Tenerife and La Gomera: a week in the Atlantic
The Canaries are the Atlantic proper: the trade wind blows almost all year, an ocean swell rolls in from the north, and between the islands lie open channels where the wind is noticeably stronger than along the coast. The loop of about 120 nm from Marina San Miguel follows the sheltered south-west of Tenerife and goes round La Gomera: legs of two to four hours in the lee of the islands and two channel crossings sailed in the morning, before the trade wind builds. It suits a crew that has sailed in open water before, and it is the rare route whose best season is winter.
Day by day
Marina San Miguel
- Marina San Miguel (Tenerife)28.023, -16.613
Boat handover after 17:00, ten minutes from Tenerife South airport. The marina lies on the lee side of the island, where the trade wind is lightest; provisioning and a calm first night on the pontoon.
San Miguel → Los Cristianos
- Los Cristianos28.049, -16.718
A two-hour leg west along the sheltered south coast — a good chance to get used to the boat and the long ocean swell. Los Cristianos is the ferry port for La Gomera: there are few yacht berths in the harbour, and the fallback is to anchor off the beach east of the port.
Los Cristianos → Los Gigantes
- Los Gigantes28.245, -16.842
North-west along the Costa Adeje, home to a resident pod of pilot whales you see on almost every passage. Los Gigantes is a marina under sheer cliffs up to 600 metres high; it is small, so book ahead.
Los Gigantes → San Sebastián
- San Sebastián de La Gomera28.088, -17.108
The channel crossing to La Gomera, three to four hours on the beam. Leave early, before the trade-wind acceleration zone builds in the channel. San Sebastián is the port where Columbus last took on water before the Atlantic in 1492; night in the marina.
San Sebastián → Valle Gran Rey
- Valle Gran Rey28.080, -17.335
South-about round the island in the lee of the mountains. Valle Gran Rey is the terraced valley on the west coast and the quietest anchorage of the week, with El Hierro on the horizon. If you want a day ashore, the laurel forest of Garajonay national park, a UNESCO site, is in the middle of the island.
Valle Gran Rey → Los Cristianos
- Los Cristianos28.049, -16.718
The longest day: leave at first light to cross the channel before noon, when the trade wind peaks. Into Los Cristianos by early afternoon.
Los Cristianos → San Miguel
- Marina San Miguel (Tenerife)28.023, -16.613
A short morning leg east along the south coast. Refuelling and handover, a last night on board in the marina.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- Trade wind: the north-easterly blows for most of the year and is strongest in summer. It accelerates off the island tips and in the channels: between Tenerife and La Gomera it can reach 30 knots in the afternoon while the coast stays moderate. Both channels are crossed at first light; if the forecast is above 25 knots all day, the week stays on the sheltered south-west of Tenerife, about 80 nm between Los Cristianos, Los Gigantes and Playa San Juan.
- Swell and berths: ocean swell comes in from the north and north-west even on a calm day, so anchoring works only on the lee south and west sides of the islands, and a marina is the safer bet for the night. Canary marinas are short of space, especially in autumn, when yachts gather here before crossing the Atlantic — book ahead.
- Whales: the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera are a protected marine area with resident pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. Never steer at them or close in: slow down and let them move off on their own.
- Season and logistics: the best months are October to April, when Mediterranean charter has all but closed; winter days are shorter, so plan the legs for daylight. Tenerife South airport is eight kilometres from the marina, about ten minutes by taxi.
When to go and what it costs in the Canary Islands
Median € per berth per week from the agent's latest check, monohulls; each month's page has both boat types, a chart and boats departing that month.
Discounted boats in the Canary Islands
All boats in the Canary Islands
How long is the Tenerife — La Gomera route and where do you stay overnight?
7 days and about 120 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Tenerife. Overnight stops in order: Marina San Miguel (Tenerife), Los Cristianos, Los Gigantes, San Sebastián de La Gomera, Valle Gran Rey, Los Cristianos. The longest leg is day 6, 36 nm.
When is the best time to sail the Tenerife — La Gomera route?
The Canaries are sailed all year round. October to April is the main season: the Mediterranean is cold, while here it is warm and the weather settled. In summer the trade wind is stronger and accelerates to 25 knots and more between the islands, which suits experienced crews. By the agent's latest checks (monohulls), the cheapest month is March: a median of €304 per berth per week. The most expensive is February, at €340. The most boats with 20% off or more are in December: 11%. The agent checks the current month and the next five; each month has its own page with the numbers.
How much does a yacht for this route cost?
A whole boat in the Canary Islands for a week starts from €1,573 in the agent's current selection: the cheapest discounted week departing in the next three months. Prices per berth by month are higher up the page; the boats are under “All boats in the Canary Islands”.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
