The short version: For around £50 return, the Binter Canarias flight from Tenerife North to La Gomera is one of Europe’s best aviation experiences. Skipping the £100 ferry gets you a 15-minute hop on an ATR-72 turboprop, a landing at La Gomera’s tiny 1,500-metre runway, and unparalleled eye-level views of Mount Teide’s 12,198-foot summit on the return leg.
On this page7 sections
- Why is the flight from Tenerife North to La Gomera Europe’s best kept travel secret?
- How does the Binter Canarias ATR72 handle island hopping?
- What is the Binter flight experience from Tenerife to La Gomera like?
- Why can only certain aircraft land at La Gomera’s micro-airport?
- Where to stay in La Gomera
- Why should you skip the ferry for this Canary Islands flight?
- Frequently asked questions
Right, let me ask you: what’s the best value an AV geek can get for about fifty quid these days? You might think of a new add-on for your flight sim, maybe a couple of aviation museum tickets… But what if I told you that fifty quid, near enough, could get you onto a proper, characterful turboprop? Imagine flying into one of Europe’s smallest, most interesting little airports, with a departure procedure that is, no joke, one of the most jaw-droppingly scenic I’ve ever experienced.
We’re talking just four flights a day into this place, a seriously short runway that keeps the big jets away, and views that are just… well, incredible. We’re off to the sunny Canary Islands for this one, specifically heading for the tiny, rugged island of La Gomera from Tenerife. This little hop is genuinely pretty special, and if you’re into planes, unique airports, and stunning scenery, this is the kind of trip that really gets the heart rate up!
Why is the flight from Tenerife North to La Gomera Europe’s best kept travel secret?
This flight is an absolute gem because it offers stunning aerial views and a unique landing experience for just £50 return. It’s literally half the price of the £100 ferry from Los Cristianos, takes only 15 minutes in the air, and gives you a front-row seat to the rugged Canary Islands landscape from a characterful ATR-72 turboprop.
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Alright, welcome! If you’re anything like me and get a buzz from aviation – the planes themselves, the airports with all their operational quirks, and especially those unique, memorable flight experiences – then you’re definitely in the right place for this one.
This blog post is all about a brilliant little trip I took, flying with Binter Canarias on their trusty ATR-72 turboprop between Tenerife North (TFN), a fascinating high-altitude airport, and the incredibly compact airport on the island of La Gomera (GMZ). I did the round trip: flew out, had a bit of time to explore La Gomera – which was absolutely fantastic, by the way, a proper little gem of an island – and then flew back. We’ll cover both of those flight experiences because each had its own distinct highlights. And the best bit? The return flight cost around £50. For that kind of money, it’s a properly good little AV geek adventure, absolutely packed with interesting details and stunning sights.
We’ll take a closer look at Tenerife North and what makes it unique from a flying perspective, get up close with the ATR-72 workhorse, explore La Gomera’s very small and rather challenging airport, and then feast our eyes on the pretty amazing views on the return leg, including a showstopper appearance by Mount Teide. Let’s get on with it!
Why is Tenerife North (TFN) a challenging high-altitude airport?
Sitting at 633 metres (2,000 feet) above sea level, Tenerife North is the highest commercial airport in the Canary Islands. It primarily serves domestic inter-island routes and Spanish mainland flights, operating almost like a highly efficient bus station for the archipelago.
Our journey kicks off at Tenerife North Airport, or to give it its full Sunday name, Tenerife Norte – Ciudad de La Laguna Airport. Its IATA code is TFN, or GCXO if you’re an ICAO spotter. Now, Tenerife, being a hugely popular holiday destination, actually has two main airports. Tenerife South (TFS) usually handles the bulk of the international charter and package holiday flights. TFN here, nestled in the greener, more traditional northern part of the island near the capital Santa Cruz and the historic city of La Laguna, is much more focused on inter-island hops – like the one we’re doing today – and domestic flights to mainland Spain. It definitely has that busy, efficient domestic hub feel about it, a real buzz of people connecting across the Canaries.
The terminal itself is pretty compact, which is no bad thing in my book. It’s easy to get your bearings, and I thought it had a bit of character, a bit more of a local Canarian feel compared to some sprawling, anonymous international hubs. And from the moment you arrive, you can’t miss Binter Canarias – their distinctive green and white tails are everywhere. It’s one of their main operational hubs, along with Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, so there are plenty of their aircraft dotted about the apron, getting ready to connect the archipelago.
