What are the general characteristics of a sailboat rental in the Canary Islands?
The Canary Islands form an archipelago of seven main islands and six islets. They are an autonomous community of Spain with two provinces: Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife with the capitals Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The Canary Islands enjoy a temperate climate throughout the year. The beaches are beautiful. There are impressive natural attractions such as the dunes of Maspalomas in Gran Canaria and Mount Teide in Tenerife, which is the third largest volcano in the world measured from its base on the ocean floor. The landscapes are very varied depending on the geographical location. You can find volcanoes, mountains, high dunes, pine forests, laurel forests, jungle, desert, banana plantations, orchards, vineyards and much more.
The marine fauna is impressive. You can spot whales, dolphins, loggerhead turtles, porpoises, etc. Also on land there is abundant and very special flora and fauna.
The Canary Islands have a very good traffic network. All the islands have an airport, the largest being Gran Canaria Airport. Tenerife even has two, one in the South and one in the North. The main ports are Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Puerto de Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife. Good roads allow you to go on excursions overland and there are also ferries and fast ferries linking the islands.
The local cuisine and culture are very intriguing. The islands have been a stopping point for many sailors before crossing the Atlantic throughout the centuries. Then you come across many museums that tell you about this rich history.
Some figures about renting a yacht in the Canary Islands:
Location: Northeast Atlantic Ocean, 27° – 29° N, 14° – 18° W; that. 100 – 500 km west of Africa / off the southern coast of Morocco
Main islands from largest to smallest: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro
Total length of the coast: 1,500 km
Total area: 7,493 km²
Highest point: Teide, 3,718 m
Population: approx. 2,105,000
Country code: +34
Climate: Subtropical and desert, moderated by the sea and trade winds
Tidal range: up to 2/2.5 m
What are the most popular charter destinations and cruise areas in the Canary Islands?
The distances between all the Canary Islands are greater than in the Balearic Islands, for example, so more time is spent in the open sea during the crossings. Longitudinally they are arranged along a stretch of 450 km. Winds can channel between islands and anchorages are not as well protected. In addition, the distance between mooring options is much greater than in other sailing locations in the Mediterranean. So it must be said that renting a yacht in the Canary Islands is more for more experienced sailors than for family sailing holidays.
Head to Fuerteventura, where you will find beautiful beaches and a spectacular rocky volcanic landscape. The Port of Gran Tarajal has 258 berths for yachts up to 100 m. It offers all kinds of services including a travel lift and is close to the nearest airport. Anchor in the town of Ajuy on the west coast to see the black sands of Caleta Negra, for example. From here sail to Lanzarote with its unique landscape and many craters. Along the way, stop at Los Lobos, a small island and national park. The distance between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote is only about 9 NM. For any service go to the Marina Lanzarote which can house 400 boats up to 60 m.
Sail the approx. Distance of 57 NM from Fuerteventura to Gran Canaria. The island has a great diversity of landscapes, from desert to jungle to mountains. Deep sea fishing is excellent there. Head to the El Cabron Marine Reserve for some fantastic diving. You can moor at the International Port of Las Palmas, the first port in the Mid-Atlantic to be built and the most important in Spain. It has 850 moorings for boats of up to 45 m and is known as the great gas station of the Atlantic. A wide variety of services is at your disposal if needed.
Tenerife, some 38 NM away, is the largest island in the Canaries and has 336 km of coastline. Admire the famous Teide from the sea. There are beautiful beaches to sail and anchor. The Santa Cruz Sports Port in the urban center has 300 moorings for boats up to 80 m maximum and a complete range of nautical services. Over time it has been used as a port of call for many regattas and is the last stop for many boats before crossing the Atlantic. From Tenerife it is only about 20 nautical miles to La Gomera, which has the shortest coastline at 97 km.
You have to navigate about 37 NM from La Gomera to La Palma, the greenest of all the islands. It features spectacular lava fields and offers many beautiful bays for anchoring, swimming, and snorkeling.
