La Gomera San Sebastián 2017
Welcome to La Gomera La Gomera is a short ferry journey over from neighbouring Tenerife and known as the ultimate walking winter escape. This small island manages to squeeze in breathtaking barrancos, laurisilva forest and the wonderful Garajonay National Park a true walker s paradise. Stay at the Parador overlooking the sea and with easy access to the tiny island capital of San Sebastián. The island has narrow and deep ravines criss-crossed by rugged mountains and offers a network of trails and pathways. Caminos reales (royal paths) were used by the inhabitants of the island until the middle of the last century to pass through some difficult areas with horses and donkeys carrying loads of straw, cereals, potatoes and other products. The island is bathed by trade winds and the geography of the island allows several microclimates. In the north, it is wetter where the World Heritage Site of Garajonay National Park is located, the rain condenses creating a beautiful green forest. Meanwhile in the south the weather is sunny and much warmer most of the year. The average temperature of 22 results in a tourism industry all year round. San Sebastián, the capital, has beautiful buildings and traditional Canarian architecture. It is well known as the stopping off point for Christopher Columbus en route to discovering the Americas. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron saint of San Sebastián and you can visit the charming Chapel of Puntallana. 2 Reservations - local rate 0345 470 7558 (standard rate 020 8732 1250)
Accommodation Parador de la Gomera Cerro de la Horca 38800 San Sebastián de la Gomera Tel: 0034 922 871100 Parador de la Gomera Perched above the town of San Sebastián and the harbour, this stylish Canarian hotel enjoys incredible coastal views. The restaurant has a great local reputation, recommended in many gastronomic guides, and offers hearty Canarian fayre. Bedrooms: There are 90 ensuite bedrooms, all spacious and well-equipped, some with balcony or terrace. Mostly have attractive views to the mountains, gardens or to a pretty Canarian courtyard garden. Each has telephone, TV, hairdryer, safe deposit box (free), mini-bar, air conditioning and complimentary toiletries. Facilities: The Parador has an outdoor swimming pool in a stunning location overlooking the harbour and marina of San Sebastián. A delightful garden surrounds the hotel, planted with palms and tropical shrubs and with paths leading to viewpoints. There are traditional courtyard areas to relax in at the end of the day as well as several comfortable lounges, all furnished with antique colonial furniture, and some with sea views. The attractive dining area has an enclosed veranda surround leading to the garden. There is a small sauna available to all guests. Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas of the hotel, and there is 24hr reception. Meals: All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. Your hotel caters for most dietary needs; we advise you to discuss your requirements with the restaurant staff on arrival. Breakfast: Served from 7.30am in the dining room, there is an extensive continental breakfast selection offering a wide range of items. Evening meal: Served between 7.30pm and 10pm, the restaurant specialises in local dishes and hearty Canarian fayre and has a great local reputation. Dinner is a 3-course meal served to your table. A vegetarian option is always available. Lunch: You are able to purchase a picnic lunch from the hotel. Alternatively it is possible to buy ingredients from local shops, while larger supermarkets and fruit stalls can be found in San Sebastián To book online visit www.hfholidays.co.uk 3
Holiday itinerary A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. La Gomera offers more challenging mountain walks than other islands on the Canaries. You ll have a choice of two guided walks each day. The cost of the transport to and from your walks each day is included in the cost of your holiday. Easier Walks: 5 to 8 miles (8-13km) with up to 1,200ft (360m) of ascent in a day. Harder Walks: 7 to 11 miles (11-17.5km) with up to 3,000ft (900m) of ascent in a day. Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks. The walks on La Gomera include some steep ascents and descents, which may prove challenging for some vertigo sufferers. Day 1: Arrival day The journey to our hotel is part of the pleasure of this holiday. From Tenerife South airport you will be transferred to the port of Los Cristianos, which takes about 20 minutes. Here there may be time to visit one of the many bars and restaurants, or even the beautiful sandy beach with its sheltered swimming bay, before boarding the ferry. The boat to San Sebastián will take about an hour and passes through the waters renowned for whales and other marine mammals. From San Sebastián, it is only a short ride up the hill to our hotel. Day 2: Garajonay National Park Both groups will start the day with a stroll down the hill and an exploration of San Sebastián. We then board our transport for the ride up to the Garajonay National Park, in the centre of the island. Easier Walk: This walk follows a broad contouring track around Garajonay, the highest point, to reach a viewpoint and pick up the GR 131. Our path then descends to tiny Iguatero and another mirador. Here we find a monument to Siblo, the unique whistling language of La Gomera. Below the village we join a high terrace path in a spectacular location to traverse round the hillside and ascend towards the rocky stronghold of Fortaleza. We continue to the large village of Chipude where we finish our walk at one of the bars in the square. 