Guide to La Gomera windsurfing holidays

La Gomera is the Canary Islands’ best-kept secret. It is the second-smallest of the Canaries, and without an international airport, is unspoilt and undeveloped, a haven for everyone from hippie travellers to ramblers. It is also a fantastic place to go windsurfing.

What should you expect from a La Gomera windsurfing trip? Like the rest of the Canaries, the island’s coast is hit by the strong Atlantic trade winds. That makes for good, although sometimes challenging, conditions. Some of the island’s beaches are on protected bays, away from the strongest of the winds.

La Gomera’s capital, San Sebastian, is home to watersports schools and hire shops where you can get started on a windsurfing adventure. Nearby Santa Catalina beach has some of the island’s best windsurfing, with strong winds and sometimes waves.

La Gomera’s beaches are mainly black sand and pebbles, with a wild, untouched feel. Many are away from towns and villages: if you want to really explore, get your own wheels.

On the south-west coast, the old hippie hangout of Valle Gran Rey makes both a great place to windsurf and an increasingly upmarket resort. It has a sheltered fishing harbour which opens out into some lovely wide beaches. There are a few hotels but not much tourist infrastructure – you’ll need to be willing to get your own gear there.

The waters off Hermigua can offer some challenging conditions for those looking for waves. The beach is unprotected from the wind, and some impressive swell gets going at times.

Take a La Gomera windsurfing trip and take a journey into a side of the Canary Islands few see. Windsurfing on La Gomera is all about discovery and doing something different, rather than following the crowds to Tenerife and Lanzarote.