How to get to La Gomera and Valle Gran Rey: ferry, flights, boat and bus

Fly to Tenerife and take the ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera, a crossing of about 50 minutes. That is the usual route, because La Gomera's own airport only has flights to other Canary Islands.

The journey has four legs. Allow around half a day between landing and arriving in the valley, depending on how the timetables fit together:

• Flight to Tenerife South (TFS), the airport closest to the port of Los Cristianos.
• Transfer to Los Cristianos by taxi, car or bus.
• La Gomera ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián, about 50 minutes.
• San Sebastián to Valle Gran Rey: about 50 km by car (just over an hour), bus route 1, or the catamaran to Vueltas harbour.

Tenerife South whenever you can: it is about 20 minutes by motorway from Los Cristianos, where the La Gomera ferries leave.

From Tenerife South you can take a taxi or a TITSA bus: route 40 links the airport with Los Cristianos, and night route 711 runs a similar journey. If you land at Tenerife North, express route 343 connects both airports with Los Cristianos, but it is a long ride; the alternative is a Binter flight to La Gomera.

If you are staying in Santa Cruz or arrive there by sea, Fred. Olsen runs a free shuttle bus between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Los Cristianos for passengers on its La Gomera route. Seats are limited, so book it when you buy your ferry ticket.

Quick and frequent. Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària Canarias (formerly Naviera Armas) sail from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera every day, several times a day, in about 50 minutes. Timetables change with the season, so check the current schedule on each company's website before you book your flight.

You can take a car and a pet; just add them when you book. Baleària, for instance, carries cars, motorbikes, vans and motorhomes on this route.

Two practical tips. If you are travelling with a car or on busy holiday dates, book ahead. And leave a comfortable gap between landing and sailing, so a delayed flight or transfer does not make you miss the boat.

No. La Gomera airport, near Alajeró in the south of the island, only has daily Binter flights to and from Tenerife North and Gran Canaria. There are no direct flights from the UK, Ireland or anywhere else outside the Canary Islands.

From the UK, the simplest option is a direct flight to Tenerife South, then the ferry. A connecting Binter flight only makes sense if you land at Tenerife North or Gran Canaria and the times line up. From La Gomera airport, bus route 6 goes to Valle Gran Rey (about 53 km, with only a few departures a day) and route 7 to San Sebastián. Check Binter's and the bus timetables before booking, as they change.

By car, by bus or by boat. By car it is about 50 km of mountain road, just over an hour, and it is the most flexible option if you want to explore the island afterwards.

• Bus: GuaguaGomera route 1 leaves from the ferry terminal and stops in La Calera, Vueltas and La Playa. There are only a few departures a day, fewer on Sundays and public holidays, and the full journey costs no more than €5.
• Boat: Fred. Olsen's Benchi Express catamaran runs along the south coast from San Sebastián via Playa de Santiago to Valle Gran Rey in about 70 minutes, with up to three sailings a day. It takes no cars, but it does carry bikes (limited spaces) and pets.
• Hire car: there are car hire offices in the valley too, so you can rent one just for the days you need it.

Fly to Tenerife, then take the ferry. There are direct flights to Tenerife from many European cities, and Tenerife South is the airport to aim for, since it is closest to the Los Cristianos port.

If you want to bring your own car from mainland Spain, Fred. Olsen and Baleària sail from Huelva to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in a little over a day (about 33 hours on the direct crossing), and Baleària also sails from Cádiz. Once in Tenerife, you cross to La Gomera on the Los Cristianos ferry.

Not if you stay in Vueltas, but one helps if you want to see the rest of the island. The roads are winding mountain roads, so allow plenty of time.

A good approach is to get around the valley on foot and by boat, then hire a car for a day or two for Garajonay and the north. If you hire a car in Tenerife and want to take it on the ferry, check first that your rental agreement allows it. In El Hornillo and the upper valley, however, a car is almost essential, as buses up there are infrequent.

If you arrive without a car, stay in Vueltas: bus route 1 stops in the neighbourhood and the Benchi Express docks in the harbour, right in front of Mirador de Iguala and Retiro de Vueltas. They are two self-catering apartments facing the beach and harbour, sleeping 4, with two double bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen and living room, and from there you can walk to the beach, shops, restaurants and boat trips.

If you are coming with a car and want peace and quiet, Casa Mimo is in El Hornillo, in the ravine among terraces and palm trees. It is reached by a footpath of about 200 metres, not suitable for guests with reduced mobility, so bear that in mind if you travel with heavy luggage.

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