A day trip to La Gomera

La Gomera feels a world away from Tenerife's resorts: a round, steep island of ravines, terraced valleys and small villages, with a third of its land protected and the whole island recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. At its heart are the ancient laurisilva forests of Garajonay National Park, a rare, ancient type of evergreen forest.

The island also keeps one of the world's rarest traditions. Silbo gomero is a whistled form of Spanish, developed by shepherds to talk across the valleys, that carries up to 5 km. UNESCO declared it Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009, and it has been a compulsory subject in local schools since 1999.

Fred. Olsen Express runs the fast ferry from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de La Gomera in about 50 minutes, with up to four departures a day on the Benchijigua Express and Bencomo Express. Fred. Olsen carries cars as well as foot passengers, and Naviera Armas also sails the route.

If you are staying in the north, Fred. Olsen runs a free ferry bus between Santa Cruz and Los Cristianos for its passengers; seats are limited, so reserve one when you buy your ferry ticket. Check the timetable before you plan the day: the first boat out and the last boat back set how long you have on the island.

A guided day trip is the simplest way to see the island. Tours collect you from the southern resorts, include the return ferry, transport on La Gomera and a guide, and take in the forests of Garajonay. Some include lunch, and small-group tours cap numbers. Expect a full day of around 11 hours.

Taking a hire car on the ferry gives you the most freedom. From San Sebastián, the island's roads climb quickly into the centre, where Garajonay's forest trails start from the roadside. To the north lie the green valleys of Hermigua and Agulo, and in the west the long valley of Valle Gran Rey runs down to the sea.

San Sebastián, the island's small capital, is where the ferry docks, so it is easy to fit in an hour there before the boat home.