Max. 8 people
Spanish, French, and English
3 days and 3 nights
We are committed to the environment and work towards sustainable tourism.
That is why we are taking measures in this direction. More information
The Guardianes de La Gomera experience is a participatory ecotourism program that takes place entirely within protected natural areas and combines environmental interpretation, direct conservation action, and support for local development. This trip is guided by the principles of “Soy Ecoturista” and is particularly notable for the following commitments:
1. Highlighting the value of protected areas through expert interpretation
The activity takes place in three protected natural areas of high ecological value:
- Garajonay National Park
- Puntallana Special Nature Reserve
- Valle Gran Rey Rural Park
The guide, trained in geology, botany, and cultural heritage, provides in-depth interpretation that helps visitors understand unique ecological, geological, and cultural processes: the origin of the laurel forest, the island’s volcanic formation, coastal halophilic vegetation, terraced agriculture, and traditional land use. This guided experience transforms each tour into a profound learning experience and fosters a respectful relationship with the environment.
2. Direct Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation
The program includes environmental volunteer activities that have a real and measurable impact:
- Removal of invasive species alongside National Park technicians.
- Participation in the “Oasis de Oxígeno” project, a reforestation initiative using native species to combat desertification and regenerate degraded ecosystems.
- Direct financial contribution (€30 per person) allocated entirely to ecological restoration.
These activities allow visitors to understand the island’s conservation challenges and play an active role in addressing them.
3. Minimizing Impact and Promoting Seasonal Diversification
The trip takes place in very small groups (4–8 people), which reduces pressure on the trails and promotes a more respectful and quiet experience. The itinerary is tailored to avoid overcrowded areas and peak times, helping to reduce visitor pressure on sensitive areas.
4. Supporting local development and cultural identity
The tour incorporates cultural elements that strengthen Gomera’s identity:
- Demonstration of the Silbo Gomero, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- Introduction to the “Salto del Pastor,” an ancestral technique adapted to the mountainous landscape.
- Guided tour of the historic center of San Sebastián, highlighting its heritage and maritime history.
The activity relies on local providers, small-scale accommodations, and community projects, generating direct economic benefits for the island and reinforcing the continuity of sustainable traditional practices, such as the use of Phoenix canariensis for palm honey.
Open map Calle Lomo de los Cardos, Alajeró (Sta. Cruz de Tenerife), España
La Gomera is protected thanks to you.
Guardians of La Gomera is a participatory ecotourism experience that invites you to discover the island from the inside: by hiking through its protected natural areas, learning about its ecosystems, and actively contributing to their conservation. Through guided nature trails, environmental volunteer activities, and encounters with local culture, travelers become part of the effort to care for this unique territory, where the laurel forest, agricultural valleys, and local traditions of La Gomera remain alive thanks to those who protect them.
This activity includes 3 nights of lodging, transportation, and several guided activities.
Prices
- Adult (12+ years): 590€ per person
- Minimum group size: 4 adults. Maximum group size: 8 people. For groups of 2 or 3 participants, the activity can be arranged for an additional fee.
- Child (ages 6–11): €490 per person
The price includes
- Tenerife–La Gomera Round-Trip Ferry
- 3 guided days
- Transportation required for the program
- 3 nights’ lodging
- Mountain rescue insurance for the entire stay
- In the event of hotel unavailability, alternatives will be offered and the price will be recalculated accordingly.
Timetable
All year round, depending on availability
Activity details
- Location: La Gomera
- Approximate duration: 3 days / 3 nights
- Minimum number of people per group: 4 people
- Maximum number of people per group: 8 people
- This activity is not accessible
- Suitable for families with children
- Minimum age to participate: 6 years old
- Pets are not allowed
Day 1 program
Puntallana & Villa de San Sebastián
Morning: Tour of the Puntallana Special Nature Reserve. 3.5 hours.
This tour highlights the area’s geology. Your guide will take you on a journey through time, from the volcanic origins of the Canary Islands to the unique features of La Gomera.
You’ll discover the processes behind the formation of volcanic features, the marine abrasion platform, the low-lying islands, and pyroclastic deposits… The Puntallana Nature Reserve is a veritable open book that reveals the island’s entire volcanic history. Your guide will help you “read” and interpret this magnificent landscape, which is much more than just a postcard.
But Puntallana is not limited to geology. Its botanical heritage is equally outstanding: extremely well-preserved coastal and halophilic vegetation that is home to endemic species, some of which are found exclusively here.
The cultural dimension is also very rich. The reserve is home to the shrine of the island’s patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. There, you’ll learn about her legend and the traditions celebrated in her honor: the annual festival and, even more extraordinary, the grand lustral celebration that takes place every five years.
Puntallana is a true treasure of La Gomera, a fascinating place that deserves to be discovered and, above all, explained so that its full value can be understood.