6 miles (9.5km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent. Harder Walk: This walk follows the same route as the easier walk as far as the col beneath Fortaleza. Here we follow a good path with steps on a winding route up through the cliffs to reach the top at 1,243m. After circling the summit plateau, we retrace our route down to the col and continue to Chipude. We continue for a couple of kilometres to the smaller village of El Cercado, famed for the brown pottery, characteristic of the island. These pots are only made by women, who shape them without the use of a wheel or other mechanical aids. 8 miles (13km) with 1,200ft (360m) of ascent. Day 3: Hermigua Today we will use hired transport to make our first visit to the eastern side of La Gomera, with its small fields of bananas and the rock girt village of Agulo. Easier Walk: We begin at the visitor centre high above Agulo, where you can learn more about the flora, fauna, history and traditions of the island. Starting our walk, we contour round the hillside and begin the steady descent to the attractive settlement of Agulo. Here there will be time to look around and pause for a drink, before 4 Reservations - local rate 0345 470 7558 (standard rate 020 8732 1250)
continuing our descent to the coast and a stroll above the seaside rocks to the wild bay of Playa Hermigua. Here we can visit a bar before ascending back to the road for the bus back to the hotel. 5 miles (8km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent and 2,500ft (750m) of descent. Harder Walk: We leave our transport in Agulo to ascend a seemingly impossible route through the cliffs behind the village. We ascend on a wide mule path to a mirador above the coast. The route then follows a valley inland before a further ascent takes us to the visitor centre where our easier group started their walk. After viewing the displays and information about the island we follow the easier route back through Agulo to finish at Hermigua. 7 miles (11km) with 1,900ft (570m) of ascent. Day 4: The Green Valley Hired transport today returns us to the Garajonay National Park, this time to ascend the highest point on the island (1,487m). It provides an opportunity to see at close hand the unique laurel and tree heather forest that once covered much of the centre of the island. Easier Walk: We start this walk at the Visitor Centre and then walking a well marked forest path followed by a paved track to the summit of Garajonay for views across the island. This circular route then descends through the famous laurel and tree heather forest back to the Visitor Centre. 6 miles (9.5m) with 1,000ft (300m) of ascent and descent. Harder Walk: This group stays on the bus for a few more kilometres to reach the visitor centre at Laguna Grande. From here, our path undulates through laurel forest and then ascends to the top of Garajonay, the highest point on the island. After admiring the view, we pick up the route of the easier walk, descending through the forest to Ermita de Lourdes, El Cedro and finishing at El Convento. 9 miles (14.5km) with 800ft (250m) of ascent. Day 5: Free day Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: San Sebastián Wander down to San Sebastian and visit the excellent little archaeological museum, sit and people watch in the shady square or even visit the sheltered black sandy bay for a swim. Hire a boat from San Sebastián for a fishing or whale watching trip (max five people). Hotel Spend the day at the hotel, perhaps taking advantage of the swimming pool, sauna or massage facility, or wander through the hotel gardens improving your knowledge of the local fauna. Stroll out from the hotel through the town to the remote beach at Playa Guancha or in the other direction for a shorter walk to the lighthouse at Punta de San Cristobal. La Gran Rey Take a bus ride from the town to La Gran Rey, one of the main beach resorts, for a meal, swim or even a trip on one of the whale watching boats. For information on La Gomera please visit www.lagomera.travel Day 6: Inland from San Sebastián The shortest bus ride of the week, lasting only about 20 minutes, takes us to the viewpoint of Degollada de Peraza, inland from San Sebastián. Both groups will then walk back to the hotel by different routes. Easier Walk: This follows the GR 131 from the mirador, starting beneath high cliffs before the path opens out onto a wider ridge, once one of the main agricultural areas of La Gomera. These terraced fields of Ayamosna are now largely abandoned. A broad, sometimes stony, mule track zigzags down into the town, where we will perhaps stop for a drink, before making the short ascent back to our hotel. 7 miles (11km) with 600ft (180m) of ascent and 2,200ft (660m) of descent. Harder Walk: We follow the same route as the easier walk as far as Ayamosna. We To book online visit www.hfholidays.co.uk 5
then cross a barranco to ascend through a deserted hamlet, passing some spectacular rock features on a remote ridge, before descending into the Cabrito valley. Ascending out of this valley we arrive at the remote beach of Playa Guancha, where we may stop for a swim before ascending the cliffs beyond. An undulating path takes us back to San Sebastián and the final short ascent to our hotel. 10 miles (16km) with 1,700ft (510m) of ascent. Day 7: The Benchijigua valley and the Guanimiar barranco For our final walks of the week we make our first visit to the valleys to the southwest of San Sebastián. We take the same route initially as the previous day, and then branch off at the Degollada de Peraza towards Playa Santiago. Easier Walk: This group alights first to take a broad track winding along the hillside to the attractive restored hamlet of Benchijigua. Taking a narrow path we follow the valley southwards through terraces, along a rock shelf and past a disused gofio mill. We then descend to cross a dry stream bed, before ascending to finish at the bar at Pastrana, or at the road junction just beyond. 5 miles (8km) with 300ft (90m) of ascent and 1,500ft (450m) of descent. Harder Walk: We stay on the bus through Playa Santiago to ascend to Alajero. We take the mule track across the col and descend to Imada, a village nestling near the top of a valley. Here we take the path through the famous Guarimiar barranco, walking beneath and above high cliffs, to the hamlet of Guarimiar. The route then takes an improbable line, winding up through the cliffs to reach Targa. With rather less ascent, we continue, with short stretches on roads, to finish back at a bar in Alajero. 7 miles (11km) with 1,800ft (540m)of ascent. Day 8: Departure day In the evenings The friendly atmosphere of our Guided Walking holidays continues into the evening. We ll enjoy a leisurely meal and then you may also like to join your leader for an evening stroll, listen to local musicians, relax with a book in a quiet lounge or enjoy a drink at the bar with your fellow walkers talking about your day. 6 Reservations - local rate 0345 470 7558 (standard rate 020 8732 1250)
