Guardians of La Gomera: A Participatory Ecotourism Experience

Morning: Hike in the Puntallana Special Nature Reserve — 3.5 hours

This route highlights the island’s geology. Your guide will take you on a journey through time, from the volcanic origins of the Canary Islands to the unique geological features of La Gomera. You will discover how volcanic organs, marine abrasion platforms, low islands, and pyroclasts were formed. The Puntallana Nature Reserve is a true open book where the entire volcanic history of the island is revealed. Your guide will help you “read” and interpret this grand landscape—far more than just a beautiful postcard.

But Puntallana is not only about geology. Its botanical heritage is equally remarkable: an exceptionally well‑preserved coastal and halophilic vegetation, home to endemic species, some of them found nowhere else.

The cultural dimension is also very rich. The reserve is home to the sanctuary of the island’s patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. Here you will learn about her legend and the traditions celebrated in her honor: the annual festival and, even more extraordinary, the great lustral celebration held every five years.

Puntallana is one of La Gomera’s true treasures—a fascinating place that deserves to be discovered and, above all, explained in order to fully appreciate its value.

Afternoon: Guided visit of San Sebastián — 2.5 hours

Explore the historic center of San Sebastián de La Gomera and let yourself be captivated by its emblematic landmarks: the Church of La Asunción, the Torre del Conde, and the famous Calle Real.

Your guide will immerse you in the fascinating history of this small town, shaped by the conquest, by great navigators such as Christopher Columbus and Juan de la Cosa, and by the uprising of the Gomeros.

The visit continues along the seafront promenade, a thread that helps make sense of the island’s history. You will discover how La Gomera, long isolated, was transformed by the late construction of its port, its opening to the world, the great wave of emigration to the New World, the arrival of the ferry, and the development of tourism.

Your guide will explain how this island—once strategic yet for centuries closed in on itself—gradually opened to the rest of the world while always preserving its authenticity.

Morning: Volunteering in Garajonay National Park

The ecological value of the laurel forest is extraordinarily high: this ancient woodland hosts the greatest biodiversity in the Canary Islands and is one of the archipelago’s most fragile and precious ecosystems. Preserving it requires constant work from the National Park’s technical team, who face its main threat: introduced species—both animals and plants—capable of disrupting the forest’s natural balance.

During this half‑day activity, we will accompany park technicians in one of their essential tasks: the removal of invasive species. The type of intervention varies depending on the season, as does the specific area where the work takes place. Before beginning, a park guide will explain why this work is so important and how we should proceed to collaborate safely and effectively.

Taking part in this activity offers a first‑hand understanding of the real impact invasive species have on biodiversity, while also bringing you closer to the daily efforts of those who protect this unique forest. Alongside enjoying the beauty of the laurel forest, you will have the opportunity to actively contribute to its conservation.

Afternoon: Botanical Walk in Garajonay National Park

This botanical walk takes place in Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where every step reveals a fragment of natural history. Thanks to the guide’s explanations, the route becomes far more than a simple stroll—it turns into a deep journey of discovery. The laurel forest, with its almost otherworldly atmosphere, shelters a surprising number of endemic species. It is a true laboratory of evolution, a place where life has followed its own paths for millions of years.

Along the way, you will learn to identify some of the most emblematic species and compare them with their continental relatives. This forest, full of life, is also a “fossil” forest—a living witness to the ecosystems that once covered vast regions of the continent.

Amid the almost magical beauty of the landscape, the mist that wraps around the trees, you will uncover the natural history that the laurel forest holds in its leaves, its trunks, and its fog. It is a journey into the past, but also an invitation to understand the present of a truly unique ecosystem.

Morning: Volunteering in Garajonay National Park

The ecological value of the laurel forest is extraordinarily high: this ancient woodland hosts the greatest biodiversity in the Canary Islands and is one of the archipelago’s most fragile and precious ecosystems. Preserving it requires constant work from the National Park’s technical team, who face its main threat—introduced species, both animals and plants, capable of disrupting the forest’s natural balance.

During this half‑day activity, we will accompany park technicians in one of their essential tasks: removing invasive species. The type of intervention varies depending on the season, as does the specific area where the work takes place. Before beginning, a park guide will explain why this work is so important and how we should proceed to collaborate safely and effectively.

Taking part in this activity offers a first‑hand understanding of the real impact invasive species have on biodiversity, while also bringing you closer to the daily efforts of those who protect this unique forest. As you enjoy the beauty of the laurel forest, you will also have the opportunity to actively contribute to its conservation.

Afternoon: Botanical Walk in Garajonay National Park

This botanical walk takes place in Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where every step reveals a fragment of natural history. Thanks to the guide’s explanations, the route becomes far more than a simple stroll—it transforms into a deep journey of discovery. The laurel forest, with its almost otherworldly atmosphere, shelters a surprising number of endemic species. It is a true laboratory of evolution, a place where life has followed its own paths for millions of years.

Along the way, you will learn to identify some of the most emblematic species and compare them with their continental relatives. This forest, full of life, is also a “fossil” forest—a living witness to the ecosystems that once covered vast regions of the continent.

Amid the almost magical beauty of the landscape, wrapped in the mist that drifts through the trees, you will uncover the natural history that the laurel forest holds in its leaves, its trunks, and its fog. It is a journey into the past, but also an invitation to understand the present of a truly unique ecosystem.