Cycle Holiday | GomeraCyclingWalking

Cycling Holiday

Get to know La Gomera on two wheels!! With our NEW - Cycling Holiday Package for 1669€. We combine all 5 of our excursions in one week. Although a compact island, La Gomera is incredibly diverse. Our tours we have divided La Gomera in 4 quarters: North West/Vallehermoso, North East/Hermigua, West /Valle Gran Rey, South/Playa Santiago and 5th the Top.. We cover every corner of the second smallest Island from the Canarian Island.

The purpose of this holiday is for people who enjoy cycling and want to explore the best La Gomera have to offer. If you are not bike fit we do have Ebikes to give you the extra push you need. The dirt roads are not technical difficult .

Highlights

Garajonay National Park: Cycling in the fairytale fern-filled laurisilva forest at La Gomera’s heart and cycling its tallest peak.
El Cercado traditionale pottery
Igualero - hermitage of San Francisco de Asis, “El Silbo” monument of the whistle language and view of Fortaleza
El Cedro Cycling in a beautifully laurel forested gorge.
Juegos de Bolas Visitor Center
Mirador de Abrante
Agulo
Hermigua . Bodega Montoro and Astia jumping
Playa de la Caleta Unwinding at this black-pebble beach
Vallehermoso/Alojera:, Palm Honey Visitor Center
Playa Santiago .
Valle Gran Rey Soaking up the plunging valleys and palm-sprinkled terraces of the island's most popular region.

Key information

5 days cycling
65% tarmac, 45% dirt road
Group normally 8, plus leader and driver.
7 nights in 4 star hotels

What's included

Personal service and small group size with a maximum of 8 people per tour
7 nights accommodation Bed & Breakfast in the beautiful Hotel Jardin Tecina. This gives you maximum flexibility to experience and enjoy some of the delightful local restaurants available in Playa de Santiago. If you prefer to eat in the hotel (buffet restaurant) you can upgrade to half-board for €98 (select this option on our booking form). Alternatively if you decide to just eat in the hotel for a few nights then the buffet restaurant is available to you without booking for a set-charge of approx €25 added to your bill.
Complimentary upgrade to "Comfort Room" (subject to availability) **
Complimentary dinner & drinks briefing on arrival evening
Transfer from Tenerife South airport to Los Cristianos Port
5 lunches in locale restaurants on the day of the excursion
5 guided cycling excursion of duration around 5 hours
Transport to the starting point for each cycle & return to Hotel Jardin Tecina
Return ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastian de la Gomera
Transport between San Sebastian and Hotel Jardin Tecina

Tour leader throughout
Mountain Bike or EBike, can vary from day to day depends on the distance, climbing and fitness

** You can upgrade to a "Superior Room" for €23 per person per night per person. These are bigger and situated at the front of the Hotel with direct ocean view.

* Per person sharing. Single occupancy premium €165 extra

What's not included

Travel insurance
Airport transfers and flights

Day 1

Arrival in Tenerife South Airport transfer to La Gomera.

It is recommendable to arrive before 12:30PM at the airport. Gomera Cycling will organise a prepaid taxi to transfer you from the airport to Ferry Port of Los Cristianos. Just before the port office you will see a little baggage train with a sign "La Gomera 14.00" You can put your luggage in one of the lockers. You collect it again at San Sebastian after you disembark. Should your flight be delayed or arrive later than 12.30PM we will make alternative arrangements for your transfer to La Gomera.

Arriving at San Sebastian our driver will wait for you with the Gomera Cycling sign and take you to your Hotel in Playa Santiago. We invite you for dinner in a locale restaurant to meet the rest of the group.

Day 2

Arrival in Tenerife South Airport transfer to La Gomera.

9:30 pick up from Hotel Tecina. This tour is easy so you have time to acclimatize after your arrival and get used to the bike. Transport takes us to the starting point Pajarito. Before starting you will get a short introduction into the techniques of riding, gear shifting and braking on a mountain bike. We follow a quiet by road that offers stunning views across the island. We pass across Igualero, the highest mountain village on La Gomera, and Chipude, its oldest authentic community, and gradually reach El Cercado, the village that is famous for its traditional pottery. After a refreshing stop at a local bar we cycle on through Las Hayas and Arure until finally, cycling down the winding road through the large ravine to Valle Gran Rey, that has become the main tourist area in La Gomera. To end our excursion we take the ferry back to Playa Santiago at 15:30 so you can enjoy the beautiful coastline of La Gomera. If you want to spend more time in Valle Gran Rey you can take the later ferry back at 19:00.

