Into The West

Taguluche and Alojera with its beautiful beach are two villages in La Gomera's west that are both well worth exploring... 

Novel solution to lack of tourists due to coronavirus

The recent panic pandemic aka pandemic panic caused by the coronavirus has led to the cancellation of nearly all flights to and from the Canary Islands and holiday makers are scarcer than gold dust in La Gomera. While some little relaxation of the lockdown is now granted, the usual stream of tourists and visitors is unlikely to return in the foreseeable future. 

As you can see in the above image, some ingenious or stone mad Gomeran artist, depending on your point of view, has come up with a novel idea to re-populate the deserted beaches with tourists by creating them from pebbles and rocks. Above sunbathers were modelled on the 'German nudist roasting in the sun for hours to achieve a complete dark tan' type of tourist, formerly always seen at Valle Gran Rey's Playa del Ingles.

...and no, this is not a belated April fool's post. I came across the above image on  a German La Gomera - Valle Gran Rey facebook page .

More praise for La Gomera

The article below appeared in 'Northern Ireland Travel News' (nitravelnews.com) a few days ago:

''La Gomera: Land of the Winter Sun

With only a few months until the summer rays give way to colder weather, you may be wondering about the best places to soak up some winter sun

Look no further than La Gomera, a Canary Island known for its vivid landscapes, black sand beaches and abundant nature. While there’s plenty to see and do, these suggestions are a great start to keep you coloured through the UK’s cold and grey season…

Retreats in Nature

Looking for a peaceful location to revive your love of nature? A hiking or yoga adventure is a wonderful way to do just that. La Gomera offers year-round retreats for those wishing to explore its untouched landscapes.

As you take in the sights, you can follow many hiking trails that criss-cross the terrain. Better yet, each marked path has a different degree of difficulty so you can discover the island at your own pace.

You can also opt for a local guide to lead you into the silver-clouded forest of Garajonay National Park. Not only does the UNESCO World Heritage Site brim with native wildlife, but its ancient scenery is also the perfect introduction to this spectacular little island.

Long Walks on the Shore

For many people, there is no better place than the beach, and La Gomera happens to be blessed with an abundance of them. Another bonus is the beautiful black sand, which provides a relaxing setting to residents and visitors alike.

Many Gomeran beaches are also away from the crowds and only accessible by foot, with clear waters and warm temperatures in winter. On the south coast, for example, Playa del Medio will tempt you with its soothing surf ­– just the thing for an easy day in the winter sun.

Meanwhile, Playa de la Caleta awaits a few minutes from the centre of Hermigua. This slice of paradise is considered the best beach on the north coast and has many convenient facilities nearby, such as restaurants, picnic areas and showers.

There are excellent choices if you’re travelling with kids this winter too. Charco del Conde in Valle Gran Rey is one of many family beaches that are sure to impress. Expect accessibility, cleanliness and a protected natural pool for all ages to swim in at high tide.

Nourishing Local Foods

Gastronomy gives people a direct window into culture – like all the Canary Islands, La Gomera features a variety of nourishing local seafood and healthy dishes to keep you warm and satisfied.

When visiting the green island, one can’t-miss dish is papas arrugudas. ‘Papas’ is the local term for potatoes, and because of the island’s volcanic climate, these potatoes gain a signature taste and texture.

The simple but delicious dish is boiled in water with salt then paired with a generous serving of rich mojo sauces. Mojo verde is bright green and refreshing, while Mojo picón is vibrant red and slightly spicy. Either way, you’re in for a savoury treat.

But when it comes to treats, palm syrup is the undisputed star of Gomeran cuisine. With more than 130,000 palm trees blanketing the island, La Gomera has the highest number of specimens per capita. What’s more, almost every restaurant serves desserts drizzled in the stuff. It’s also used to sweeten cocktails and add the final touch to meat and fish dishes.

If you’d like to keep a taste of La Gomera long after your holiday, you’ll be pleased to know that palm syrup is offered in almost any supermarket and craft fair – a fine purchase to take back as a souvenir.

Getting There

Fly into Tenerife and catch a 50-minute ferry to La Gomera. A short flight from Tenerife will get you there as well. Once you arrive, you can choose from a wide range of hotels as your home away from home this winter. Go to lagomera.travel/en for more information and winter sun ideas.''

Still lots of black sand

...from La Playa to La Puntilla

...and there's always black sand at the safest beach in Vueltas harbour.

Algae affecting many beaches

Algal bloom at Vueltas beach, one of the many beaches affected in the Canary Islands

 Over recent weeks large amounts of micro algae have been observed in the coastal waters of the Canary Islands which have affected many beaches. This is a natural phenomenon that is produced by biological, environmental and climate factors and causes the seawater to become discoloured and turbid. A report by the public health department of the Canarian government warns that one should not swim  or bath in seawater where massive amounts of micro algae are present and also to avoid any contact with the algae deposited on beaches by the tides. On La Gomera notices warning of the presence of algae have been placed at beaches in San Sebastian and Valle Gran Rey. 

