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Destination comparison

Canary Islands vs Seychelles

Two distinct sailing grounds — here's how they compare on conditions, cost, season, and who they suit.

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Quick Comparison

Dimension Canary Islands Seychelles
Region Atlantic & Offshore Indian Ocean
Peak season Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Shoulder Mar, Oct May, Oct, Nov
Sailing difficulty moderate moderate to difficult
Recommended level intermediate intermediate to advanced
Avg wind (winter / summer) 18 / 16 kn 16 / 17 kn
Hurricane risk None Jan, Feb, Mar
Currency EUR SCR (pegged to EUR)
Mid-tier price (7 days) $9,500 $14,000
Luxury tier price $36,000 $60,000
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At a Glance

Atlantic & Offshore
Canary Islands

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
Indian Ocean
Seychelles

Steady SE trade winds May-October (winter for southern hemisphere calm). Reaches across open ocean between islands; reefy anchorages. Small charter infrastructure; book crewed.

  • • 2 base marinas
  • • 4 must-visit anchorages
  • • 11 boats in our fleet database for this region

Sailing Conditions

Canary Islands averages 18 knots in winter and 16 knots in summer. There's no hurricane season, which makes year-round planning easier.

Seychelles averages 16 knots in winter and 17 knots in summer. Hurricane risk: Jan, Feb, Mar.

In terms of sailing difficulty, Canary Islands is generally rated moderate and Seychelles is moderate to difficult. The difference matters: Seychelles 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):

Canary Islands
  • Low season: $3,800
  • Mid season: $9,500
  • High season: $19,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $36,000+
Seychelles
  • Low season: $5,500
  • Mid season: $14,000
  • High season: $28,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $60,000+

Bareboat base rates. Crewed typically adds ~$1,500/day (captain + hostess). Prices exclude fuel, provisioning, mooring fees, gratuity.

Anchorages & Must-Do

Canary Islands
  • 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
Seychelles
  • La Digue - Anse Source d'Argent — Iconic granite boulders; top photo
  • Praslin - Vallée de Mai (UNESCO) — Coco de mer palm
  • Cousin Island — Bird sanctuary
  • Aldabra Atoll (UNESCO) — Giant tortoise habitat (expedition yachts only)

Which Should You Choose?

If you've never chartered before

Both work for first-timers. The default choice for the industry is BVI; choose that unless you have specific reasons to prefer Canary Islands or Seychelles.

If you want warmer / tropical water

Choose Seychelles. Warmer water year-round (often 75–85°F), palm-fringed anchorages.

If you want history / culture / food

Canary Islands has 1 cultural anchorages vs Seychelles's 0. 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."

— Captain E. (2Hulls editorial charter captain), local captain · year_round note · verified 2026-09-09

Timing and Budget: Canary Islands vs Seychelles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canary Islands or Seychelles better for a first-time charter? ▾
Neither is a "first-charter" pick — both lean intermediate. Consider starting in BVI or Greece before tackling Canary Islands/Seychelles.
Which is cheaper to charter — Canary Islands or Seychelles? ▾
Canary Islands is the cheaper of the two at the mid-tier: ~$9,500/week vs ~$14,000/week for Seychelles (mid-size catamaran, shoulder season). Bareboat low-season starts around $3,800 in Canary Islands vs $5,500 in Seychelles.
When is the best time to visit Canary Islands vs Seychelles? ▾
Canary Islands: peak Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep; shoulder Mar, Oct; off Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb. Seychelles: peak Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr; shoulder May, Oct, Nov; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. The seasons only partially overlap.
How do sailing conditions compare — Canary Islands vs Seychelles? ▾
Canary Islands: typical winter winds 18 knots, summer 16 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate. No hurricane season. Seychelles: typical winter winds 16 knots, summer 17 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate to difficult. Hurricane risk: Jan, Feb, Mar.
Which has better flight access — Canary Islands or Seychelles? ▾
Canary Islands: Lanzarote (ACE) + Tenerife (TFS) + Gran Canaria (LPA), also Madrid MAD + 2.5h, London LGW + 4h, Dusseldorf DUS + 4.5h. Seychelles: Seychelles International (SEZ), Mahé, also Praslin (PRI), Connection through Doha / Addis / Dubai.
Which is more beginner-friendly, Canary Islands or Seychelles? ▾
Both are accessible to first-time charterers (intermediate and intermediate to advanced respectively). Many charterers combine both on one trip.
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