La Gomera self guided walking, Canary Islands

Planet

The natural landscapes we explore are some of the richest, often most challenging, yet at the same time some of the most fragile environments on earth. With education, experienced leadership and appropriate equipment and techniques, it is possible to travel responsibly through these regions. For us, it is critically important that such wilderness travel experiences do not diminish the natural values of the environment.

Our environmental sustainable principles: True sustainability is a guiding aspect in all aspects of our business planning and operations. Specifically our tour operations should be managed in a way where the natural and cultural values of the host region are undiminished in the long-term.

Within our route notes, we recommend on Day 3 to drop into The Visitor’s Centre run by ICONA, the Spanish National Parks Authority. Here you can find further information about the origins of the island, its climate, flora and fauna.

We encourage clients to be mindful that you are walking in National Parks, farmers fields and villages. Stay on the trails, avoid short cuts and to avoid paths widening if you need to walk through the mud do so. You need to be mindful that you may be walking through fragile environments that are enjoyed by many.

Never pick wildflowers, break branches or damage trees. Keep your distance from wildlife especially in Spring when young are around as this causes great distress.

Anything you take with you for the days walk, must be taken out. Never throw rubbish and dispose in the bins of the next village you come to.

When you make your booking, your pre-departure information is provided by email. Our office uses recycled paper and we recycle our bottles, paper and other items. Office staff travel by public transport to/from work.

People

Over the years of organising walks on Gomera we have built relationships with local accommodation providers and work with them to operate responsibly.

We have been working for many years with a family owned guest house in Chipude where daughter Sonia runs the property and mum Angela runs the kitchen providing lovely "home cooked" style meals.

The cuisine on La Gomera is distinctly Mediterranean however there is a distinct preference for traditional farm produce and meats which we encourage you to purchase for meals and snacks. There are also a number of excellent cheeses made on the island, including mouthwatering white goats cheese. We encourage you to purchase lunch and dinners from the local shops, village farmers markets, pubs and cafes along the way which in turn helps employment within the community.

Friendly local staff are ideally placed to give you a knowledgeable insight into the local terrain, flora and fauna and an authentic account of the history of the region.

We provide opportunities for real cultural exchange, where locals and visitors alike can share and learn from each other in an environment of mutual respect.

No local payments policy: Local cash payments are becoming increasingly popular with many operators in the adventure travel industry. This policy seems to benefit the tour operators more than the local economies or the travellers, as it avoids local taxes and transfers the costs and risks of cash handling onto the travellers. In accordance with our Responsible Travel practices, we have chosen a policy of not asking for such payments.