Day 3

Arrival in Tenerife South Airport transfer to La Gomera.

9:30 pick up from Hotel Tecina.The transport take us to the starting point at Cruz de Zarcita. We enter the legendary forest of El Cedro, a refuge from the Tertiary where the laurel has survived as a reminder of a time when men had not yet taken part in the world. The lush vegetation of its mountains is in tune with the green of its valley, one of the most fertile in the island of La Gomera. We visit Juego de Bolas- Visitor Center and Mirador de Abrante (demonstration of El Silbo) with a spectacular view of Agulo and Teide. We make our way down to Agulo and Hermigua where we will enjoy our lunch. After lunch we have a climb of 10 km and cycle down to San Sebastian to take the ferry back to Playa Santiago at 17:30. (Ebike will be a good option for the less fit people)

Day 4

Buena Vistas - Vallehermoso

9:30 pick up from Hotel Tecina. We begin our excursion at Pajarito, at first following the main road across the Laurel Forest, Raso de Brumas. Shortly after having passed Los Chorros de Epina - Gomera's spring - we leave the road and continue on a trail that leads us through the oldest landscapes of La Gomera. At the little chapel of Santa Clara we continue with the dirt road high above the western coastal cliffs. Soon after the chapel of Coromoto we arrive at a point that truly deserves its name: Buenavista - Good View overlook an incomparable view sweeping the steep coastline and over the Vallehermoso Valley as well as all the way to Tenerife. Our return trip leads along the east side of the mountain, bringing us back to the Ermita de Santa Clara. We then cycling down to Alojera where we will enjoy our lunch and swim in Alojera beach. Transport will bring us back to Playa Santiago.

Day 5

Day Off

Enjoying the visilities of the Hotel Tecina or the beaches of Playa Santiago

Day 6

North East - Hermigua

9:30 pick up from Hotel Tecina. Transport take as to Cruz de Zarcita where we cycle down El Rejo and enjoying the spectacular view of Hermigua. We take the off road at the Encherda area and natural park of Majona. On this route by way of collaboration with the farm, Bodegas Montoro, we organize a Wine tasting and a visit to both the winery and the vineyards and a demonstration of the jump with Astia. This route ends in the Hermigua, La Caleta Beach or in the Bar La Creativa Casa Pedro or in any other point of interest, either tourist of gastronomic.

Day 7

To the Top - Alto de Garajonay

9:30 pick up from Hotel Tecina.The transport take us to the starting point at Pajarito where we start with an easy climb to the Alto de Garajonay the highest point of the island. On clear days you can see from here almost the entire island of La Gomera. The islands of La Palma, El Hierro, Tenerife and Gran Canaria can also be seen if the day is very clear. Perhaps because of its strategic location, this place is shrouded in magic since ancient times. There are signs of sacrifices made by the pre-Hispanics, interesting places found throughout the area. We make our descent through the national park until Laguna Grande where we have a snack and look around. We continue our cycling back to Pajarito where we enter another trail that take us to the spectacular views over the volcano plug (Roque Agando), Benchijigua and Imada. After a nice climb we make our way down to Playa Santiago. We will have our finale lunch at one of the beach bars in Playa Santiago and inform about the next day departure.

Day 8

Back home

According to your flight departure time we organise the return ferry and transport to the port and airport.

Is This Trip for You?

This trip is rated Activity Level 4- Moderate, combination of road and dirt road

5 days cycling , total of around 225 km and 3904 meters of climbing,

The routes will be a combination of off road and road. La Gomera have good road surfaces and the dirt roads can be gravely at times. We are fortunate that the roads are quiet and safe, but is not for people who suffer vertigo. You should be comfortable riding down and up hills, because there is NO flat in La Gomera. On the first day we can see what the level of the group are and according to that we can adjust the rides of the following days. Gomera Cycling also have good quality Ebikes for the once that need the extra push.