But here’s a particularly neat detail about TFN that’s especially interesting if you’re into the technical side of aviation: its altitude. The airport actually sits at 633 metres, that’s a significant 2,077 feet, above mean sea level. This makes it the highest commercial airport in all the Canary Islands, and one of the higher ones in Spain.
So, why’s its height a big deal for us AV geeks? Well, higher altitude means thinner air. Thinner air has a direct impact on how aircraft perform:
- Engines produce a bit less poke (thrust) because there’s less oxygen for combustion.
- Wings generate less lift at a given speed because the air molecules are further apart.
- This often means aircraft need a longer take-off run to get airborne and may have limitations on their take-off weight, especially on warmer days when the air is even less dense (this is known as “density altitude”).
TFN is also well-known in aviation circles for some interesting and often challenging weather conditions. It can get quite foggy, and sometimes it experiences a persistent low cloud layer they locally call the ‘Panza de burro’ – literally the ‘donkey’s belly’ – which can just sit over the airport and the surrounding hills, particularly in the summer months due to the influence of the trade winds. This unique microclimate, shaped by the nearby Anaga mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, has definitely kept pilots and air traffic controllers on their toes over the years. It means they have to be incredibly sharp with their weather checks and understanding of local conditions, as these can affect aircraft performance and sometimes cause diversions if visibility drops too low. All this gives the airport a unique operational character, I think, and adds another layer of interest to flying from here.
Right then, through security we went. Airside, there was a decent buzz with all the Binter operations, lots of their ATRs being prepped for their next short hop. Time to find our gate for the very short flight over to La Gomera.
How does the Binter Canarias ATR72 handle island hopping?
The ATR72-600 is a proper workhorse designed perfectly for these islands. It’s highly fuel-efficient on short hops and has excellent short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance—needing just 1,300 metres to take off and 900 metres to land. That makes it the ideal aircraft for squeezing into La Gomera’s tiny runway.
Watch this section in the video → 5:15
Binter’s ATR72-600 turboprops are built specifically for high-frequency short sectors, able to take off in just 1,300 metres and land in 900. Some of these robust aircraft fly up to 15 sectors a day, making them the perfect workhorse for the Canaries.
The Binter Canarias ATR72-600 is perfectly built for island hopping because of its exceptional short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities. It only needs about 1,300 metres to take off and 900 metres to land, making it one of the few commercial aircraft capable of safely operating into the extremely tight runways found across the archipelago.
And here was our ride for the day: a smart-looking Binter Canarias ATR-72. Binter have been the absolute lifeline connecting these islands since way back in 1989, so they are undisputed experts at this high-frequency, short-hop island game. They run a modern and efficient fleet, predominantly made up of these ATR turboprops. This particular aircraft was an ATR 72-600, a popular regional aircraft built by the Franco-Italian consortium ATR (Avions de Transport Régional). With a typical capacity of around 72 seats in a 2-2 configuration, it’s perfectly sized for these inter-island routes. For this kind of trip, it really is the ideal bit of kit.
[INSERT PHOTOS HERE – Clear shots of the Binter ATR-72 waiting at the gate – ideally showing the registration. People boarding. Nice close-ups of the propellers, engine nacelle, undercarriage if possible. Shots of the cabin interior (the 2-2 layout) during boarding or when seated.]
So, why is the ATR-72 so perfectly suited for these short inter-island hops across the Canaries? Well, several key features make it a winner:
- Fuel Efficiency: On these shorter sectors, turboprops like the ATR are significantly more fuel-efficient than regional jets. This helps keep operational costs down and is a bit kinder to the environment.
- STOL Performance: Critically, they have excellent Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities. An ATR 72-600, depending on its weight and the prevailing weather conditions, generally needs about 1,300 to 1,350 metres (around 4,300-4,400 feet) of runway for take-off, and can comfortably land in around 900 metres (about 3,000 feet). This STOL performance is absolutely key for operating into smaller airports with shorter runways – like La Gomera, as we’re about to see. It makes the ATR the ideal, and often necessary, choice where runway length is a real constraint.
- Robustness and Reliability: These aircraft are designed for the rigours of high-frequency regional operations, meaning lots of take-offs and landings (or “cycles,” in aviation jargon). They are built to be tough and reliable workhorses.
