Mount Teide is suspended in a sea of cloud, its pyramid- shaped peak visible from the neighbouring island of La Gomera where I stand.
But it s no hardship to turn my back on Tenerife s distant volcanic landmark. La G - as I call her - is bursting with colour and an array of unique features, all waiting to be explored.
I feel as though I ve landed in a secret paradise. With a population of just 23,000, this tiny island has more goats than humans and a lingering vibe from its days as a 70s hippie hangout. Just 80,000 visitors stay on the island each year, a happy fact for hikers who crave solitary trails.