CANARY ISLANDS YACHT CHARTERS

The province of Las Palmas combine the eastern islands, with flat  landscapes and long virgin beaches. Not every island can offer secure  anchorages or comfortable marinas and there is little organized  entertainment or sightseeing on some of them. But more and more sailors  are discovering this most unique cruising area, where everyone can find  any type of sailing vacation to their liking. Each island has plenty of  sunshine and splendid beaches, but also acquires its own  characteristics.

Tenerife means “Snowy Mountain”, a tribute to its dormant volcano  of Mount Teide, Spain's highest peak. Due to its unusual rough and steep  shape of landmass, Tenerife has two different climate zones: lush  vegetation and rainfall you will fined sailing to the north, while sunny  and dry in the south. Tenerife has the most of yacht charter  attraction: spectacular volcanic scenery, water sports, extravagant  luxury resorts and vibrant nightlife.

This is the world's steepest island. It lies on the northwestern  tip of the archipelago and has a cool, moist climate and lush  vegetation. The mountains are covered with forests of pine and giant  fern. The center of the island is dominated by La Caldera de Taburiente,  a volcano's massive crater. National park status is a sign of its  botanical and geological significance. The international Observatory  crowns the summit.

Sailing to the furthest west island you will fine El Hierro, the  smallest in Canaries. It is not so popular with a holiday crowd, but has  got its fame with naturalists for its unusual fauna and flora. The  turquoise seas of the south coast attract a lot of scuba divers, who  base themselves in the small fishing village of La Restinge.

This island is the most accessible. It's scenery is glorious: Rock  pinnacles protrude out steep slopes covered with ferns; terraced  hillsides glow with palms and flowering creeps. Sailing to La Gomera do  not miss the best part of this island – the Parque Nacional de  Garajonay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some places are associated with  Columbus, who got his water supplies here. According to legend he also  prayed in the Iglesia de la Asuncion, and stayed at a local house. The  Eastern Islands (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventure ) belong two  the province of Las Palmas.

It is the biggest Canarian Island and is the most popular  sailing destination with vast variety of boat rentals. It's capital La  Palmas de Gran is the largest city in the Canaries. And Maspalomas, in  the south, is one of the biggest resorts in Spain, which consist of  several separate complexes. Set sails and head to San Agustin one of the  serene places with dark sand beaches, sheltered by low cliffs.

Playa del Ingles is the largest and liveliest, with 50 discos and 300  restaurants. Unlike most of the hotels you will have a great sea view  from the board of your sailing yacht or catamaran.

The name speaks for itself: dunes form a nature reserve and are  protected from further development. This sailing destination will offer  you hard-to-resist packages: excursions, go-karts, camel safaris and fun  fairs. Best of these include Palmitos Park, with exotic birds in  subtropical gardens; and Sioux City, a fun-packed Western theme park.

Set sails and explore the 4th largest of the Canary Islands.  Although it has no trees, there is no lack of visitors, due to its  amazing shapes and stunning colors of its volcanic landscapes. Despite  low rainfall, crops flourish in its rich black volcanic soil. This yacht  charter destination claims to be the most family-oriented place.  Sailors come here mostly not for nightlife and loud fiestas, but for  tranquility and relaxation. They can find both: either sunbathing on  fine beaches and skin diving in eerie emerald-colored lagoons, or  exploring the most impressive volcanic sites in the Montanas del Fuego  (Fire Mountains) and taking camel rides across the mountains.

It is the second largest of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife,  and the most sparsely populated: it’s 69,500 inhabitants are  outnumbered by goats. Just 60 miles (100 km) off the Atlantic coast off  Morocco, the island is under constant attacks by coastal winds. No  wonder that every summer the island hosts the windsurfing and kite  boarding World Cup.

The island used to be densely wooded, but European settlers cut down  the timber for shipbuilding. Now the only significant income for the  islanders is tourism, though it is not at its high peak yet. However,  sun-lovers are beginning to flock to its more than 150 pristine beaches.  It is one of few islands where it will be easy to find privacy and  seclusion. The island is popular with water sports fans and naturalists,  as well.

Cuisine of the Canary Islands is incredibly unique, because it  uses the most unusual exotic fruit and vegetables and seafood, unknown  to most of us: wreck fish, damselfish, dentex, parrot-fish.

Over the centuries the local cuisine has been under Spanish,  Portuguese and North African influence, but it has managed to retain its  main feature - simplicity and freshness. Delicacies, like lapas  (limpets), are available only for a few months during summer, and are  served simply grilled (a la plancha). Other types of fish are usually  fried, baked in salt crust or dried in the sun. Meats, like pork or  beef, are prepared according to the ancient local tradition.

The islanders grow a certain type of potato unknown elsewhere and are  proud to deliver its favorite dish - "papas arrugadas" (wrinkly  potatoes), made by boiling potatoes in their skins in very salty water,  sometimes even in seawater. One of many Canarian creations is "soap de  pescados tinerfena: it is Tenerife fish soup of sea bass and potatoes,  seasoned with saffron and cumin. There are so many more dishes to try  here: succulent tropical fruits, delicious honey pastries, traditional  cheeses, roasted maize meals, etc.