El Hierro, the southwesternmost and most remote island is located about 39 NM from La Gomera. It is more deserted than the other islands and you find yourself with a much more virgin nature and you can experience a very calm cruise.
What kind of weather can you expect on a bareboat charter holiday in the Canary Islands?
In principle there are two main seasons. A dry season in summer and a rainy season in winter. The main charter vacation season is in the European and North American winter months, from October to April, when the trade winds die down. The sirocco, a desert wind from the east or south, brings with it fine sand from the African Sahara. Winds can channel between the islands, so good sailing skills are needed. The westernmost islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro have a different climate due to the humid gulf stream which generates more rainfall and a more lush landscape with rainforests etc.
Brief summary of the weather for the Canary Islands sailing charter:
Average high temperature: August, 29°
Average low temperature: January/February 15°
Average high rainfall: December 30 – 40 mm, depending on the island
Low average rainfall: July/August 0.2 mm
Strongest Winds: Northeast trade winds, April – October
Maximum average monthly sunshine hours: July, 295 – 337
Minimum average monthly sunshine hours: December, 168 – 195
Main season: October – April
How much does it cost to rent a yacht in the Canary Islands and what types of charter are there?
You can rent a 12m sailboat from €1,500 per week onwards. Depending on the size, model and equipment, the prize will increase accordingly. You can choose between sailboat rental (monohull) or catamaran and motorboat rental. You can charter a bareboat yacht or opt for a skippered or crewed yacht up to 20m. The rental of luxury yachts for boats of 24 m and up is another possibility.
What is there to do besides sailing on your rental boat in the Canary Islands?
Visit Maspalomas in the South of Gran Canaria. There is a nature reserve with bird nesting areas and an impressive desert landscape with high dunes. The purpose-built city with convention centers, shopping malls, casinos, golf courses and theme parks, as well as a lighthouse, is the largest tourist destination in the Canaries.
Go to Teide National Park on Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain. It is a World Heritage Site and extends for 189.9 km². Also located in the park is the second highest volcano in the Canary Islands, Pico Viejo with its 3,135 m high peak. There is an observatory in the park which makes it an amazing place for stargazing. Other national parks to visit are the Caldera de Taburiente in La Palma, the Garajonay in La Gomera and the Timanfaya in Lanzarote. Admire the lunar landscape of Lanzarote with 300 volcanic craters. It is certainly a sight to behold.
Visit the archaeological site of the Cueva de los Guanches, the extinct aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands, in Icod de los Vinos in Tenerife. The cave engravings it contains date back to the 3rd century. Icod de los Vinos is a beautiful old town founded in 1501 with impressive mansions and palaces. It is worth visiting the Museum of Sacred Art, the old Drago, which is said to be 1000 years old, and the Plaza de la Pila, which is considered the most beautiful square in the Canary Islands. The church of San Marcos is a good place for sightseeing, as is the nearby park and botanical gardens. Head to Playa San Marcos, it is very well protected by cliffs and completely covered in black sand. Check out Cueva del Viento, the world’s largest volcanic cave and lava tube. It is more than 17 km long and has an amazing and unique fossilized fauna. Visit the amazing folk festival Tablas de San Andrés on November 29. It consists of tasting the recently harvested wine and sliding through the town on wooden boards in memory of the custom of transporting wood from the upper parts of the town to the workshops. There are many more lovely traditional festivals throughout the year, such as Los Hachitos on June 23, which is a remnant of the summer solstice fire cult.
Attend the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Carnival of Las Palmas. They are one of the most famous in Spain and are celebrated in the street between the months of February and March.
Check out the Canarian Olympic Sailing Week for Olympic classes and invited classes in December. It is a high-level race with the best sailors from all over Europe and part of the Spanish Olympic series.
Try sport fishing, practice water sports and venture to see whales, dolphins or turtles. Go sightseeing in the historically beautiful capital of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. And lastly, try the local cuisine, which is a fascinating mix of Aboriginal, Latin American and African influences. In the Canary Islands there is something for everyone!