Destination comparison

Canary Islands vs Saint Barthélemy

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

Quick Comparison

Dimension	Canary Islands	Saint Barthélemy
Region	Atlantic & Offshore	Caribbean
Peak season	Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep	Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Shoulder	Mar, Oct	Nov, May
Sailing difficulty	moderate	moderate
Recommended level	intermediate	intermediate
Avg wind (winter / summer)	18 / 16 kn	18 / 13 kn
Hurricane risk	None	Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency	EUR	EUR
Mid-tier price (7 days)	$9,500	$22,000
Luxury tier price	$36,000	$90,000
Detail page	View →	View →

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

Caribbean

Saint Barthélemy

Most expensive Caribbean charter destination. Suited to crewed charters; bareboat limited. New Year's / Christmas fully booked 6+ months in advance.

• 2 base marinas
• 4 must-visit anchorages
• 31 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.

Saint Barthélemy averages 18 knots in winter and 13 knots in summer. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.

In terms of sailing difficulty, Canary Islands is generally rated moderate and Saint Barthélemy is moderate. They're at the same level — your decision will hinge on route and vibe, not on whether you can handle the conditions.

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+

Saint Barthélemy

Low season: $8,000
Mid season: $22,000
High season: $40,000
Luxury / crewed peak: $90,000+

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

Saint Barthélemy

Gustavia — Red-tin-roof harbor town
St Jean beach — Iconic landing strip beach
Colombier Beach — Hike-in or anchor; pristine
Pointe à Lézard — Turtle and reef

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 Saint Barthélemy.

If you want warmer / tropical water

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

If you want history / culture / food

Canary Islands has 1 cultural anchorages vs Saint Barthélemy'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."

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

Timing and Budget: Canary Islands vs Saint Barthélemy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canary Islands or Saint Barthélemy 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/Saint Barthélemy.

Which is cheaper to charter — Canary Islands or Saint Barthélemy? ▾

Canary Islands is the cheaper of the two at the mid-tier: ~$9,500/week vs ~$22,000/week for Saint Barthélemy (mid-size catamaran, shoulder season). Bareboat low-season starts around $3,800 in Canary Islands vs $8,000 in Saint Barthélemy.

When is the best time to visit Canary Islands vs Saint Barthélemy? ▾

Canary Islands: peak Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep; shoulder Mar, Oct; off Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb. Saint Barthélemy: peak Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr; shoulder Nov, May; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. The seasons only partially overlap.

How do sailing conditions compare — Canary Islands vs Saint Barthélemy? ▾

Canary Islands: typical winter winds 18 knots, summer 16 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate. No hurricane season. Saint Barthélemy: typical winter winds 18 knots, summer 13 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.

Which has better flight access — Canary Islands or Saint Barthélemy? ▾

Canary Islands: Lanzarote (ACE) + Tenerife (TFS) + Gran Canaria (LPA), also Madrid MAD + 2.5h, London LGW + 4h, Dusseldorf DUS + 4.5h. Saint Barthélemy: Gustaf III (SBH), also Connection through SXM.

Which is more beginner-friendly, Canary Islands or Saint Barthélemy? ▾

Both are accessible to first-time charterers (intermediate and intermediate respectively). Many charterers combine both on one trip.

Keep Exploring

→ Canary Islands detail → Saint Barthélemy detail → All comparisons

Choose Between Canary Islands & Saint Barthélemy

Tell us your dates and group. We'll recommend the right one — honestly.

Get a Free Recommendation