- Cabin & Comfort: For short flights like these, the cabin is perfectly decent. The 2-2 seating layout means everyone gets either a window or an aisle seat, and the relatively large windows on the ATR offer good views – essential for scenic hops! The newer -600 series also feature modern glass cockpits for the flight crew.
What is the Binter flight experience from Tenerife to La Gomera like?
The ATR-72 turboprop flight takes just 15 to 30 minutes from gate to gate, cruising at low altitudes over the Atlantic. The 2-2 seating configuration ensures everyone gets a window or aisle, offering spectacular views on the quick hop between the islands.
Watch this section in the video → 5:15
Right then, the doors were closed, and the engines began to spool up – I always enjoy that distinctive whir of the turboprop, which then deepens into a satisfying growl as the ATR propellers bite into the air. You really feel the power from those props; it’s a different, more visceral sensation compared to being on a jet. We were soon on our way to La Gomera.
It’s only a very short flight, typically about 25-30 minutes from gate to gate, sometimes even less once you’re airborne. Just enough time for a quick gaze out the window at the deep blue Atlantic below and perhaps catch a glimpse of another island passing by. I was definitely curious to experience La Gomera’s little airport on the ground – it has a reputation for being quite unique.
Why can only certain aircraft land at La Gomera’s micro-airport?
La Gomera’s airport (GMZ) was built on a rugged coastal plateau in 1999 to protect the island’s nearby UNESCO World Heritage national park. Because the runway is a minuscule 1,500 metres (under 5,000 feet) long, large passenger jets physically cannot land here, making nimble turboprops an absolute necessity.
Watch this section in the video → 11:24
La Gomera’s airport was built on a plateau in 1999 to protect a nearby UNESCO World Heritage site, leaving it with a tiny 1,500-metre runway. This severely restricts operations to daylight hours and small turboprops like the ATR72, as larger passenger jets physically cannot stop in time.
Only specific aircraft like turboprops can land at La Gomera because its runway is incredibly short at just 1,500 metres. Opened in 1999 on a coastal plateau specifically chosen to protect the nearby UNESCO national park, the airport completely restricts large jets and normally limits all flights to daylight hours due to the challenging mountainous terrain.
And here we were, touching down smoothly on La Gomera – airport code GMZ, or GCGM for the ICAO aficionados. You can tell straight away, from the moment you step off the plane onto the tarmac (yes, proper old-school steps here!), that this place is different. Very different.
It’s incredibly compact and has a really personal, almost remote, and very friendly feel. It only opened fairly recently, in 1999, after a long period of planning and challenging construction. Interestingly, like TFN, it’s also at a bit of an elevation, sitting on a coastal plateau at 218 metres (that’s 716 feet) above sea level.
Now, the really key thing about La Gomera from a pilot’s point of view, and certainly for us AV geeks, is its runway. Runway 09/27 here is just 1,500 metres long – that’s about 4,921 feet. This short runway is a very big deal. It immediately limits what kind of aircraft can realistically and safely operate in here – you won’t be seeing any big holiday charter jets lining up, that’s for sure. It makes the ATR-72, with its excellent STOL capabilities we talked about earlier, pretty much the perfect, and indeed necessary, aircraft for serving La Gomera.
Flights here are also usually restricted to daylight hours. This is due to a combination of factors: that short runway, the challenging hilly and mountainous terrain surrounding the airport, and the lack of sophisticated instrument landing systems (like a full ILS) that would be required for more complex low-visibility or night operations. It’s a unique little operational setup, and you can immediately see why precision and skill are absolutely key for the flight crews operating these routes.
What is La Gomera airport’s (GMZ) daily flight schedule like?
And when I mentioned it’s quiet – they usually only have four flights a day. That’s it. All are Binter ATRs, connecting La Gomera to Tenerife North or sometimes Gran Canaria. For anyone interested in aviation, it’s quite something to witness. It feels like you’ve got a front-row seat to this very efficient, small-scale, almost intimate airport operation. You get a real sense of the quick turnaround – passengers off, new passengers on, bags handled (most likely by hand or a small, dedicated cart rather than complex conveyor systems), a quick refuel if needed, and they’re ready to go again.
