Photo: Julia Elliot ↗Canaries · Tenerife — La Gomera — La Palma
Winter Atlantic, trade winds and whales.
THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
Winter Atlantic, trade winds and whales.
When the Mediterranean shuts down the season carries on in the Canaries: trade winds, 22 °C in winter, 20 °C water and an ocean swell. We sail from southern Tenerife to La Gomera and La Palma, the steepest island of the group, and back. Inter-island legs run 25–45 miles, the wind doubles in the channels and pilot whales live between Tenerife and La Gomera. A small taste of the ocean.
- Pilot whales and dolphins in the channel between Tenerife and La Gomera
- Santa Cruz de La Palma and the Caldera de Taburiente
- Tazacorte on La Palma’s west coast, where the sun sets into the ocean
- San Sebastián de La Gomera, Columbus’s last port
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Handover
Tenerife and boat handover
We meet at Marina San Miguel in southern Tenerife at 17:00, take over the yacht and check the heavy-weather gear. We study the week’s trade-wind forecast.
Overnight: Yacht, Marina San Miguel - DAY 2 · 22 nautical miles
The channel to La Gomera
Twenty-two miles west across the channel where pilot whales are almost always seen. We arrive at San Sebastián and walk the streets Columbus left from in 1492.
Overnight: Yacht, San Sebastián marina - DAY 3 · 45 nautical miles
La Gomera to La Palma
The longest leg: 45 miles north-west across the open Atlantic in a 1.5–2 metre swell. We arrive at Santa Cruz de La Palma and its wooden balconies.
Overnight: Yacht, Santa Cruz de La Palma marina - DAY 4 · Day ashore, 0 miles
A day ashore: Caldera de Taburiente
The yacht rests in the marina. We drive up to Roque de los Muchachos (2,426 m) and its observatories and look down into the Caldera de Taburiente.
Overnight: Yacht, Santa Cruz de La Palma marina - DAY 5 · 30 nautical miles
Round the south of La Palma to Tazacorte
Thirty miles round the southern cape past the lava fields of the 2021 eruption to Tazacorte on the west coast. The sun sets straight into the ocean.
Overnight: Yacht, Tazacorte marina - DAY 6 · 45 nautical miles
Tazacorte to Valle Gran Rey
Forty-five miles back to La Gomera with the trade wind on the quarter. Night in the small marina at Valle Gran Rey on the island’s west coast.
Overnight: Yacht, Valle Gran Rey marina - DAY 7 · 32 nautical miles
Back to Tenerife
Along La Gomera’s south coast and 32 miles across the channel to San Miguel. Refuelling, berthing and a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Yacht, Marina San Miguel - DAY 8 · Check-out
Check-out
Yacht back by 09:00. Tenerife South airport is ten minutes away.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Berth in a double cabin on a 40–50 ft sailing yacht
Professional skipper for the whole week
Yacht insurance and the boat’s security deposit
Bed linen, towels, dinghy with outboard
Final cleaning of the yacht
Ivan’s support: preparation, watches, daily debriefs
Transfer between Tenerife South airport and Marina San Miguel; oilskins and harnesses on loan
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Kitty: provisioning, marina fees, fuel, water — usually €250–350 per person
Dinners in tavernas ashore
Marina berths on La Gomera and La Palma
Car hire for the Caldera de Taburiente
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
Previous sailing experience is required: ocean swell and wind acceleration zones off the capes are no place for a first trip. Ivan holds a call to go through forecasts and watch rules.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.