Top 10 Marinas in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands lie at 28 degrees north latitude, roughly 100 kilometres off the northwest African coast, in the northeast trade winds that sailors have exploited since Columbus departed San Sebastián de la Gomera in September 1492. That departure was not coincidence — the islands sit at the top of the trade wind belt, where the northeasterly winds funnel reliably between the Azores High and the African heat low, providing following winds all the way to the Caribbean at 15 to 25 knots. Today this geographical reality makes the Canaries the most important staging post for Atlantic crossings, with more than 2,500 yachts departing for the Caribbean each year, the majority in November and December. The archipelago's seven main islands each have at least one full-service marina, and the overall facilities have improved dramatically over the past decade.
Real Club Náutico de Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
The Real Club Náutico de Las Palmas is the heart of the ARC — Atlantic Rally for Cruisers — and the most famous marina in the Atlantic islands. Located on the eastern waterfront of Las Palmas city, it holds 600 berths with full utilities, and in mid-November its pontoons are almost entirely occupied by rally participants. The club provides ARC briefings, weather routing services, and a rally village atmosphere that brings together crews from 60-plus nations. Las Palmas city itself is one of the best provisioning stops in the eastern Atlantic: fresh produce, hardware stores, a chandlery row, and duty-free fuel all available within 2 kilometres of the dock.
Marina de Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
Immediately north of the Real Club Náutico, the commercial Marina de Las Palmas adds 500 more berths in a modern basin with 10-tonne crane, diesel dock, and a substantial chandlery. The two facilities combined give Las Palmas a total capacity of over 1,100 berths, making it the largest marina complex in the Canaries. The ferry terminal for inter-island crossings to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Tenerife is adjacent, useful for crew arriving or departing by sea.
Puerto Deportivo de Pasito Blanco, Gran Canaria
Pasito Blanco, on the southern coast of Gran Canaria near Maspalomas, is the quieter alternative to Las Palmas for boats waiting for the trade wind window. The marina has 540 berths in a well-sheltered bay with a boatyard and crane. Its position on the south coast means it is less exposed to the northerly swell that affects Las Palmas in autumn, making it a calmer option for haulouts and repairs before an Atlantic crossing.
Marina Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife
The capital of Tenerife hosts a well-run marina in the heart of the city with 850 berths. The approach is straightforward, and fuel, laundry, provisions, and a 70-tonne travel lift are all available. Tenerife also has a significant yacht repair industry at Dique del Este in the commercial port area. The island's north coast can be windy — the Teide trade wind acceleration around the 3,715-metre peak creates localized gale conditions between the islands — but the south coast marina at Los Cristianos provides more shelter.
Puerto Colón, Costa Adeje, Tenerife
Puerto Colón on Tenerife's southwestern coast is the charter hub of the island and one of the most active small boat marinas in the archipelago. The marina has 490 berths and is surrounded by the beach resort area of Costa Adeje and Playa de las Américas, where crew provisions and flights are plentiful. The passage from Puerto Colón to Las Palmas rounds the eastern end of Tenerife through the El Hierro channel, a stretch notorious for confused seas.
Marina de Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria
Puerto Rico marina, midway along Gran Canaria's southern coast, is the charter hub of the island with 650 berths and more charter companies per berth than any other Canaries marina. It is primarily a departure point for inter-island sailing holidays rather than an ocean passage staging area, but its facilities — including a substantial repair yard — make it useful for anyone doing pre-crossing work.
Marina Puerto Calero, Lanzarote
Lanzarote's Puerto Calero marina, on the southwestern coast, is one of the most beautiful in the archipelago — purpose-built, with a palm-lined esplanade and a sophisticated services corridor. The marina has 500 berths and a dedicated superyacht area. Puerto Calero is the preferred departure point for boats crossing to the Cape Verde Islands before heading to Brazil or the Eastern Caribbean, with a slightly more southerly angle of departure than Las Palmas.
Marina de Arrecife, Lanzarote
Arrecife, Lanzarote's capital, is a working harbour with 200 berths in the inner basin managed by the Puerto de Arrecife authority. The facility is unpretentious but practical, with a fuel dock and a small chandlery. Lanzarote's volcanic landscape — lunar fields of dark lava from the 1730 eruptions covering 200 square kilometres — is among the most dramatic in the Atlantic, and the island's Timanfaya National Park is visible from the sea on the approach.
Marina San Miguel, Tenerife
San Miguel marina on Tenerife's south coast, between Las Galletas and the Los Abrigos headland, has 200 berths in a naturally sheltered bay. It is smaller and quieter than Puerto Colón but has a loyal following among cruisers who prefer a less commercial atmosphere. The boatyard offers haulout and careening services on a hard-standing with good crane access.
Marina de La Gomera, San Sebastián de la Gomera
San Sebastián de la Gomera is where Christopher Columbus watered and victualled his three ships before departing on 6 September 1492. The modern marina, adjacent to the historic church of the Asunción where Columbus allegedly prayed, has 190 berths and is a popular last stop before Atlantic crossings — partly for the history, partly because its position on the eastern side of La Gomera means it catches the first breath of the northeast trade before the other islands. A statue of Columbus overlooks the harbour from the waterfront promenade.
Explore on the map
The Canary Islands marina network spans seven volcanic islands across 500 kilometres of Atlantic ocean, from Lanzarote in the northeast to El Hierro in the southwest. Use the interactive map to find each marina's position, plan inter-island passages, and understand the archipelago's geography before your transatlantic departure. Explore the Canary Islands on the map and trace the same trade wind route Columbus took more than five centuries ago.