It’s also pretty interesting how and where it was built. The airport is located on this coastal plateau, a site partly chosen to protect the precious Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its ancient laurel forests, which covers a large part of the island’s interior. Apparently, constructing the airport here, on this particular piece of land, required some serious earthworks, including significant embankments at either end of the runway due to the hilly and uneven terrain. All these factors add to the airport’s unique character and the inherent challenges of operating here.
Where can you see Mount Teide from an eye-level perspective during the flight?
On the return routing from La Gomera to Tenerife, the aircraft cruises at 9,000 feet. This puts you directly in line with Mount Teide, offering an incredible, cinematic view of the volcano’s 12,198-foot summit rising straight through the clouds.
Okay, so after some brilliant time spent exploring the rugged, natural beauty of La Gomera, it was time for the return leg to Tenerife North. And this, for me, is where this particular flying experience went from being merely interesting to genuinely pretty special, bordering on breathtaking. Departing from Runway 27 at La Gomera, especially when the weather plays ball (which, thankfully, it did for me!), offers some absolutely stunning, unforgettable views.
The ATR engines spooled up with that satisfying turboprop growl, and soon we were barrelling down that short runway. You really appreciate the ATR’s gutsy performance in moments like these; it gets up and off the ground with impressive gusto.
Once airborne, the departure procedure was a real scenic treat. We made an initial left turn shortly after take-off, heading out over the Atlantic. This manoeuvre not only sets the course for Tenerife but also ensures safe clearance from La Gomera’s mountainous interior. And then came the magic moment: an amazing right turn. As the aircraft banked, the view that unfolded was just incredible.
Suddenly, a huge expanse of La Gomera was laid out beneath us like a beautifully sculpted, emerald-green model dropped into a sapphire sea. It was absolutely brilliant. Far below, I could pick out the dramatic coastline and, with a bit of squinting, identify the area of Valle Gran Rey, a stunning valley system that carves its way down to the coast, known for its terraced slopes and picturesque villages. Seeing it from this aerial perspective was a fantastic way to appreciate the island’s rugged, volcanic topography.
We then tracked up the west coast of La Gomera, cruising at around 9,000 feet. The views remained spectacular, looking down on sheer cliffs plunging into the ocean and tiny, isolated settlements clinging to the hillsides.
And then, as we left La Gomera further behind and headed eastwards back towards Tenerife, the main event of this aerial show appeared: Mount Teide.
What a sight! Spain’s highest mountain, a colossal dormant volcano, piercing the sky at an impressive 12,198 feet (3,718 metres). What made it even more awe-inspiring was that from our cruising altitude of around 9,000 feet, we were actually looking up at Teide’s summit cone, which often sits majestically above any lower cloud layers. This perspective really gives you a proper, humbling sense of its immense scale and volcanic grandeur. On a clear day, it’s genuinely one of the most spectacular en-route sights you can hope for in European airspace.
The approach back into Tenerife North was smooth, and the weather, sometimes a bit unpredictable in the north of Tenerife as we discussed, was playing fair. It was a really nice, visually stunning end to a memorable couple of short flights.
Where to stay in La Gomera
La Gomera isn’t Tenerife, and thank goodness for that. You won’t find sprawling all-inclusive mega-resorts or sterile high-rises clogging up the dramatic coastline here. Instead, the accommodation scene matches the rugged terrain: independent, low-key, and deeply connected to the landscape. If you want a reliable base with a bit of local life, the coastal valleys in the south offer converted cliffside apartments and small, family-run guesthouses that feel beautifully disconnected from the modern world.
If you are willing to brave the winding roads into the north, the reward is total isolation. This is where you find the real character of the island—think beautifully restored stone eco-lodges hidden among terraced banana plantations, or design-forward boutique rentals tucked into sleepy valley villages. It is unapologetically quiet, rugged, and exactly the kind of slow-paced antidote needed after an adrenaline-spiked island flight.
Why should you skip the ferry for this Canary Islands flight?
The flight costs around £50 return—literally half the price of the £100 ferry from Los Cristianos—and you are on the ground in just 15 minutes. Beyond the time and money saved, flying at 9,000 feet gives you an absolutely incredible, eye-level cinematic view of Mount Teide’s summit that no boat can match.
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The flight is half the price of the boat and infinitely faster. While the standard ferry from Los Cristianos costs around £100 return and eats into your day, the Binter flight costs roughly £50, takes just 15 minutes, and offers unmatched aerial views.