Afternoon: Tour of San Sebastián. 2.5 hours
Discover the historic center of San Sebastián de La Gomera and let yourself be charmed by its iconic landmarks: the Church of the Assumption, the Torre del Conde, and the famous Calle Real.
Your guide will immerse you in the fascinating history of this small town, shaped by the conquest, great navigators such as Christopher Columbus and Juan de la Cosa, as well as the Gomero uprising.
The tour continues along the boardwalk, a key thread for understanding the island’s history. You’ll discover how La Gomera, long isolated, was transformed by the belated construction of the port, its opening to the world, the great wave of emigration to the New World, the arrival of the ferry, and the development of tourism.
Your guide will explain how this island—once strategically important but long closed off from the outside world—gradually opened up to the rest of the world while always preserving its authenticity.
Day 2 program
Garajonay National Park
Morning: Volunteering at Garajonay National Park
The ecological value of the laurel forest is extraordinarily high: this ancient forest is home to the greatest biodiversity in the Canary Islands and constitutes one of the archipelago’s most fragile and valuable ecosystems. Preserving it requires constant effort on the part of the National Park’s staff, who face its main threat: introduced species—both animals and plants—capable of disrupting the forest’s natural balance.
During this half-day activity, we’ll accompany park staff on one of their essential tasks: the removal of these invasive species. The type of intervention varies depending on the time of year, and the area where the work takes place also changes. Before we begin, a park guide will explain why this work is so important and how we should proceed to assist safely and effectively.
Participating in this activity allows you to gain firsthand insight into the real impact of invasive species on biodiversity and, at the same time, to get a closer look at the daily work of those who protect this unique forest. In addition to enjoying the beauty of the laurisilva, you’ll have the opportunity to actively contribute to its conservation.
Afternoon: Botanical Trail in Garajonay National Park
The botanical trail winds through Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where every step reveals a piece of natural history. Thanks to the guide’s explanations, the tour becomes more than just a simple walk—it turns into a profound journey of discovery. The laurel forest, with its ghostly atmosphere, is home to a surprising number of endemic species: it is a true laboratory of evolution, a place where life has followed its own paths for millions of years.
Along the way, you’ll learn to identify some of the most iconic species and compare them to their continental relatives. This forest, teeming with life, is also a “fossil” forest—a witness to the ecosystems that once covered vast regions of the continent.
Amid the almost magical beauty of the landscape and the mist enveloping the trees, you’ll discover the natural history that the laurel forest holds within its leaves, its trunks, and its mist. It’s a journey into the past, but also an invitation to understand the present of an ecosystem that’s unique in the world.
Day 3 program
Oasis de Oxígeno & Salto de Pastor in Valle Gran Rey
Morning: Volunteering at the Oxygen Oasis
The Oxygen Oasis is a project promoted by the Association for Sustainable Tourism in La Gomera (ATUSOS), of which Ipalan is a member. Its purpose is to offset the carbon footprint generated by tourism through reforestation with native species, thereby helping to curb desertification and regenerate the island’s unique ecosystems.
During the activity, the guide will explain which species are used in reforestation, why they are chosen, and what techniques are applied, including the use of the “cocoon”—a system that helps retain moisture and promotes the growth of young plants. Depending on the time of year, your participation may involve planting, watering, or performing maintenance tasks, always tailored to the project’s actual needs.
Thanks to your participation, you’ll not only be able to offset part of your carbon footprint but also actively contribute to the fight against desertification and the conservation of biodiversity on La Gomera. Additionally, this experience offers the opportunity to gain a firsthand understanding of the value of ecological restoration work on the island.
The price of the trip includes a contribution of 30 € per person, which goes entirely to the project.
Afternoon: Salto de Pastor in the Valle Gran Rey Rural Park
In the afternoon, we’ll venture into another protected natural area: the Valle Gran Rey Rural Park. Unlike a national park, a rural park combines nature conservation with the protection of traditional agricultural landscapes, especially the terraced fields that shape the hillsides. This place makes an immediate impression with its geology: a deep, majestic ravine that is home to several water sources, which historically made it an ideal location for agriculture.
To be able to farm on such rugged terrain, the locals had to build terraces, some of which are surprisingly high. The result is a landscape that is both functional and extraordinarily beautiful—a perfect example of how humans have adapted to their environment.
During the tour, we’ll also discover a tradition that reflects this same adaptability: the shepherd’s leap. This ancient method of movement, based on the use of a long spear called an astia, allowed shepherds and locals to move nimbly across rugged terrain. Today it has become a federated sport, yet it retains all its ancestral essence. An expert in the shepherd’s leap will introduce you to this art on the ancient farming terraces—a perfect setting to understand its practicality.
Do not forget
- Wear appropriate footwear for hiking in the mountains.
- Sunscreen and a hat.
- Windbreaker and rain jacket
- Water
- Picnic
Relevance
Bring:
- Camera
- Walking sticks
Groups
Max. 8 people
Available languages guide
Spanish, French, and English
Approximate duration
3 days and 3 nights