Page 539 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

THE C ANAR Y ISLANDS  537

the many footpaths and scenic
viewpoints along the roads.
A ridge of woodland, curving
east–west across the island,
marks the edge of a vol cano.
The crater forms a fertile
depression known as El Golfo.
In the far west is the Ermita
de los Reyes, a place of pil grim­
age and the starting point of
the island’s biggest fiesta, held
in July every four years.
The turquoise seas off the
south coast are popular with
skin­divers, who base them­
selves in the small fishing village
of La Restinga.

3 La Gomera
Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 21,400.
~ g n Calle Real 32, San Seba­
stián de la Gomera, 922 14 15 12.
∑ lagomera.travel
La Gomera is the most accessible
of the smaller western islands, Terraced hillsides in the fertile Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera
only 40 minutes by hydrofoil
from Los Cristianos on Tenerife fine day, La Gomera’s scenery setting out on his adventurous
(90 minutes by ferry), or by is glorious. Rock pinnacles jut voyages. A well in the customs
plane from Tenerife or Gran above steep slopes studded house bears the grand words
Canaria. Many come to La with ferns while terraced hill­ “With this water America was
Gomera for a day only, taking a sides glow with palms and baptized”. According to legend
coach trip. Others hire a car and flowering creepers. The best he also prayed in the Iglesia de
explore on their own: a scenic section, the Parque Nacional de la Asunción, and stayed at a
but exhausting drive for a single Garajonay, is a UNESCO World local house.
day as the terrain is intensely Heritage Site. Beyond the arid hills to the
buckled, and the central plateau San Sebastián, La Gomera’s south lies Playa de Santiago,
is deeply scored by dramatic main town and ferry terminal, the island’s only real resort,
ravines. Driving across these is situated on the east coast, a which has a grey pebble beach.
gorges involves negotiating scattering of white buildings Valle Gran Rey, in the far west,
countless dizzying hairpin bends. around a small beach. Among is a fertile valley of palms and
The best way to enjoy the its sights are some places staircase terraces. These days
island is to stay a while and associated with Columbus it is colonized by foreigners
explore it at leisure, preferably (see pp62–3), who topped up attempting alterna tive lifestyles.
doing some walking. On a his water supplies here before In the north, tiny roads weave a
tortuous course around several
pretty villages, plunging at
intervals to small, stony beaches.
Las Rosas is a popular stop­off
for coach parties, who can enjoy
the visitors’ centre and a res­
taurant with a panoramic view.
The road towards the coast
from Las Rosas leads through
the town of Vallehermoso,
dwarfed by the huge Roque de
Cano, which is an impressive
mass of solidified lava. Just off
the north coast stands Los
Órganos, a fascinating rock
formation of crystallized basalt
columns resembling the pipes
Juniper trees on El Hierro, twisted and bent by the wind of an organ.

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