Transfer information If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Tenerife South airport. From the UK we offer flights from London Gatwick airport only. Please note that meals are not provided on most European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Where possible you will be met as you enter the arrivals hall by an HF Holidays leader. Your leader may be on the same flight as you or may already be at the airport. Occasionally we will ask our transfer coach company to meet you. The driver will be in the arrivals hall holding an HF Holidays sign. The onward journey to La Gomera is firstly by a short 20 minute coach journey from Tenerife South airport to Los Cristianos, where there may be time to browse, or sit and enjoy a drink before catching the ferry to San Sebastián. The ferry journey is 50 minutes and a 10 minute coach journey from the ferry port will take you to the Parador de la Gomera. For independent travellers: The cost of the transfer from Tenerife South airport is included in the cost of your holiday. You will need to make arrangements that meet the group transfer at Tenerife South airport. Meet the group in the arrivals hall by the exit from the baggage reclaim. If you are unable to meet this transfer you will be required to make your own onward travel arrangements. Transfers must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer please call +44 (0)20 8732 1220 Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call 0800 083 8746 and quote HX031 or book online at www.holidayextras.co.uk/ hfholidays To book online visit www.hfholidays.co.uk 7
Walking information Your walking leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our Guided Walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest en route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions for things that they might do differently are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any element of your holiday, our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guide who will accompany you on a walk to enrich and enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local interest guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The map available for this area is 1:35,000 La Gomera Tour and Trail. You will also find maps for sale in San Sebastian. However, a free walking map of La Gomera is available at the tourist office in San Sebastian. Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, tel: 0800 0854080 or visit www.themapshop.co.uk. Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. 8 Reservations - local rate 0345 470 7558 (standard rate 020 8732 1250)
Walking safely We are committed to running our Guided Walking holidays in a safe manner and your co-operation with this is much appreciated. No outdoor activity can be 100% risk free; however, if you take sensible precautions and adhere to your leaders instructions, your holiday will be both safe and enjoyable. On the first evening of your holiday (dependent on arrival time), the leaders will give a short talk about safety on the walks we would ask everyone to attend. Walking as a group: Our leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole, and will show more caution over potential risks (such as bad or exceptionally hot weather) than an individual or couple might make on a private outing. Walks may be modified or cancelled following the leaders assessment of the day-to-day situation. Your leaders will refuse to accept any guest whose clothing, equipment, behaviour or walking ability is considered unsuitable, and where it could affect the safety and enjoyment of other guests on the proposed walk. It is your responsibility to follow the leader s guidelines, for the benefit and safety of the group as a whole. If you leave the group, then your leader will no longer have responsibility for you. For safety reasons, we stipulate a minimum party size of two guests in addition to the leader. First aid: In line with current practice, each leader carries a group first aid kit but is not able to supply any medication, including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines and antiseptic cream. Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry a minimum of two litres of water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a two litre hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be filled up from additional water sources as required. Your leader will inform you of the possibilities for replenishing your water during the walks. Your health: It is essential that you describe on your guest registration form any health condition or disability you may have. The leaders will treat this confidentially and may be able to take it into account on the walks; for example, by not delaying lunch if they know they have someone with diabetes in their party. EU citizens should ensure they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) prior to their holiday. There can be problems with medical authorities and insurance companies if you cannot produce this when you require treatment details are available at dh.gov. uk/travellers EHIC cards have an expiry date please check yours is valid before you travel. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for pre-existing illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on 020 8732 1220 or email holidayservices@hfholidays.co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. In Montenegro, there are reciprocal healthcare agreements with the UK that allow free emergency treatment. In non urgent cases payment (normally in cash) To book online visit www.hfholidays.co.uk 9