You should skip the ferry because the flight is significantly cheaper and offers a far superior travel experience. A return flight costs around £50 and gets you breathtaking eye-level views of Mount Teide, while the ferry from Los Cristianos costs roughly £100 and completely misses the dramatic aerial perspective.
So, that was the experience of flying between Tenerife North and La Gomera on the Binter Canarias ATR-72. What a cracking little trip for anyone who’s into aviation and unique flying experiences!
You’ve got the interesting high-altitude operations at TFN, the brilliant ATR-72 doing exactly what it does best, that unique, tiny airport at La Gomera with its character-defining short runway, and then, of course, that absolutely stunning scenic departure procedure from La Gomera and those unforgettable views of Mount Teide.
And for around £50 return, when booked in advance, it’s just fantastic value for money. I’d honestly say it’s one of the best little AV geek adventures you can have in Europe for that kind of money. It packs so much interest into such a short space of time.
If you’re an aviation enthusiast and you’re heading to the Canary Islands, I’d wholeheartedly say this is well worth doing. It’s more than just a quick A-to-B flight; it’s about seeing how the aircraft, the challenging airports, and this incredible volcanic landscape all work together to create a really special bit of regional flying.
A Few Practical Tips for Your Own La Gomera Flight Adventure:
- Booking Your Flight: Head to the Binter Canarias website. Flights can be very reasonably priced if you book a bit in advance. Keep an eye out for their offers, as prices can fluctuate.
- Best Window Seat for Views: For that spectacular GMZ-TFN leg (the return flight from La Gomera to Tenerife North), you’ll generally want to be on the right-hand side of the aircraft (Starboard side, usually designated by ‘K’ seats on the ATR). This should give you the best views of La Gomera as you make that right turn after departure, and then potentially good views of Mount Teide as you approach Tenerife. (Flight paths can vary slightly based on weather and ATC, but this is a good general rule of thumb).
- Getting to/from the Airports:
- Tenerife North (TFN): Well-connected by public bus (TITSA) to the capital, Santa Cruz, and the popular northern town of Puerto de la Cruz. Taxis and hire cars are also readily available.
- La Gomera (GMZ): Being smaller and more remote, transport options are fewer. There are local buses (guaguas) that usually meet flights to connect to major towns like San Sebastián de La Gomera (the capital) and Valle Gran Rey, but it’s wise to check timetables in advance as services can be infrequent. Taxis are available at the airport, or consider hiring a car if you plan to explore La Gomera independently (highly recommended, as the island’s beauty lies in its spread-out nature!).
- About La Gomera Island (Briefly): It’s a stunningly beautiful, rugged, and relatively unspoiled island – very different in character from the more developed and bustling parts of Tenerife. It’s absolutely fantastic for hiking (it has an amazing network of trails, or ‘senderos’), experiencing unique laurel forests in the Garajonay National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and enjoying a much quieter, more relaxed pace of life. Well worth spending a few days if your itinerary allows.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below – have you done this particular flight between Tenerife and La Gomera, or are there any other similar tiny airport or incredibly scenic turboprop trips around the world that you’d recommend for AV geeks? Let me know!
If you enjoyed this blog post and the thought of this AV geek adventure, a share would be great! And if you want to see more aviation and travel stuff, do think about following along for future trips. Thanks very much for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one!
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fly from Tenerife to La Gomera?
You can usually grab a return flight for around £50 if you book a bit in advance. That’s legitimately half the price of the £100 ferry from Los Cristianos, making it an absolute bargain for the views you get.
How long is the flight to La Gomera?
The gate-to-gate time is scheduled for 30 minutes, but you’re rarely in the air for more than 15 to 20 minutes. It’s a proper quick hop right down the coast.
Which side of the plane is best for views of Mount Teide?
For the return leg from La Gomera to Tenerife, you absolutely want to be on the right-hand side of the aircraft. Those ‘K’ seats give you the killer views of La Gomera on the departure turn, and the eye-level look at Teide on the way back.
Can large jets land at La Gomera airport?
Not a chance. The runway is a mere 1,500 metres long, which completely keeps the big holiday jets away. It’s strictly turboprop territory here, which just adds to the charm of the operation.
Is Tenerife North the main airport on the island?
No, most international package holidays fly into Tenerife South (TFS). Tenerife North (TFN) is mostly a domestic hub for inter-island hopping and flights to mainland Spain, giving it a much more local, busy bus-station vibe.