El Guro on La Gomera
El Guro is still a small and untouched pearl on La Gomera and belongs to the municipality of Valle Gran Reys. Untouched and evergreen nature alternates with impressive palm landscapes and a beautiful mountain panorama. In summer, it is not as hot as on the coast below and the nearest beach, which you will find in Valle Gran Rey, is less than a 5-minute drive away (approx. 1.5 kilometres). So you live away from the typical tourist accommodation, but you are still in the middle of the hustle and bustle in just a few minutes. The ideal place to switch off and find yourself again.
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For hikers or explorers, El Guro is also the perfect starting point for activities of all types. The nearest hiking trail is only a stone's throw away from my accommodation and the path to the famous and popular waterfall "Salto de Agua" as well. The Garajonay National Park, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also just a few minutes' drive away.
Weather & climate
Because El Guro is located in the (south) west of La Gomera, it is significantly warmer and sunnier than in the north of the island. However, the small artists' village is situated at an altitude of approximately 300 metres and, especially in the winter months, it can be rainy and windy here for a short time. But the island is always "happy" about rain and it is usually over again after a few hours. In summary, it is often a little cooler in El Guro than on the coast below. And when it rains in El Guro, it also rains in the lower valley of the Valle Gran Rey.
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In summer and midsummer, however, people are thankful for a little cooling down. Especially the fact that it cools down considerably in the evening hours makes El Guro interesting for many tourists - in addition to the breathtaking nature and the individual accommodation. It is also worth mentioning that very few accommodations in El Guro have heating. But this is normal on La Gomera, only a few accommodations have heating, sometimes a stove.
The free spirits of El Guro
It is estimated that there are only 80-100 inhabitants in El Guro. That doesn't seem like much, but El Guro isn't particularly big or spacious either. Most of the inhabitants know each other, help each other and respect each other's privacy.
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El Guro has always been the village of painters, sculptors and craftsmen - many creative minds live here, which have made the small nest of El Guro so well known. You can see this in the small streets, which are decorated with sculptures, paintings and colourful "toys". This creativity is also reflected in the individual holiday homes and flats. If you are looking for typical tourist accommodation in El Guro, you will certainly not find it! Most of the holiday homes in El Guro have very creative and original interiors. My two holiday homes were also furnished with great attention to detail and ingenuity.
130 stairs to El Guro ...
El Guro has no access road of its own and is therefore completely car-free! But this also means that you have to climb 130 stairs before you reach your accommodation. The beach and a larger supermarket are about 1.5-2 kilometres from El Guro. A quick trip to buy milk can quickly turn into a little adventure. At least without a car. I always recommend a rental car to my nice guests, so you are simply more flexible and of course more mobile. There are many free parking spaces down the road and rental cars are quite cheap on La Gomera. If you arrive by shuttle transfer or public bus, you have to get off at the "El Guro" stop and then simply follow the stairs (see photo on the right) upwards - and you are in paradise!
My magical accommodations in El Guro - living like in paradise!
The Canary Island La Gomera
At just under 8 - 12 million years old, La Gomera is one of the older Canary Islands, which lies about 300 kilometres from the African mainland. Despite their closeness to Africa, the Canary Islands - and also La Gomera - politically belong to Spain and thus also to the European Union. The population is estimated at around 21,700 inhabitants - which corresponds to just 59 inhabitants per km².
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The rather unknown Canary Island of La Gomera impresses with a mild climate all year round, beautiful nature and a naturalness that is unparalleled in the Canary Islands. On La Gomera you can still spend a natural and unforgettable holiday away from mass tourism. You will be surprised what the island, which is about 1300 kilometres away from the Spanish mainland, has to offer you. Many tourists come to La Gomera just for the whales and dolphins, as the probability of sighting them is an incredible 90%. You can find more information about all the whale watching providers in Valle Gran Rey on the exciting website of "Just Whale Watching".
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If you are looking for a wide range of cultural activities, discotheques or large bed castles with an all-inclusive programme, you are definitely wrong on La Gomera. The island is particularly attractive because of its unspoilt and fascinating nature, the serenity of the islanders and the untouched little bathing bays. There are only a few sandy beaches on the island. Most of them are natural stone beaches. But Valle Gran Rey in particular is known for the famous Playa del Ingles and the beach La Puntilla / La Playa. But be careful: even here there is not always sand all year round.
Probably the most popular holiday resort on La Gomera is the small valley of Valle Gran Rey, which lies in the (south) west of La Gomera and has just 4.500 inhabitants. At the same time, the former hippie paradise is also one of the sunniest and warmest places on the island - even in winter there are still spring-like temperatures here. But the capital San Sebastián de La Gomera on the east coast is always worth a day trip. The north of La Gomera is always a little cooler because of the humid trade winds, and in winter it also rains here quite often. But that's why it's much greener here and the vegetation is lush and green almost all year round. The southern half, on the other hand, is rather more barren and dry, but also more frequented by tourists, especially in the winter season.
La Gomera is divided into 6 municipalities: Agulo, Alajeró, Hermigua, San Sebastián de La Gomera, Valle Gran Rey and Vallehermoso. And with a total area of just 369.8 km² and just under 22,100 official inhabitants, La Gomera is the second smallest island in the Canaries - only El Hierro is more compact.
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With a height of 1,487 metres, the Garajonay is the highest mountain on the island and always a popular destination for hikers. But the real highlight of the island is the Garajonay National Park (Parque Nacional de Garajonay), which is unique in the Canary Islands.
With 3.984 hectares, it covers almost 10% of the island's total area. Because of its special ecosystem and biodiversity, the national park, also known as the Witch's Forest, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. And since 1988 it has even been a European bird sanctuary.
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Welcome to La Gomera!
Video about the island of La Gomera