Boat Trips & Watersports

With warm water, reliable wind and calm coves all year, the Canary Islands are a watersports playground — whichever board, sail or fin you favour. The same trade winds that keep the beaches comfortable also fire up some of Europe's best windsurfing and kitesurfing; the deep Atlantic delivers world-class diving and wild dolphins; and every resort marina offers gentler thrills, from sunset catamaran cruises to jet skis and parasailing. The trick is knowing which island and coast does each thing best, so you don't turn up somewhere flat hoping for waves.

Here's the honest rundown of what's on offer and where to go for it, whether you want a lazy day on deck or a serious session on the water.

Catamaran and boat cruises

The easiest way onto the water, and suitable for all ages. Catamaran cruises sail out from the marinas of every main resort — half-day trips typically combine a gentle sail, a swim-and-snorkel stop in a sheltered bay, and food and drinks on board. Off south-west Tenerife especially, many double as whale and dolphin watching trips, since the resident pilot whales and dolphins live just offshore. Choose a licensed operator and a calm morning for the smoothest ride.

Scuba diving and snorkelling

The volcanic islands drop steeply into clear, life-rich Atlantic water, with caves, arches, reefs and wrecks, and visibility that's the envy of northern Europe. Standouts:

• El Hierro — Mar de las Calmas: the "sea of calms" on the island's protected south coast is widely rated the best diving in the Canaries, a marine reserve with dramatic volcanic topography and big fish. A pilgrimage for serious divers.
• Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote: a hugely popular, accessible dive base with an easy shore-dive coastline, a sunken museum and plenty of dive schools — great for beginners and courses.
• Tenerife and Gran Canaria also have busy, well-run dive centres, and the water is warm enough to dive comfortably year-round.

If you'd rather stay on the surface, many of the calmer beaches and coves are excellent for snorkelling straight off the sand — bring a mask or rent one at the resort.

Surfing

The Atlantic swell makes the Canaries a real surf destination, with beach breaks for learners and heavier reefs for the experienced:

• Fuerteventura — the north around Corralejo and the exposed west coast serve up consistent waves, and the island is dotted with surf schools; its long sandy beaches make it a top learn-to-surf choice.
• Playa de Famara, Lanzarote — a spectacular crescent of sand under towering cliffs, and Lanzarote's surf heartland, with breaks for all levels and a laid-back surf-town vibe in La Caleta de Famara. Beware the strong currents here (see below).

Windsurfing and kitesurfing

This is where the Canaries truly excel — the trade winds make a handful of spots genuinely world-class:

• El Médano, Tenerife — the island's windsurf and kite capital, a breezy bay on the south coast that hosts international competitions and buzzes with sails and kites almost every afternoon.
• Playa de Sotavento, Fuerteventura — a vast, shallow lagoon on the Jandía peninsula that's a mecca for windsurfers and kiters and a long-time World Cup venue; the flat, waist-deep water at low tide is ideal for learning.

Both have schools renting kit and teaching all levels — book a lesson if you're new, as strong wind and open water are not for improvising.

Jet ski, parasailing and family fun

For quick-hit thrills without commitment, the resort marinas and busy beaches offer jet ski hire, parasailing (drifting under a canopy behind a speedboat), banana-boat and ringo rides, flyboarding and pedal boats. These are dotted along the southern resort strips of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura — just turn up, though prices vary, so compare a couple of operators.

Safety and choosing well

Whether you want to drift on a catamaran with a drink in hand or carve across Sotavento in a stiff breeze, the Canaries deliver — pick the right coast, respect the ocean, and dive in. For more, explore our beaches or the full list of things to do.