Ever feel like the sea is calling and you must go? If only you had a yacht ready to whisk you away to distant shores far from the madding beach crowds. This is uncanny but there is a 52 foot beauty at a marina in Tenerife that’s waiting to shove off on our Sailing the Canary Islands tour. For seven days, a fully-licensed Skipper/Chief Experience Officer helps you make the most of isolated coves and coastal villages on the islands of Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma.
Sound good? It sure does so let’s dive a little deeper into what you can see and experience.
Settle in and stock your galley
The adventure begins as soon as you meet your skipper and a small group of fellow travellers at the San Miguel Marina in Tenerife. Stow belongings in your cabin, get a safety briefing and then head into town to gather groceries for the week. As a self-catering holiday, what you eat is up to you but a pooled food kitty helps cover the cost of breakfast, lunch and the odd dinner. You’ll still enjoy plenty of local Basque flavours as most dinners are taken ashore.
With a full pantry, all that’s left is to feel the warm salty air on your skin as you push off for La Gomera the next morning and head to the town of San Sebastian. Once there, you can explore on foot with a gentle hike, lounge on a shell-shaped bay or bar hop in La Parte Vieja (Old Town) before calling it a night back on board.
Get your sea legs in ship shape condition
We adapt our sailing tours to the interests of everyone on board combined with weather and sea conditions. Designed for sailors of all levels, the longer days at sea are perfect for taking the helm under the guidance of your sea-hardy skipper. Just want to relax and leave the rigging and jib-minding to others? That’s swell too. Kick back on deck, make lunch on the hoof (that’s eating on the move!) and scan the water for abundant marine life as you glide to Santa Cruz on La Palma.
Mix and mingle with friendly islanders
Even if you want to spend most of your time at sea, there’s still plenty of chances to meet local people at each island stop. On a full free day at La Palma, for instance, you can stick to the quaint cobblestone streets of Santa Cruz or rent a car to explore the island’s volcanic landscapes and charming villages. Sip a Barriquito coffee cocktail by the sea, chill under a palapa on a quiet black-sand beach, or visit centuries-old historic sites to imagine the island life of yore. You can’t go wrong either way and the boat is always there for you back at the harbour.
Drop anchor among the stars
Going ashore is good stuff but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the onboard benefits of yachting. Whether it’s through group meals or game nights, bonds form so quickly that many sailors choose to spend all of their time together. Your skipper will find isolated anchorages so you can all swim, snorkel and sunbathe right from the comfort of your boat. And if the weather allows at night, you’ll drop anchor far from shore and light pollution. Dine al fresco together and then watch the clearest sky in Europe darken to reveal spectacular star clusters, galaxies and constellations.
Enjoy stellar whale and dolphin sightings too
Did you know that the deep underwater canyons between the Canary Islands make an incredible oceanic oasis for resident and migratory species alike? In fact, the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera were recently named Europe’s first Whale Heritage Site in January 2021. The designation not only promotes southwestern Tenerife as a top spot to see 28 different cetacean species but means better protection through sustainability and conservation projects.
So which marine mammals are you most likely to see? Given that they’re here year-round, it’s pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. About 350 short-finned pilot whales call these waters home and travel in groups of 10 to 30. From your boat perch, look for small dark-skinned whales with bulbous melons that look like belugas. Sightings aren’t guaranteed but your chances are good given you're out on the water every day.
Getting There
Ready to feel the wind in your hair as you set sail from San Miguel Marina for island and sea explorations? G Adventures gets you there on our Sailing the Canary Islands tour and other far-from-ordinary active adventures in classic European destinations.
