Читать книгу Walking on La Gomera and El Hierro. 45 day walks and treks for all abilities онлайн

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The higher parts of La Gomera and El Hierro catch the clouds, especially in the winter months

Health and safety

There are no nasty diseases on the Canary Islands, or, at least, nothing you couldn’t contract at home. Water on La Gomera and El Hierro is either drawn from rainfall, or generated by the laurisilva cloud forests. It soaks into the ground, is filtered through thick beds of volcanic ash and emerges pure and clean, perfectly safe to drink. Bottled water is available if you prefer, but buy it cheaply from supermarkets rather than at considerable expense from bars. There are no snakes, no stinging insects worse than honey-bees, and there are always warning signs near hives. Don’t annoy dogs and they won’t annoy you. Dogs that are likely to bite are nearly always tethered, so keep away.

In case of a medical emergency, dial 112 for an ambulance. In case of a non-emergency, all islands have hospitals, health centres (Centro de Salud) and chemists (Farmacia). If treatment is required, EU citizens should present their European Health Insurance Card, while British citizens should check arrangements following Brexit.