visitor Centre area: Juego de Bolas (Tambor open and enjoyed meal there);
- Agulo: La Zula (p. 28) open, but turned away very firmly "only for pre-booked coach parties" (tourist office said this seemed to be their new policy). Three bars nearby for snacks and tapas: Lila, Bertermann and Mantillo Los Chochos. Meals available in the Alameda and the Centro de Amistad de Agulo (the latter hidden down a back alley parallel to the main road between the bars and the bank; apparently the locals call it "The Club").'
Page 6, column 1. The dragon tree is on route 11 North of Alajero on the Discovery Tour & Trail map mentioned below [ref. page 10].
Page 8, column 3. The German map referred to is now out of print. We recommend an English map instead; see note for Page 10 below.
Page 9. The campsite, Camping La Vista, El Cedro, Hermigua (tel/fax 922 88 09 49; no email) run by Juana, is now the ONLY campsite in Gomera. It costs 2 Euros per person, and is open all year round. It has a bath, showers, hot water, a little kitchenette, and a place to wash clothes, electricity all night and lights illuminating the site. It is about one hour's walk from El Cedro to Hermigua (slightly longer the other way, because it is uphill). You can take also take a taxi to the campsite either from Hermigua or from San Sebastian everyone knows the campsite, apparently. There are no buses.
Page 10, column 1. Instead of the now out of print German map, we recommend the Discovery La Gomera Tour & Trail map available from the Institute for Social Inventions for £7 inc. p&p (12a Blackstock Mews, Blackstock Road, London N4 2BT; credit card orders to 020 7359 8391 or buy a copy online).
Page 16. Jim Hudson informs us that there is now also a 'useful and reasonably priced' Garajonay Expres hydrofoil (Muelle de Vueltas, 38870 Valle Gran Rey; info 902 34 3451, bookings 902 34 3450, fax 922 80 7031; mailto:info@garajonayexpres.com; http://www.garajonayexpres.com/). It leaves for Gomera from Los Cristianos at 9.05am, 1.45pm and 7.15pm. It returns from San Sebastian at 7.50am, 11.50am and 5.50pm (but check for any changes to these times). It also stops at Playa Santiago and Valle Gran Rey. Prices start from 14.42 Euros one way.
Page 19, San Sebastian: the tourist information office has a new address: Oficina Insular de Turismo, Calle Real 4, 38800 San Sebastian (same tel & also tel 922 870281; fax 922 140151; www.gomera-island.com/turismo has a general list of accommodation, with no details or prices, just phone numbers). Jim Hudson stayed at 'the 3 star Hotel Torre del Conde, Calle Ruiz de Padron. 54.60 Euros for a large luxurious ensuite room incl. breakfast & tax (ie 27.30 Euros pp)'.
Page 20, column 2, Day 1 Walk: On the Discovery Tour & Trail map mentioned above, this walk follows map route 3/4/5 then 3/4, nearly to Enchereda, from where the trail north is clearly marked on the map, but unnumbered.
Page 25, Hermigua: Jim Hudson writes: 'We stayed in Casa Rurales in Hermigua and Agulo. Good standard with full self-catering facilities. 42-46 Euros per night; minimum three nights.' Booked through Centro de Iniciativas y Turismo Rural [see p. 12 of the guide, with these additional details: Callejón de Ordaiz 161, fax 922 881038; gomera@ecoturismocanarias; http://ecoturismocanarias.com/gomera/uk/index.html].
Page 25, Hermigua to Agulo: Jim Hudson writes: 'There is a more interesting (although harder) route from Lepe to Agulo that avoids the unpleasant walk along the main road. This goes through Lepe, down onto the terraces, across the barranco and up through the banana plantations to emerge in Agulo near the supermarket.' The tourist office is located behind the post office on the corner of the main road and Calle Alameda.
Page 27, column 2, Day 2 Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, this walk is shown as route 39 from the Visitors¹ Centre, then turning on to route 45.
Page 27, column 3, Day 2 Walk: On the Tour & Trai¹ map mentioned above, this walk is marked see map route 38.
