First of all let me apologise for not having posted any updates this week, but the storm resulting from hurricane Ophelia which hit Ireland on Monday left me without broadband internet until this morning. There's another storm named Brian arriving here later today, so I might lose the internet again as all the infrastructure has been weakened by the previous blow...
The big news on La Gomera is that the first ever regular car ferry arrived in Valle Gran Rey yesterday and was open to the public. There were cheers and applause from the local population who'll now be able to bring their cars to Tenerife and back without driving through the mountains and the national park.
The connection will now be served initially by the large high speed catamaran HSC Alboran and not the HSC Volcan de Teno as previously reported. The later vessel is still in Cadiz and rumour has it that this is being held by the Spanish security forces for a possible takeover of Catalonia. They've even commissioned cruise ships...
Anyway the car ferry Alboran, owned and operated by Naviera Armas will now connect Valle Gran Rey with Los Cristianos in about 90 minutes and can be booked on the Armas website and services are to begin from this weekend. More details and to follow soon, if I have got broadband. Here some images from yesterday's presentation of the service (courtesy of Vino Tinto shop in Vueltas). I'm hoping to travel on it soon and also on the new passenger ferry Benchi Express with special posts on this blog to follow...
2 comments :
It`s just fantastic news and long over due. What a difference it will make to avoid the long but lovely bus trip over the mountain.Still a bit confused though. Who is operating what ferry and when? Do you have to book first or can you just walk on. Grateful if you could answer this before my New Year holiday in Valle Gran Rey. I find the official ferry company websites difficult to navigate. And Ps, thanks for such a super blog to my favourite destination. Full of interesting news. Well done!
Many thanks, Cully.
A small passenger ferry is operated by Fred. Olsen and connects the there southern ports of La Gomera. A new high-speed car ferry operated by Naviera Armas connects Tenerife (Los Cristianos) with Valle Gran Rey and San Sebastian de La Gomera. Both ferries are in their initial phase of operations and regular schedules have not been finalised, but timetables will be published soon, in time for the busy winter season. You can book both services in their websites ( links to their English pages are on my 'Travel,Transport, Accommodation page). Alternatively you can book both services at all ports served prior to departure at their offices where staff will help you in English. Bon voyage !
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