The report also states that while micro algae are generally quite harmless, some may produce toxins that could ''produce negative health effects'' when swimmers make physical contact by touching or ingesting these through the mouth or nose or by inhaling aerosols which may be emitted by the algal bloom. Some dead fish have also been washed onto beaches which probably perished due to much lower oxygen levels in the sea areas affected by the algal bloom. 

A dead fish washed ashore (Images: HP)

Another drowning at Playa del Ingles

News just in: A 45 year old man has drowned at the notoriously dangerous Playa del Ingles beach in western Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera this afternoon. Police and an ambulance were at the scene.
I always advise people not to swim at this idyllic beach even in calm conditions as there can be dangerous currents anytime. The exact circumstances of this latest drowning there are not yet known, but there is a fairly strong swell today, which further increases the risks there even if you only go in knee-deep. Many people have died at this beach over the years, including trained rescue personnel. 

New warning as plague of stinging jellyfish continues

The administration of Valle Gran Rey have re-issued their warning and have stated that coastal waters in the south-west continue to be infested with stinging/burning Portuguese Man o'Wars. See my previous report for further details and advice. Large numbers of the organisms have been sighted again and several swimmers were stung. The authorities are also appealing to the public to spread the word and caution tourists and visitors who may be unaware of the possible danger. They are stating that swimming is not advisable.
Due varying local and tidal conditions the danger is only present intermittently and swimmers should be extremely vigilant once in the sea as the P.M.o'W.'s tentacles underwater may not be spotted until it is too late. 
Portuguese Man o'Wars, called aguasvivas in Spanish (= living waters) can occur anywhere in the World's oceans and as they have no means of propulsion they are moved by currents and wind, etc., at times accumulating in great numbers in random areas. There are no safe areas anywhere in the global seas. Local fishermen say that this spring has been the worst for many years and normally you would not encounter them that much here.

Portuguese Man o' War (Image source. Ayuntamiento Valle Gran Rey)

Caution: Portuguese Man o' Wars

Fishermen and sailors as well as visitors to the beaches have reported large numbers of the floating jellyfish-like organisms of Portuguese man o' war which can appear almost anywhere in the oceans where the water is warm enough. 

They appear to be particularly abundant currently on and off the south and west coasts of La Gomera, especially Valle Gran Rey. Swimmers should be aware of the danger and be vigilant. It may be better not to go for a swim at all until the floating invasion has disappeared again. The Portuguese man o' war can inflict a very painful 'burn' when merely touched and stings often require a visit to the doctor. A first aid remedy used traditionally by fishermen is fresh urine, believe it or not, but a visit to the doctor is advisable when badly stung. It is also important to avoid further contact with the Portuguese man o' war when carefully removing remnants of the organism from the skin: Take care not to touch them directly with fingers or any other part of the skin to avoid secondary stinging.

Wikipedia has this to say about them:

''The Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis), ..., often mistaken as a jellyfish, is a marine cnidarian of the family Physaliidae. Its venomous tentacles can deliver a painful sting.

Despite its outward appearance, the Portuguese man o' war is not a jellyfish but a siphonophore, which differs from jellyfish in that it is not actually a single multicellular organism but a colonial organism made up of many highly specialized minute individuals called zooids. These zooids are attached to one another and physiologically integrated to the extent that they are incapable of independent survival. ...

... Stings usually cause severe pain to humans, leaving whip-like, red welts on the skin that normally last 2 or 3 days after the initial sting, though the pain should subside after about an hour. However, the venom can travel to the lymph nodes and may cause, depending on the amount of venom, a more intense pain. A sting may lead to an allergic reaction. There can also be serious effects, including fever, shock, and interference with heart and lung function. Stings may also cause death, although this is extremely rare. Medical attention may be necessary, especially if pain persists or is intense, there is an extreme reaction, the rash worsens, a feeling of overall illness develops, a red streak develops between swollen lymph nodes and the sting, or either area becomes red, warm and tender.''
UPDATE March 18th 2014:
The danger persists and some people were stung in the past few days. One person was so badly stung that an ambulance had to be called. 
UPDATE March 27th 2014:
Unfortunately the toxic organisms are still present in the waters of the south-west of La Gomera. Dead and stranded examples were seen again today. Do not handle these, as the toxin remains active for 24-48 hours after their death. 
UPDATE May 17th 2014:
The administration of Valle Gran Rey have re-issued their warning and have stated that coastal waters in the south-west continue to be infested with stinging/burning Portuguese Man o'Wars. Large numbers of the organisms have been sighted again and several swimmers were stung. The authorities are also appealing to the public to spread the word and caution tourists and visitors who may be unaware of the possible danger. Read more...