The ferry to La Gomera: what is worth knowing
La Gomera is almost always visited from Tenerife, because the crossing is short and there is a ferry from the south of the island. It is a simple hop with two warnings that save a bad day: seasickness is real in that channel, and a single-day trip delivers less than it promises.
The crossing
The ferry runs from southern Tenerife to San Sebastián de La Gomera. It is a short but open channel, and there is the detail: between two tall islands the sea behaves differently, with current and cross swell, so the crossing can move a good deal even when the day looks fine from the shore.
If you get seasick, do not assume a short crossing is a calm one. And as with any boat service, with swell the departure can be cancelled.
Car or no car
With a car the trip changes completely: this is an island of ravines where public transport will not take you to a trailhead at the hour you need. The ferry takes vehicles.
Without a car go with the plan made and stick to one area reachable from the port or with organised transport. It is not an island for improvising on foot.
The day trip, and why it disappoints
Between the outward leg, the return and the island’s driving times, a day gives you one thing: either the ridge and its forest, or one ravine with its village. What it does not give you is «seeing La Gomera».
If you only have a day, choose before boarding and accept that you will see a part. That beats a full day of car and ferry with twenty minutes in each place.
What to bring even if you came from the beach
Warm clothing. It sounds odd leaving Los Cristianos at 25 degrees, but the ridge of La Gomera is over a thousand metres up, inside a wet forest with frequent fog. The difference from the coast is real.
And one recommendation on order
If you are doing the ridge, do it in the morning: fog tends to thicken as the day goes on and the viewpoints close in. The ravine and the coast hold up better in the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
›Is a single day in La Gomera worth it?
Yes, if you pick one area: the ridge with its forest, or one ravine with its village. Between the crossings and the driving times a day does not cover the island, and the mistake is trying.
›Is the ferry rough?
It can move more than a short crossing suggests. It is an open channel between two tall islands, with current and cross swell. If you get seasick, take that into account; and with swell the departure can be cancelled.
›Do I need a car on La Gomera?
It helps a great deal. This is an island of ravines where public transport does not reach trailheads at the hour a walker needs, and the ferry takes vehicles. Without a car, stick to one area reachable from the port or use organised transport.