In the Atlantic Ocean, La Gomera overflows with beautiful beaches and clear blue water that rarely dips below 20 degrees Celsius. Naturally,ports are some of the island’s biggest draws. While the swimming season lasts from May to Jan., the mild climate and guaranteed sun in this Canary Island allows you to enjoy watersports year-round. Read on to see some of the thrilling experiences you can enjoy on your holiday.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding & Canoeing
Stand-up paddleboarding is derived from ancient Polynesian roots. People have practised this activity for centuries, but it surged in popularity when surfers started to use oars to improve their balance during training. The activity works your whole body, so it’s a great option if you love high-intensity exercise.
To practice this watersport, you will need a board, an oar or paddle and a good sense of balance. A good instructor can help you find the right board size. When it comes to the paddle, bigger ones need more strength to operate but allow you to go faster.
Two companies on the island – one in San Sebastián and another in Playa Santiago – can provide everything you need for either stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing.
Snorkelling & Diving
La Gomera has repeatedly been the setting for underwater photography and free diving championships because of its diverse natural resources and important sea beds. Infinite numbers of fish swim in sync while others hang back between the rocks. Subaquatic flora and fauna are so rich and diverse in La Gomera that the entire island was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2012.
To discover more about the island’s myriad of activities, read: Discover La Gomera, Canary Islands.
Snorkelling is a fantastic way to experience La Gomera’s water world up close. This sport is simple to practice as it only requires swimming on water’s surface with a diving mask and breathing tube. Swimming fins are also recommended to help you glide through the water with ease.
For the more experienced and adventurous types, there are drift dives, caves and deep reefs to explore. An impressive example is the diving spot at the Natural Monument of Los Organos, a huge volcanic structure that continues underwater. Other public institutions on the island organise “baptisms” in which you plunge into the world of diving for the first time.
Deep Sea Fishing
La Gomera’s rich marine life make it one of the world’s premier destinations for for deep sea fishing. It is the home of blue marlin and a host of other species, such as white marlin, spearfish, tuna, blue fin, big-eye, yellow fin and albacore. There are even hammerhead and mako sharks, dorado and more to catch.
You can find many charter boats in San Sebastian’s marina offering their services, with world-class boats, equipment and expertise for big game fishing, bottom fishing, jigging and blue marlin fishing.
The ‘Isla de Gomera’ Deep Sea Fishing Championship is one of the most important sporting events of the year. The event awards competitors for capturing and releasing fish such as marlin, garfish and tuna. The marlin and garfish are photographed and then returned to the sea, while the tuna are brought to the coast and, once weighed, donated to charity.
Boat Excursions
La Gomera has 90 km of virtually unexplored coastline. This makes the island’s marine life both rich and abundant. You can often spot schools of shimmering fish along with barracudas, rays, and turtles. Dolphins and whales also appear near the coast.
In fact, La Gomera is one the world’s hotspots for whale and dolphin watching with sightings of 30 different species. With only 87 species worldwide, you can see almost one-third of the existing species in one place.
Several companies provide boat and maritime excursions. Most excursions depart from the port of Vueltas (Valle Gran Rey), but you can also leave from San Sebastián and Playa Santiago.
Boat excursions are the perfect family activity because ships don’t need to travel far from the coast for a successful sighting. Just remember to bring your binoculars and camera!
If you want to enjoy La Gomera’s coasts at your own pace, you can rent small leisure boats and access spectacular coves to dive or swim in.
Visit lagomera.travel for more information.
