Having climbed the highest mountain of Tenerife, we were heading for the highest peak of La Gomera today.

We were picked up bus, snaking our way up into the interior of the island. When we continued the drive, after a photo stop at the Degollada de Peraza viewpoint, the bus started going slow and stuttering. The driver’s attempts to get the bus under control again failed and we ended in a bus – not able to move on its own power – in the middle of nowhere (well – at least we were not sitting right next to the border of Afghanistan). It did not take long, until a replacement bus was ordered – and we were lucky … another bus was already in the area and available – it took no 20 minutes until we were back on the road – and continuing our drive to the Cruce de Pajarito in Garajonay National Park.

Here we got off the bus, to start our four hour hike. First we followed the trail up, heading for the highest point of the island – the Alto de Garajonay at 1487m. Views were great, with the neighboring islands clearly sticking out. We continued the hike through lush vegetation towards the Igualero viewpoint – with the church of Saint Francis of Assisi and the monument to the Gomeran whistle (Silbo Gomero). We continued downhill for the small village of Chipude. Here we already had a reservation in the local bar – with an opportunity to try a Gomeran specialty: Potaje de berros – a popular soup with watercress and of course the local wine.

It was here, where a bus was picking us up again; after a short stop at the visitor center of the National Park we made it back to San Sebastian via the Monteforte valley and the town of Santa Catalina.

The evening saw us having tapas and indulging on some really massive Aperol Spritzes – freshly introduced to the island by one of the group members (well – to the bar we were in).