Boating, cruising and sailing - There are few places in the world like the Canary Islands, a small paradise in the Atlantic, where you can sail all year round in your own sailboat or motorboat, in a pleasant climate with winds to suit all levels of sailor. The consistency of the trade winds means that sailors in the Canary archipelago have no need to use their engines outside the ports. As a result, the archipelago offers a wide range of sailing conditions, from calm zones to more technical ones. 

The climate of the Canary Islands is considered one of the most pleasant in the world. The archipelago has more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in Europe. Both winter and summer are favourable for sailing, with mild temperatures ranging from around 22ºC to 26ºC and sunny days all year round guaranteed by the trade winds and the Azores anticyclone.

The Canary Islands are crossed by the trade winds, permanent prevailing winds from east to west that blow along the equatorial region. Perfect for sailing, they have been the allies of sailors crossing the ocean for centuries. Their name, "trade winds", dates back to the 14th century and means "path" or "track".  They are reputed to be gentle, friendly and steady, making them ideal for travel. 

A strong nautical DNA 

The Canary Islands have a long tradition of welcoming sailors.

As well as ideal weather conditions, there are first-rate facilities providing all the equipment sailors need. Nearly 40 marinas and dozens of nautical companies provide holidaymakers with all the gear and equipment they need to enjoy the ocean at any time of year, offering Finn, 470, Flying Dutchman, Soling, Tornado, Stars, Lasers and Vela Latinas for hire (with or without skipper).

The islands also boast a number of top-class sailing schools, and competitions are regularly held in the region. The remarkable quality of the islands' nautical infrastructure has encouraged the emergence of many top-level sailors in the archipelago, including several Olympic medallists.

From Gran Canaria to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote

The Canary archipelago is made up of eight islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.

These islands are all distinct and close to each other. This makes the Canary Islands a paradise for sailors who want to see plenty of sea and land scenery, but don't want to spend too much time travelling from one destination to another.

Many people choose to set sail from Mogán, a colourful former fishing port on Gran Canaria that has now become a popular marina. From there, the first stop is Morro Jable, a town in the municipality of Pájara, in the south of Fuerteventura. From there, it's a simple journey to Lanzarote, the birthplace of the famous architect César Manrique. On this island, we recommend Papagayo, a quiet beach worthy of a postcard. The trip can then be extended with an excursion to the island of La Graciosa, the least well-known of the archipelago's islands, located to the north of Lanzarote, where there are few roads and even fewer cars. 

From Tenerife to La Gomera

Many sailors set off from the San Miguel marina in Tenerife. From this marina, a beautiful route along the coast takes you to such beautiful beaches as La Tejita, Las Vistas, Fañabé, San Juan and El Duque. From here, sailors can keep an eye on the horizon for cetaceans congregating in Antequera Bay (only accessible from the ocean). The cliffs of Los Gigantes can then be admired from the sea before docking at Las Galletas or Los Cristianos. 

La Gomera, only a short distance from Tenerife, offers excellent mooring facilities in its marina, the port of Playa Santiago and the port of Las Vueltas. Boats can also drop anchor on Cabrito beach.

With a pleasant climate all year round, sailing in the Canary Islands offers endless possibilities. So, from La Gomera, many choose to extend their exploration to El Hierro, La Palma or one of the other islands in the archipelago.