Given that the park is located in the centre of the island, the access from any town is very easy and does not require, in any case, more than forty minutes by vehicle. You have the possibility to choose between a wide range of hotel and non-hotel accommodation, of all standards and prices. Among them, you can find hotels of all categories, the Parador Nacional, apartment complexes, houses rehabilitated for rural tourism, private apartments, small pensions, etc. For more detailed information, see http://gomera-island.com/turismo. There is no legal camping area permitted in La Gomera, although in the hamlet of Cedar there is a private area where you are allowed to set up tents.

La Gomera is an island with a rich and varied culinary culture. It is a simple cuisine, based on fresh products of the country, once seasoned and cooked, which delight your taste with authentic flavours. Coriander, cumin, honey of Palma (palm honey), pimienta picona (hot pepper)… these are just a few of the essential ingredients of a cuisine that uses the local products of the season to develop its traditional recipes. Potatoes and queso gomero (cheese from La Gomera), sweet potatoes, yams, pantanas (siam pumpkin), bubangos (a type of squash), avocados, fresh meat, fish from our shores... all served with local wine, made with the variety Forastera Gomera, an exclusive grape of the island. Watercress soup, almogrote, gofio, tuna in mojo (sauce), ribs with potatoes, carne fiesta (fried meat with fries), rancho Canario (canarian stew), escaldón de pescado (gofio stew with fish), rabbit in salmorejo (typical marinade of canary cuisine), goat meat, chickpea stew, medregal (greater amberjack), cherne (atlantic wreckfish), cabrillas (comber), mackerel… these are just some of the delights that the kitchens of the restaurants from La Gomera offer us. Quesillo (a type of custard), leche asada (roasted milk), frangollo (with almonds and cinnamon), all of them made with palm honey, are the ideal desserts to complete a different culinary experience. And what better way to end your meal than with a digestive and strong gomerón (brandy with palm honey) or a soft and sweet mistela (traditional liquor).

Both in the hamlets in the surroundings of the Park (La Palmita, El Cercado, Arure, Chipude, Las Hayas, etc. ), as in any of the towns of the rest of the island or in the reputable companies with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, you will be able to try these and other specialities, as well as international cuisine, canarian and spanish cuisine, ethnic cuisines (Arabic, Italian, Chinese, Malay, Venezuelan… ). A huge variety of cuisine to suit all tastes. In summary, the cuisine is simple but well made, with products and local flavours that blend the traditional with the modern.

If you are going to walk in the park or the island and you want to enjoy a picnic in nature, you cannot miss the fruit of the season in your backpack: mangoes, papayas, avocados, apples, oranges or bananas are ideal to complement the snack or sandwich that you prepare or buy. One more piece of advice, the best desserts or simply the best snacks for your tour are the sweets from La Gomera, the result of hundred-year-old confectionery tradition, which, although it is originally from England, today is one of the richest and most flavourful of the Canary Islands.

The best presents that you can take back home are the typical products of La Gomera, gifts that will awaken curiosity, since they are only produced on the island. In any market, supermarket or store you can purchase almogrote, palm honey, honey, jams, gofio, cheese, local wine, liquors, mojos, sweets… packaged in order to be transported and, thus, surprise our family and friends with the authentic and unique flavours of La Gomera.

La Gomera, like the rest of the Canary archipelago enjoys a subtropical climate with mild temperatures throughout the year. During a good part of the year, the islands are under the influence of the trade winds which often form the characteristic sea of clouds on the northern slopes of the island. The average annual temperature is about 20ºC in the coast, being colder in the higher areas, in which the Garajonay National Park is situated. At any time of the year, there can be strong climatic contrasts between the coast and the interior, where the park is situated. So, it is of utmost importance to always bring warm clothing and a raincoat, due to the frequent presence of fog and moisture in the park.

To know the weather conditions in the Park almost in real time, or of the previous days, you must go to www.aemet.es

In the tabs on the left, enter in time, observation, data.

The stations which represent the park are: Agulo (corresponds to the Visitors Centre, at 765 AMSL), Vallehermoso-Chipude (corresponds to the Forest House, located on the southern edge).

Another page of interest is www.eltiempo.es, with a similar service.

La Gomera, like the rest of the archipelago, enjoying mild temperatures throughout the year, being the preferred destination of winter tourism. Enjoying the beaches or the landscapes of the interior is guaranteed at any time. Almost all its municipalities have, on the coast, small black-sand beaches (bathe always with caution, especially in the northern coast) or natural pools in which we can enjoy the sea.

The Garajonay National Park offers attractions in all seasons. Spring is the ideal time to observe the vegetation in all its splendour. Winter offers a vision of the park, and of the island in general, with an intense green that reaches even to the sea. Summer maintains an optimum temperature for activities in nature, thanks to the trade winds, and enriches the visit with the lively popular festivals of the people of the island.

Car rental

Both in the port and the airport, it is possible to rent a car on arrival at the island. It is desirable to book previously, given the great demand for these vehicles throughout the year. Therefore, in San Sebastian de La Gomera, as in Valle Gran Rey and Playa Santiago, you can find the major national companies and places to rent vehicles.

More information on http://gomera-island.com/turismo/alquiler_de_vehiculos.html

Bus / Guagua

To access the vicinity of the park by public transport, you can use the following lines of guagua (bus):

• Line 1, central, from San Sebastian and Valle Gran Rey.
• Line 2, of the North (San Sebastian - Vallehermoso, passing through Agulo and Vallehermoso).
• Line 3, of the South, between San Sebastián and Playa Santiago.

For more information:

• Telephone: (+34) 922141101
• Webpage: http://guaguagomera.com

Taxi

In case of choosing the taxi as means of transport to travel around the park, there are different stops where the visitor can go to reserve the vehicle and even choose one with more passenger capacity.

• Taxi rank Hermigua: Telephone (+34) 922 880 047
• Taxi rank Playa Santiago: Telephone (+34) 922 895 017
• Taxi rank San Sebastián: Telephone (+34) 922 870 524
• Taxi rank Valle Gran Rey: Telephone (+34) 922 805 058
• Taxi rank Chipude (Vallehermoso): Telephone (+34) 646569617
• Taxi rank Vallehermoso: Telephone (+34) 679638703