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Destination comparison

Canary Islands vs Saint Lucia

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 Saint Lucia
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 to difficult
Recommended level intermediate intermediate
Avg wind (winter / summer) 18 / 16 kn 18 / 14 kn
Hurricane risk None Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency EUR XCD (pegged to USD)
Mid-tier price (7 days) $9,500 $10,000
Luxury tier price $36,000 $38,000
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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
Caribbean
Saint Lucia

Northern end of Windward chain; longer passages. Pitons protected area. Strong Atlantic swells December-April.

  • • 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 Lucia averages 18 knots in winter and 14 knots in summer. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.

In terms of sailing difficulty, Canary Islands is generally rated moderate and Saint Lucia is moderate to difficult. The difference matters: Saint Lucia 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+
Saint Lucia
  • Low season: $3,800
  • Mid season: $10,000
  • High season: $19,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $38,000+

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 Lucia
  • Pitons (UNESCO) — Twin volcanic peaks; iconic St Lucia
  • Soufrière — Drive-in or anchor; sulfur springs
  • Marigot Bay — Dramatic hurricane hole
  • Anse Cochon — Sheltered cove

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 Lucia.

If you want warmer / tropical water

Choose Saint Lucia. 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 Lucia'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 Lucia

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canary Islands or Saint Lucia 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 Lucia.
Which is cheaper to charter — Canary Islands or Saint Lucia? ▾
Canary Islands is the cheaper of the two at the mid-tier: ~$9,500/week vs ~$10,000/week for Saint Lucia (mid-size catamaran, shoulder season). Bareboat low-season starts around $3,800 in Canary Islands vs $3,800 in Saint Lucia.
When is the best time to visit Canary Islands vs Saint Lucia? ▾
Canary Islands: peak Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep; shoulder Mar, Oct; off Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb. Saint Lucia: 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 Lucia? ▾
Canary Islands: typical winter winds 18 knots, summer 16 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate. No hurricane season. Saint Lucia: typical winter winds 18 knots, summer 14 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate to difficult. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.
Which has better flight access — Canary Islands or Saint Lucia? ▾
Canary Islands: Lanzarote (ACE) + Tenerife (TFS) + Gran Canaria (LPA), also Madrid MAD + 2.5h, London LGW + 4h, Dusseldorf DUS + 4.5h. Saint Lucia: Hewanorra (UVF) / George F.L. Charles (SLU), also Connection through SJU.
Which is more beginner-friendly, Canary Islands or Saint Lucia? ▾
Both are accessible to first-time charterers (intermediate and intermediate respectively). Many charterers combine both on one trip.
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