Destination comparison
Anguilla vs Canary Islands
Two distinct sailing grounds — here's how they compare on conditions, cost, season, and who they suit.
Quick Comparison
| Dimension | Anguilla | Canary Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Caribbean | Atlantic & Offshore |
| Peak season | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep |
| Shoulder | Nov, May | Mar, Oct |
| Sailing difficulty | easy to moderate | moderate |
| Recommended level | beginner friendly | intermediate |
| Avg wind (winter / summer) | 17 / 13 kn | 18 / 16 kn |
| Hurricane risk | Aug, Sep, Oct | None |
| Currency | XCD (pegged to USD) | EUR |
| Mid-tier price (7 days) | $11,500 | $9,500 |
| Luxury tier price | $45,000 | $36,000 |
| Detail page | View → | View → |
At a Glance
Quiet, family-friendly. Often skipped by American bareboat fleet who focus on BVI. Short hop from St Martin (5nm).
- • 2 base marinas
- • 4 must-visit anchorages
- • 31 boats in our fleet database for this region
Year-round trade winds (NE 15-25kt) with reliable breeze April-October. November-March has cooler weather and occasional calima (Saharan dust events). Ideal training ground for Atlantic crossing — most ARC rally boats depart from Las Palmas in November.
- • 3 base marinas
- • 4 must-visit anchorages
- • 7 boats in our fleet database for this region
Sailing Conditions
Anguilla averages 17 knots in winter and 13 knots in summer. Hurricane risk runs Aug, Sep, Oct — outside these months the sailing is generally dependable.
Canary Islands averages 18 knots in winter and 16 knots in summer. No hurricane season.
In terms of sailing difficulty, Anguilla is generally rated easy to moderate and Canary Islands is moderate. The difference matters: Canary Islands asks more of the skipper — confidence at the helm and some experience with coastal navigation helps.
Cost Comparison
For a 7-day charter of a typical 45-ft catamaran (4 cabins, sleeps 8):
- Low season: $4,500
- Mid season: $11,500
- High season: $22,000
- Luxury / crewed peak: $45,000+
- Low season: $3,800
- Mid season: $9,500
- High season: $19,000
- Luxury / crewed peak: $36,000+
Bareboat base rates. Crewed typically adds ~$1,500/day (captain + hostess). Prices exclude fuel, provisioning, mooring fees, gratuity.
Anchorages & Must-Do
- Shoal Bay — Often voted world's best beach
- Mead's Bay — Calm; long beach
- Prickly Pear Cays — Day trip; BBQ lunch
- Rendezvous Bay — Anchorage; mellow
- Lanzarote - Papagayo beaches — White sand coves, turquoise water, steady wind
- Fuerteventura - Corralejo dunes — Sandy beaches, volcanic island hopping
- La Graciosa — Untouched, no cars; ferry or sail from Lanzarote
- Tenerife - Mount Teide — Spain's highest peak; dramatic backdrop
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Anguilla. It's the more forgiving first-charter ground — charter fleets are abundant, marina staff speak English, checkout sails are standard.
Choose Anguilla. Warmer water year-round (often 75–85°F), palm-fringed anchorages.
Anguilla has 0 cultural anchorages vs Canary Islands's 1. Pick by what kind of stop you want between swims.
Captain's Take
"The Canaries are the Atlantic's wind machine - 15-25kt trades most of the year, which is glorious if you plan for it and exhausting if you don't. The classic week is Gran Canaria to Lanzarote via the channel, or a loop out of Tenerife. November-April is the charter season; summer is quieter and windier. Reef to weather early and you will have the anchorages mostly to yourself."
Timing and Budget: Anguilla vs Canary Islands
Frequently Asked Questions
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Choose Between Anguilla & Canary Islands
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