La Gomera, lying 30 km to the west of Tenerife, is the second smallest Canary Island. The island is home to around 22 000 people, almost 9 000 of whom live in the capital and main port of San Sebastián de La Gomera. The economy used to be centred around farming and fishing, but the main industries are now tourism – almost 200 000 tourists visited in 2021 – and services. The mountains and laurel forests in the centre of the island make it the ideal destination for hikers and tourists looking for a rural retreat.