Gran Canaria, island of sailors (since the time of Christopher Columbus!).

It is part of Spain’s Canary Islands archipelago and is a perfect destination for sailing cruises because of its super-equipped marinas, its many natural beauties at sea and on land, and, above all, its unique oceanic seafaring tradition.

Unique destination

Gran Canaria is an island located in the Atlantic Ocean, within the Canary Islands archipelago, territories that are themselves part of Spain.
Of volcanic origin, this island has an area of more than 1,500 square kilometers, about 236 kilometers of coastline and a mix of great variety of landscapes, fantastic both on land and, above all, at sea.
Because of this particular characteristic, as well as the great diversity of microclimates it hosts, Gran Canaria is a perfect one to reach for warm weather vacations during all months of the year, summer but not only.
What’s more, it is home to as many as 128 beaches washed by crystal-clear waters, with sandy shores of fine golden sand or dark sand of volcanic origin.
Quiet coves to be reached by boat and true natural pools open to the Atlantic flanked by spectacular gorges.
For the most part, with year-round services.
A paradise, in short, for sailing enthusiasts.
But then again, as those who really love sailing well know, the island of Gran Canaria has a long tradition as a port of call among sailors who have been crossing the Atlantic Ocean for centuries to reach the Caribbean.
A unique seafaring tradition that began almost six hundred years ago, when Christopher Columbus arrived to dock on the very island of Gran Canaria before beginning his first in history and incredible crossing of the Atlantic.
And he found himself as a sailor and navigator even then so perfectly at ease that he later did so three times on four cruises he completed between Europe and the “New Indies.”
In short, it is no coincidence that even today there are many vessels – of all tonnages – that it is precisely in Gran Canaria that they manage to find the best port or landing place to carry out repairs and supplies before crossing the ocean.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria welcomes the greatest number of these sailors, hosting the largest marina of all the Canary Islands.
In fact, it is a state-of-the-art, super-equipped marina that is then also well stocked with everything a crew might need: from stores to restaurants, from refueling to pharmacy and everything else a yachtsman might need.
On the island of Gran Canaria then there are also other landings: docking and services can also be found at the marinas of Pasito Blanco, Puerto de Mogán, Puerto Rico, Anfi del Mar, and Arguineguín.
All five of these ports are well distributed along the southern coast of the island, which is the best sheltered from the winds, as well as closer to the most touristy areas.

Sailing paradise

In short, it is not surprising how each year the number of yachts arriving from major European countries increases, reaching Gran Canaria’s marinas to spend the winter months in particular, benefiting from the island’s warm climate.
Also because, thanks always to its ancient tradition of seafaring, the island also hosts numerous international nautical events, among which is the departure-from the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria-of the ARC regatta, which has become one of the largest tourist and nautical events in the world.
And indeed also in this 2024 the ARC regatta, now in its 39th edition and always supported by Gran Canaria Tourism since its inception, will start from the magnificent Spanish island.
For this new edition, the scheduled dates are November 3 to 24, starting precisely from the Marina of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with a dual route to the Caribbean: to the island of Grenada (ARC+ regatta) or to the island of Saint Lucia (ARC regatta).
The regatta lasts on average between 15 and 25 days depending also on the skills and experience of the sailors.
And, given the great expectation and success it arouses in the boating world, in order to accommodate all the entries and a greater number of participants, not having enough berths, the organization has for some years now put in place a first “parallel” event aimed at larger boats with a longer crossing time; it includes an intermediate stop in Cape Verde and then the final finish line always in Grenada.
In recent years so the regatta has attracted more than 300 boats (including ARC+ and ARC), from cruisers and multihulls ranging in length from 12 to 32 meters, to authentic ocean racing boats with professional crew, to family cruising catamarans, where families and friends gather for this unique event.
The boaters then come from more than twenty nationalities and bring to life a true sailing and boating festival in which participating is an unparalleled celebration on the sea.
And precisely because of this vocation as a sailing island, Gran Canaria gave birth to Gran Canaria Blue, a brand that is also an association between Turismo de Gran Canaria and private companies in the sector.
Today then, Gran Canaria Blue offers numerous nautical activities throughout the year, as well as a wide and varied range of accommodations, always with the highest guarantee and quality.
Sailing, as well as nautical excursions, whale watching, surfing, jet skiing, parasailing, and scuba diving are some of the possibilities offered to Italian and international tourists who come to the island for vacations from Gran Canaria Blue.

Top even at the table

A truly unique yachting and tourist destination, Gran Canaria also gives those who reach it for sailing vacations some truly unique gastronomic suggestions.
Then again, precisely because of its “remote” and at the same time passing location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the island has had many cultural influences over the centuries, including in terms of cuisine.
At the same time, however, and this is the surprising thing, it has a huge culinary personality of its own.
In other words, the cuisine here is very typical, but with American flavors, African essences, European and, in general, Atlantic touches that have been patiently blended over the centuries to give rise to absolutely distinctive products and dishes in which products from both the land and the sea are combined.
Not to mention that thanks to being a land with a unique nature, in Gran Canaria gastronomy is as much an extension of landscapes as it is of history: one cannot be understood without the other.
From the exquisite cheeses, which would not exist without the mountain microclimates that host the pastures, to the most delicious seafood recipes, such as the famous grouper with black potatoes.
And yet the island boasts typical products made unique by its volcanic origin, such as sea salt extracted from the ancient salt pans that survive from a past of a thriving economy dedicated to salting fish, and have become a reference point for a highly prized gastronomic product in the local gastronomy.
Also thriving in this miniature continent that is Gran Canaria are the world’s leading tropical fruits, from banana to avocado, papaya to mango and pineapple: their presence is a constant and tasty reality in the island’s best restaurants, whatever type of cuisine is served.
Of course then speaking of gastronomy, fishing cannot be at the center either.
With some 150 native species of fish and crustaceans, as well as four of the world’s eight species of tuna from the rich waters that benefit from the cold currents of the Atlantic, delicious ingredients are extracted that make eating on the island an experience within an experience.
Last but not least, there is Gofio.
The main food and sustenance of the archipelago’s oldest inhabitants over two thousand years ago-it is a flour made from a cereal roasted first, at the time from the barley and wheat they grew-this superfood continues to be very present in the diets of Canary Islanders today.
In Gran Canaria in particular, it has been prepared from corn since the 16th century.
Ideal for breakfast due to its fiber and sugar content, it is also an ingredient for various desserts and today is used in the creations of top chefs.