Transportation

Throughout the tours, we use our minivan, that will take as to the starting point of the routes. Is about 30-40 minutes drive. Two days we will return with small ferry (40 min) back to Playa Santiago after the ride and other 2 days return with the minivan. You will have the freedom of NO dense traffic.

Weather Information

La Gomera falls within the tropical climate zone and enjoys all year round lovely weather. The cold Canary Current exerts a refreshing influence and maintains the island’s temperatures in a very nice range between 21°C in January and 28°C in August and September. In the southern parts of the island as well as along the coast as a whole, the weather of La Gomera is very dry and sunny. The higher parts of the northern slopes however, which receive most of the precipitation, are extremely wet and fresh.

And do not forget that the sun here is always quite strong, although the refreshing wind can fool you into thinking that it is not!

What to take

Essential Equipment

Casual clothes. June/September short pants and Shirt, but always need a jumper. November and early March and you should bring a warm jacket, long gloves and trousers if you are travelling at that time.
Cycling gloves if you have long and short both
Cycling helmet (compulsory on this trip)
A first aid kit is carried on each trip, but you should bring your own first aid kit with diarrhoea treatment, painkillers, rehydration sachets, plasters and a blister treatment kit.
Warm clothes/layers for the November - March season
Refillable water bottle (1-2 litre capacity)
Lightweight waterproof jacket
Strong sun cream and sun hat
A swimming costume .

We believe in reducing our negative environmental impacts wherever possible, this goes for when you need to spend a penny in the great outdoors! If no toilet facilities are available at some of the planned stops or during our ride, there may come a time when you need to go to the loo behind a tree/bush/rock. To avoid leaving toilet paper behind we recommend taking biodegradable dog poo/sandwich bags with you. Once you have done your business you can pop the used toilet roll in here and take it with you to dispose of when there are appropriate facilities available.

Optional Equipment

Spare or extra long sleeved top that can protect you from the sun and cold .
Small backpack to carry personal items while cycling
You might wish to pack a bandana/cloth as this does help some cyclists to keep cool in the heat or warm in the cold

Equipment Hire

Local Bike Details: Focus Disc MTB/Ebikes with front suspension

A quality local hire bike is included in the overall price of our cycling holidays. At the time of booking we will take your height in order to reserve equipment. There may on occasions be insufficient bikes available in the correct size; we will endeavour to find suitable alternative equipment but this cannot be guaranteed. We will tell you before you book whether suitably sized bikes are available.

Conditions

1. The equipment remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, hire out or part possession with the equipment.

2. You must not misuse the equipment and must return it in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear excepted). The supplier is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the equipment during the period of hire.

3. You must ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use. In the event of the equipment being lost or stolen, you may be liable for the replacement value of the equipment

4. You must not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and should immediately notify the Supplier in the event of breakdown or loss.

Extra Bike Bits

You may like to bring your own pedals and saddle (excluding the seat post) or gel saddle cover to fit to the hire bikes. We encourage this, if it is your preference. However, please note that you are responsible for your own equipment, and removing your saddle/pedals at the end of the trip. We cannot guarantee the return of any bike parts left behind.

Optional Equipment

Wearing a helmet is mandatory for anyone taking part in any guided cycling holidays. Group members must bring their own helmets, but Gomera Cycling have helmets to rent if needed.
For self-guided cycling holidays wearing a helmet is highly recommended. Customers who choose to ignore our advice do so entirely at their own risk and on the understanding that it may affect the validity of their travel insurance. It should also be noted that in some countries we travel to wearing a helmet is already a legal requirement.
Cycling of all kinds has its dangers and accidents can happen from time to time. Please ensure that you are properly prepared for the riding you are going to undertake.

Recommended Cycling Clothing

Padded cycling shorts (with loose 'over-shorts' where recommended), breathable clothing, and a lightweight waterproof/windproof top. Shoes with relatively stiff soles are better for biking, but are not essential unless you are cycling long distances. Most people want to carry certain items with them during the day while cycling, for this we recommend a large bum-bag or small close-fitting daysack.