The valleys (barrancos) and Atlantic coastal strip are used for arable farming, with mountains and hills in the north covered by forest and scrub/grassland used for grazing sheep and goats.

Although hot during the summer, in the winter months the climate is generally foggy, particularly at higher altitudes, which the inhabitants take advantage of by planting crops in November and harvesting their fruit and vegetables in May.

The Garajonay Exprės ferry ran from Valle Gran Rey via Santiago to San Sebastián de la Gomera and on to Los Cristianos, from 2002 to 2008, but ceased due to a lack of government subsidy.

[3] La Gomera Airport (IATA: GMZ, ICAO: GCGM) lies between Alajeró and Santiago.

Tourism is not as important in La Gomera as on the larger Canary Islands, but Playa Santiago has a fairly safe sand and shingle beach, and a number of apartments, rooms and restaurants.