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La Gomera - Las Islas Canarias
La Gomera is one of the sunniest Canary Islands.
This small, rounded dome of an island, with ancient volcanic features like the Garajonay peak (now a National Park and World Heritage site with unique botanical features - four hundred floral species, including Canary Holly and Willows, and 16 varieties of Laurel) is the blissfully tranquil partner to the other Canary Islands and is the only island that is volcanically dormant.
La Gomera has all that a first-class holidaymaker could wish for, without the tourist overload of other destinations. Gomera benefits from the stable, luxurious climate of the Canary Islands. It is beautifully warm throughout the year with little seasonal variation, although the temperature can rise above 30 degrees C in the summer.
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It also has little variation in its hours of daylight; even in the shortest days of 'winter', it is still light and warm until much later. However, there are significant weather differences between the upper and northern areas, due to the altitude of the Garajonay peak, and the southern coastline. In the north, the weather can be extreme (colder and wetter) and very different from the warm and sunny southern coastal areas. However, the northern areas, which are agriculturally rich, are well worth visiting, especially in the summer months.
The National Park has clearly marked walks and it is a stunning but easy walk to the peak for all the family. There is a Visitors Centre in the northern part of the island, open 9.30am - 4.30pm, Tues - Sun. Also in the National Park is the Laguna Grande, originally a lake but now a large woodland walking and picnic area, with a log-cabin restaurant (closed Mon), which serves the most succulent pork chops you'll ever taste! For vegetarians, by the way, there are an excellent variety of dishes. There are also several dedicated vegetarian restaurants on the island.
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Travelling about the island is simple and pleasurable as the roads are very well maintained. Some small side-roads are very narrow, but always lead to the most stunning views, secluded bays and hidden delights of hill-top hamlets, often with amazing restaurants, and thriving rural industries such as pottery, palm-honey and goat-cheese making. Other local produce includes wine, spirits and liqueurs.
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Map of La Gomera: click on any of the highlighted regions for large scale detail
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