Explora Journeys in San Sebastián de La Gomera

San Sebastian is the small capital of La Gomera, the second-smallest Canary Island, and it is where Columbus took on water and supplies before the 1492 Atlantic crossing. The Columbus sites cluster in a walkable old town a few minutes from the dock, while the laurel cloud-forest of Garajonay National Park covers the volcanic interior above.

What to do on a day in San Sebastián de La Gomera

• Torre del Conde, the 15th-century tower that is the town's emblem, set in a small park near the waterfront
• Pozo de la Aguada on Calle Real, the well that supplied Columbus's ships, with the inscription noting America was baptized with this water in 1492
• Casa de Colon (Museo-Casa de Colon), the house-museum tracing the island's role in the voyages of discovery
• Iglesia de la Asuncion, the church where Columbus is said to have prayed before sailing
• Calle Real, the pedestrian spine linking the Columbus sites, with artisan shops and Canarian food
• Garajonay National Park, the UNESCO laurisilva cloud forest in the highlands, reached by bus or transfer for a half-day

Getting ashore

The single passenger terminal sits a flat 8 to 10-minute walk along the marina from the old town, where the Columbus sites are clustered. One day is enough to walk the historic core in a morning and add a guided run up to Garajonay, since the island is small, though the mountain road is winding.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• October to March (cooler, wetter coast). Typically mild and spring-like at the coast, highs around 21 to 23 C, with the year's limited rain concentrated here, November the wettest; the cloud forest can be misty and noticeably cooler.
• April to September (warm, dry). Typically warm, dry, and sunny, highs around 24 to 25 C in late summer, with rain very rare; pleasant in town and clearer for the Garajonay viewpoints.