Sailing holidays in Spain with a local skipper

The best destinations to visit in Spain during a sailing holiday with skipper

Spain is one of the most privileged destinations for its pleasant temperatures and variety of landscapes to go on holiday, whether you enjoy the beach or visiting picturesque villages. It has around 6,000km of coastline where you can sail the Mediterranean, all the way from the Balearic Islands down to the Costa de Sol of Andalusia. Here you can enjoy a 'pescaito frito' on the beach with friends, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, even cross the Atlantic by sailboat from Galicia or the Canary Islands. Below, we will detail some of the destinations you can’t miss.

Sailing holidays in the Balearic Islands

Hundreds of turquoise water coves, the sweet scent of pine forests surrounding its beaches, villages full of atmosphere, pedestrian streets of stone, houses dyed in white and blue, and a lively nightlife. If you would like to know the islands, sailing the Balearics is the most magical way to discover them - whether it’s with a relaxing boat trip around Menorca or a party boat in Ibiza. If sailing trips around the Balearic Islands interest you, remember that you should not forget to pass through Menorca and visit the coves of Macarella, Mitjana and Turqueta, these spots are some of the most photogenic in the Balearics.

If you take a boat trip around Mallorca, you can stop at its ports to visit the beautiful villages of Pollença, Alcudia, Sóller or Palma itself, where you can walk along the promenade of its wide beaches (Es Trenc) or small coves such as Sa Calobra. If you want something with more action, we recommend you to visit Ibiza, where its beautiful Salada coves, Vadella, and numerous other beaches with more atmosphere like Las Salinas or the beach d'en Bossa. On such beaches you can enjoy an unforgettable party by boat or spend the night in one of its famous nightclubs such as Amnesia, Pachá, or Bora Bora and dance all night long. In Formentera you will find incredible natural wonder wherever you go. We recommend you visit the Faro de la Mola, which is at the highest point on the island where you can enjoy a sunset. After this natural spectacle you can then go to visit the El Mirador restaurant, a short distance from the lighthouse, where you can enjoy a pleasant evening with the most spectacular views of the island.

Sailing holidays in the Canary Islands

Travelling to the Canary Islands by sailboat allows you to discover the wonders of their volcanic islands from another perspective. Start by visiting the Island of Tenerife, with its 269km of coastline, where this is a great diversity of landscapes - here, copious sun, beaches, and natural beauty combine to make for the perfect holiday destination. In addition to its natural wealth, you will find other spaces such as the Teide, this volcano stands 3,718m above sea level, and is an interesting area for scuba divers. Due to the volcanic soil of the island, the seabed of Tenerife and is widely admired for its unique qualities. Fuerteventura, however, is the destination of choice of the windsurfers, there you will find beautiful beaches such as Cotillo, Jandía, Caleta de Fuste, or Corralejo - with numerous spots ideal for divers. From there, you will then be able to go through winding trails that are surrounded by wild nature and cross the island up to Tindaya Mountain.

In Gran Canaria you will find a rich natural environment that has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, you can tour this island by foot or by bicycle - there you can even see whales and dolphins aboard your sailboat. If you pass by La Gomera, the so-called "Magic Island", don't forget to visit its beautiful beaches dotted with cliffs. You can also visit the Garajonay National Park, a forest of thick vegetation declared a World Heritage Site. Finally, Lanzarote, the most volcanic island of all - it has a lunar-like landscape full of craters and valleys of solidified lava. Throughout the islands there is an abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities, you can find a great variety of bird species in the Timanfaya National Park and the Chinijo Archipelago.

Sailing holidays in Andalusia

The Costa del Sol is one of the most popular holiday areas in the Mediterranean. If on the Canary Islands you have sun 365 days a year, here you have a little over 300 days a year, so any period is a good time to visit this part of Andalucia. The Costa del Sol stretches along the province of Malaga, the city of Picasso, where art is heavily celebrated by its people and architecture. This picturesque city is full of cobbled streets with a lot of atmosphere, many of its houses have been decorated with beautiful flower pots lending a special color to the city. After touring Malaga, visiting the Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle, La Malagueta, the monumental cathedral also called "La Manquita" for its unfinished tower.

There is also another, lesser known wonder 15km from the city - Cueva del Tesoro. If you like to explore the unknown, you'll love this place. It is an underwater cave and is, in fact, one of only three caves of this origin known in the world, as well as being the only one in all of Europe. Sailing in Malaga is very popular, it is common for sailors to make trips between the coasts of Malaga and Marbella. If you have the opportunity to do so, we recommend you to make a small crossing to this luxurious city, a stop in Marbella will allow you to finish the tour with a good souvenir of the Costa del Sol.

Tips to help you to better plan for your next sailing holidays in Spain:

• Regarding weather conditions, you can visit Spain on a sailboat from April to November.
• As for the budget, although prices can vary based on the type of boat, the level of service on board and the season, you can find sailing experiences from €350 per week.
• There are modern and convenient transport links throughout Spain, if you are venturing to one of the coasts of the peninsula, there are both travel options by land or air.
• Sailing is an experience that can be suited to all types of audiences, this also includes families. A holiday with children in Spain allows your children to learn about Spanish culture from a more unconventional angle.

The best sailing holiday itineraries for your next adventure in Spain with a skipper:

Ibiza - Formentera / Mallorca - Menorca:

The Balearic Islands - the most popular destination in Spain for sailing. A week sailing through its crystal clear waters will make you return home recharged and refreshed. It's not just the beaches, the food and the lively nightlife that make these islands so special, it's also one of Spain's most beautiful and wildest regions in terms of landscape. You will find its coasts surrounded by aromatic pine forests and white stone villages.

Gran Canarias - Tenerife / Tenerife - La Gomera:

The Canary Islands - in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and next to the African continent you will enjoy an ideal sailing climate, 365 days a year. Discover its small islands and its seven magnificent volcanoes, one per island: El Teide (Tenerife), Roque Nublo (Gran Canaria), Timanfaya (Lanzarote), Montaña Colorado (Fuerteventura), Los Órganos (La Gomera), Caldera de Taburiente (La Palma), Los Lajiales (El Hierro).

Costa Levantina - Costa del Sol:

Discover the beautiful landscapes of the Mediterranean by sailing from the coasts of Alicante to Malaga.

Sailing holidays in Spain - why you should travel with a local skipper

If you want to fully enjoy your sailing holiday in Spain in the best conditions, we recommend that you go choose a trip with a local skipper. Travelling with a skipper who has insider knowledge on the area, allows travellers to fully immerse in the pleasure and relaxation of the holiday. Where individuals on the trip wish to learn or practice their sailing skills, skippers will be there to integrate travellers into the responsibilities onboard.