may be required. Further details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Turkey has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, and doctors generally expect payment in cash. Find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures. Money: Access to emergency money, preferably via a credit card, is very important as you never know when an emergency may arise. What to wear and bring To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Changeable weather is possible throughout the year, so our advice is to come prepared for all eventualities. Please note that some of our Atlantic island and Mediterranean destinations are also in mountainous areas and at high altitudes (up to 4,000ft). The temperatures can be low as 0 C. You will need: comfortable outdoor clothing waterproof jacket and overtrousers ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles small rucksack water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses In addition to the above, the following are recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents camera personal first aid kit Footwear: We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. Holiday tips Language: Spanish Currency: Euro Changing money: There are several ATM machines in San Sebastián where you can obtain money. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with round two pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialling the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial a number in La Gomera 0034 10 Reservations - local rate 0345 470 7558 (standard rate 020 8732 1250)
Where next? If you enjoyed your holiday on La Gomera, we recommend a holiday at one of our other Canary Island destinations of La Palma, Tenerife or Lanzarote. All offer variety and a lovely winter sunshine holiday. Guided Trail holidays Discover a great sense of achievement on a Guided Trail holiday. We have a great collection of trails on famous routes and outstanding locations across Britain and Europe. Two weeks or more Make the most of your break and enjoy a longer holiday either two weeks of walking at one resort or by combining complementary holidays, such as Menton on the French Riviera and Gréoux-les-Bains in Provence. We arrange the transfers between the resorts so that you don t have to. See our brochure or website for more information. Self-guided Walking For those who prefer to explore independently, on our Self-guided Walking holidays, in selected European destinations, you can discover unspoiled scenery, historic sites and the local culture at your own pace by following our carefully planned walking routes. Worldwide From Alaska to Australia our Worldwide Journeys invite you to explore world famous destinations, and some lesser known gems, on six continents including Europe. Cycling With a wealth of exciting European destinations, we have a range of guided and self-guided holidays to suit all abilities. We also offer guided cycling tours based at some of our UK Country Houses. If you prefer to plan your own itinerary, our UK Country House Escapes also cater for cyclists. Leisure Activities We offer a range of Leisure Activities holidays at some of our European destinations, including Discovery or Garden Tours, Photography, Painting, or Yoga. Save on outdoor clothing From time to time our outdoor clothing partners have special offers for our guests. Visit www.hfholidays.co.uk/partnerships to see the current offers. To book online visit www.hfholidays.co.uk 11
About HF Holidays We have been organising outdoor holidays for over 100 years and we are the only holiday provider that is a co-operative. We are owned by our 36,000+ members and have no big corporate shareholders. Responsible tourism We have always been committed to acting as a responsible tour operator, and community is at the heart of everything we do. HF Holidays supports a range of projects helping to protect our environment and improving access to the countryside for future generations to enjoy. We support the work of the Ramblers, air ambulances, and mountain rescue teams. To find out more about our policy and commitment to the environment visit hfholidays.co.uk/responsibletourism On returning from your trip, we would like to hear your thoughts on any best practices that you observed and considered positive. Please email sarahdavis@hfholidays.co.uk Pathways Fund Last year guests donated 30,000 to our Pathways Fund. Find more information on our website hfholidays.co.uk/pathways Holiday feedback We value feedback from our guests. All holiday surveys are read by the team that plans our holidays and it plays a valuable part in helping us plan future holidays. If there is any information we have not provided that you feel would be useful for future guests, please do let us know. If we have your email address you will be sent a survey after your holiday; alternatively you can go to hfholidays.co.uk/surveys. Membership of HF Holidays If you have enjoyed your holiday and would like to help support our objectives, call 0345 470 7558 for details of membership (standard rate +44 (0)20 8732 1250). For the latest news and special offers register for our e-newsletter at hfholidays.co.uk/register Social media Contact details HF Holidays contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY www.hfholidays.co.uk Call For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: 0345 470 7558 (local rate) 00 44 (0)20 8732 1250 (from outside the UK) Monday-Friday 9am-7pm Email info@hfholidays.co.uk Emergency contact details In all instances during your holiday,your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or: Friday 7pm to Monday 9am +44 (0)7918 737777