Page 32, columns 1 & 2, Day 3 Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, leave on route 45, but note that it will be necessary to cut across from here to the reservoir Embalse de la Encantadora where you join map route 42 south towards Banda de las Rosas. We are advised that there is no longer an official footpath South/South West from the reservoir Presa de los Gallos, for reasons of forestry preservation, so follow the footpath (route 48 on the Discovery map) to Arana where you rejoin the main road.
Page 33, column 1, Day 3 Alternative Walk b: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, leave on route 42, and from Chorros de Epina take route 64 to Arure. From Arure take route 46, then 67, then 57 to Las Hayas. For those interested in the diversion mentioned in para two, leave Las Hayas by the southern branch of map route 46, then join route 58, then 47.
Page 37, column 2, Day 3 Alternative Walk a: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, leave on route 46 (southern branch).
Page 42, column 3, Day 10 Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, leave on route 49 (heading North-East).
Page 47, column 3, Day 3 Walk (continued): On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, from Arure take route 46, then 67, then 57 to Las Hayas.
Page 49, column 1, Day 4 Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, the route from Chipude to Parjarito (taking a northerly curve) is clearly marked, but not numbered. Then the Day 6 route mentioned here is map route 41. The main Day 4 walk starts on map route 70, joins map route 13 at Fortaleza, then carries through to Alajero.
Page 50, column 2, Day 4 Alternative Walk a: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, the route from Chipude, as on page 49, is clearly shown, but not numbered.
Page 58 (column 3) & page 63 (col 3): Alajero, not Alojero.
Page 60, column 2, to Alajero via Imada: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, you will go down steeply from Targa on map route 18 and the uphill route back to the main road is no. 15.
Page 60, column 3, Day 5 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, map route 14 (and 12) goes to Benchijigua via El Azadoe, and map route 21 form there to Santiago.
Page 63, column 1, Imada: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, route 44 is shown as map route 15.
Page 60-61, Alajero to Targa: Jim Hudson suggests an alternative route: 'Having come up from the village onto the main road, there is a clear and good path to Targa which starts exactly opposite Bar Las Palmeras (we enjoyed the food at this popular lunchtime spot), thus avoiding quite a long main road walk.'
Page 66, Santiago: Apartamentos Tapahuga, Avenida Maritima (tel unknown). The Palmers say that these apartments, while 'somewhat more expensive than others at 48 Euros for two people for one night', have a swimming pool and 'much else to recommend' them. They also recommend the Bar Rte La Chevita along the same road, 'truly a restaurant in a cave'.
Page 67, Santiago: Jim Hudson kindly corrects us: 'Apartamentos Santa Ana are not by the Tecina, but on the opposite hillside of Las Trincheras close to the new HPB complex and the site of Peter Olsen¹s new development.'
Pages 69 & 74, Santiago: Jim Hudson writes: 'Just beyond the Jardin Tecina most of the banana plantations have been ripped out and contractors are putting in the infrastructure for more development. The route to Playa Tapahuga is busy with lorries and other vehicles.'
Page 70, columns 1 & 3, Day 6 Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, the map route at the start is no. 41. The second part is route 32, with the easier alternative shown still as route 41. Beyond El Cedro, the less-used trail starts as map route 44 then taking route 34 at Atalaya.
Page 73, column 3, Day 6 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, the map route at the start is no. 8, and this is followed all the way to, and just beyond, El Cabrito where the walk turns west onto map route 10 to Playa de la Guancha.
Page 74, column 1, Day 6 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, continue on routes 8/10, as in the previous paragraph.
Page 75, column 1, Day 6 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, this is route 8, as in the previous paragraph.
Page 76, column 3, Day 6 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, this is route 8, as in the previous paragraph.
Page 78, column 3, Day 6 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, this is route 8/10.
Page 79, column 3, Day 7 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, this walk is identifiable, for the most part, as map route 7 through to La Laja, returning to the starting point on the north to south trail clearly shown on the map, but unnumbered.
Page 81, column 3, Day 7 Alternative Walk: On the Tour & Trail map mentioned above, from Bar Peraza this walk is shown as map route 27.
Suggested La Gomera guidebooks
These walking guide books are recent editions. Check the customer reviews before making your choice.
The Rother is best for serious walkers and the Sunflower for leisure walkers and hire car explorers. Alternative Gomera itself is long out of print.
