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Major city · Spain

Valle Gran Rey

Stay 4–5 nights: base in La Playa or Vueltas for beach and bars, La Calera for quiet, upper valley only with a car.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
avoid Jul–Aug (hot, busiest), Dec–Feb in the upper valley (cool and damp)
Airports
GMZ · TFS
Nights
4–5
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
  • Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
  • Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
  • Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
  • Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
  • Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
  • Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.

Valle Gran Rey is La Gomera's main resort, a steep valley that drops to a black-pebble beach and a small harbour. It splits into four areas with different characters, and the choice of area matters more than the choice of hotel. Walking, whale trips and slow evenings are the point; the island's laurel forest and Garajonay are a drive away.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Valle Gran Rey, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee (cortado leche y leche)€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Beersmall draught€2–3.50 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Metro or bus rideGuagua bus, San Sebastián to the valley€3–5 (≈ US$4–6) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedApartment or studio (2 people), a night, per room€95 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedApartment or studio (2 people), a night, per room€160 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €100 (≈ US$120) · High €170 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Black-pebble beach and harbour swimmingValley walking and terracesWhale and dolphin trips from VueltasMiel de Palma and Gomeran fish
Airports
GMZ La Gomera Airport (Small island airport near Playa de Santiago, about 1 h by road; few flights, mostly from Tenerife North) · TFS Tenerife South (Fly here, then ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera, about 50 min–1 h 20 min; then bus or car)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Valle Gran Rey: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

21°C

15°C

5 rd

Feb

21°C

15°C

5 rd

Mar

22°C

15°C

4 rd

Apr

23°C

16°C

3 rd

May

24°C

17°C

2 rd

Jun

26°C

18°C

1 rd

Jul

28°C

20°C

0 rd

Aug

29°C

21°C

0 rd

Sep

28°C

21°C

1 rd

Oct

26°C

20°C

3 rd

Nov

24°C

18°C

4 rd

Dec

22°C

16°C

5 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The three lower settlements are walkable from each other; the upper valley is not, in practice. Guagua buses run a few times a day between San Sebastián and the valley and up to the villages — check times locally, as Sunday and holiday service is reduced or absent. Taxis cover the valley; hire cars are the flexible option and are picked up in San Sebastián.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Garajonay National Park

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Car or taxi up the valley road, about 45–60 min

Laurel forest and waymarked trails; go early, cloud builds through the day.

San Sebastián de La Gomera

caution

Door to door: 2–2.5 h each way by bus

Guagua bus, about 1 h 45 min; car about 1 h

Ferry port and island capital; a long bus day, better as a transfer stop.

Chipude and La Fortaleza

go

Door to door: About 45 min by car

Drive or bus up to Chipude, then walk

Table mountain above the valley; bus back from Chipude if legs are done.

Los Órganos by boat

go

Door to door: Half or full day

Boat trip from Vueltas harbour

Basalt columns visible only from the sea; longer trips include food and drink.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

La Playa

Modern seafront strip, most bars and restaurants, pebbly beach for confident swimmers. Best for a first visit and a holiday feel.

Vueltas

The port: sheltered harbour beach, old fishing quarter, more nightlife around El Charco. Good for swimming and eating out.

La Calera

Administrative village on the cliff above, quieter and less humid in summer, walkable to the beach. Best for walkers and light sleepers.

Upper valley

Above La Calera: terraces, walking, very few shops or bars, cooler and can be nippy in winter. You will want a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
Mid
€85–140 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
High
€140 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Apartment or studio (2 people)1 × 5 nights × €95€475
Food, local transport, entries2 × 5 days × €100€1,000
Hire car, one day1 × €45 · check€45
Whale and dolphin trip2 × €45 · check; small boats similar price€90
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€164
Trip total≈ €180 per person per day, bed included€1,804≈ US$2,500

2026 estimate in euros; flights and ferries excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee (cortado leche y leche)€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
Menu del día at lunch€10–15 (≈ US$12–18)
Fish main (tuna in mojo)€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
Beer, small draught€2–3.50 (≈ US$3–5)
Jar of miel de palma€6–12 (≈ US$7–14)
Guagua bus, San Sebastián to the valley€3–5 (≈ US$4–6) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for tourists; the real risks are heat and dehydration on walks, wet rock on the Argaga descent, and thin bus service if you miss the last one.
  • Hiking in summer needs at least 3 litres of water per person; refill points on the trails are rare.
  • The Barranco de Argaga descent is dangerous when the rock is wet — locals advise against it after rain.
  • Some upper-valley trails are no longer maintained; carry a good map and follow cairns.
  • Bus service is thin, and there is little or no Sunday service in winter — check times in a bar or at the stop.
  • The marina at Vueltas has been under construction for years; expect works.

Emergency numbers

All emergency services
112
National police
091
Guardia Civil
062

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Valle Gran ReyValle Gran Rey

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergency services112
  • National police091
  • Guardia Civil062

Embassy

No embassies on La Gomera; the US has a consulate in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and an embassy in Madrid, and most other countries keep embassies in Madrid (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ferry Los Cristianos → San Sebastián: about 50 min–1 h 20 min, €30–50 (≈ US$35–60) one way (check)
  • Bus San Sebastián → Valle Gran Rey: about 1 h 45 min, a few departures a day (check)
  • Taxi across the valley: €8–15 (≈ US$10–18) (check)

Say or show

  • Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syas)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
  • ¿Dónde está la parada del guagua? — Where is the bus stop? (DON-deh es-TAH la pah-RAH-dah del GWAH-gwah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
  • Quiero agua, por favor — I would like water, please (KYEH-roh AH-gwah por fah-VOR)

Bus times are posted in bars and at stops rather than online — photograph the timetable on day one.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Valle Gran Rey. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, busiest), Dec–Feb in the upper valley (cool and damp) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for GMZ and the Tenerife South ferry route: last ferry and bus times field-checked, taxi fallback.
  2. Four sleep-area pages with verified cutoffs: La Playa, Vueltas, La Calera, upper valley.
  3. Walk pages with water, exposure and wet-rock warnings, plus bus-stop anchors in Arure, Las Hayas and El Cercado.
  4. Whale-trip and bike-rental pages with booking points at the Vueltas quayside and Club de Mar.

Meanwhile

Back to Spain

Sources