By Armelle Pape Van Dyck | Published on 06/30/2022 at 15:00 | Updated on 01/07/2022 at 11:40
Photo: Corralejo Beach, Fuerteventura / Alycia Jonot
The Canary Islands offer the possibility of practicing more than eight different water sports and are recognized worldwide for the organization of more than fifteen championships of these sports throughout the year.
In the 1970s, when surfers discovered the unparalleled wave, wind and weather conditions of this European paradise located in the southwest of the Spanish peninsula, the Canary Islands became a popular destination for water sports.
The water temperature, around 21 degrees, remains pleasant throughout the year. The winds that blow over the islands create ideal conditions for surfing, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, bodyboarding and trendy sports like kitesurfing and surfing. wingfoil.
This is why national and international championships are regularly organized there. The sheltered and wild coves are the perfect place for snorkeling, kayaking and diving. These activities, which delight locals and visitors from all over the world, take place in a context of maximum sustainability and respect for the environment.
The Canaries: one of the best surfing destinations in Europe
Every month, thousands of surfers come to visit the Canary Islands thanks to its extensive network of surf schools. Las Américas beach in Arona is the last and decisive stage of the national circuits of the FESurfing Liga and the FESurfing Liga Iberdrola. Lanzarote’s Santa hosts the Canary Islands Santa Pro World Surfing Championship, while the island of Tenerife hosts the Punta Blanca Young Series.
The Canary Islands are not only an ideal place to practice surfing, they are also a privileged area for practicing bodyboarding and kitesurfing. In fact, several World Championship events sailboard and Professional Windsurfing Association (PWA) kitesurfing events take place in Pozo Izquierdo and Vecindario, Gran Canaria.
La Cícer, on the beach of Las Canteras, hosts the OPEN LPA Surf City, the final event of the national circuit that crowns the male and female champions of the FESurfing and Iberdrola leagues. The setting for this event is spectacular with a panoramic view of the ocean and its waves.
Josep Pons, one of the PWA World Cup windsurfers, is currently teaching windsurfing in Pozo Izquierdo on the island of Gran Canaria. He states that: “Pozo Izquierdo, along with Hawaii, is recognized as one of the best places in the world for windsurfing, thanks to its constant waves and winds. Windsurfing, like surfing, is difficult to predict, unlike other nautical sports, however, in Pozo Izquierdo, due to the frequency and consistency of the wind, windsurfing becomes a sport that can be practiced at any time of the day.”
The Windsurfing and Kitesurfing World Cup, also known as the Fuerteventura Grand Slam, is recognized as one of the biggest competitions in the world. It has been practiced in the Canary Islands for over 30 years. The spectacle is exciting, especially in the Playas de Jandia region of Fuertenetura.
Diving is also popular in the Canary Islands, as the archipelago offers close proximity to many European marine species. Gemma Lago, diving instructor at Pura Vida Lanzarote Diving, says that “this is the only place where the visibility allows us to appreciate the quality of European waters so well.
The volcanic bottoms offer us caves and remains of wrecks with a fascinating history”. The Canary Islands have high quality waters, which makes diving easy. This is “due to the clarity of the waters, the lack of waves on the shore and the ease of access by the sandy beaches”, explains Gemma Lago.
The Atlantic Ocean around the Canary Islands is also great for snorkeling. There is a very rich fauna and flora that does not require diving to great depths to be seen. The average air temperature there is 24 degrees with little precipitation, which allows outdoor activities throughout the year: among the most interesting places for families are the seabed of the archipelago from Chinijo.
To discover otherwise inaccessible coves, it is recommended to embark on kayaks and breathe the serenity that the ocean offers. A great way to have fun with the family knowing that the Canary Islands takes sustainability very seriously for future generations. According to oceanographer María Dolores Delgado, the archipelago “has more than 300 different measures to protect its natural environment and its waters”.
The best places for water sports in the Canary Islands
for sailing
-Las Alcaravaneras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on the west coast of the island to the south.
For windsurfing
-Santa Catalina beach in Hermigua in La Gomera.
For kitesurfing and bodyboarding
-The coast from Radazul to El Rosario in Tenerife.
For windsurfing, kiteboarding and wingfoiling
-Las Conchas beach in La Graciosa.
For snorkeling
-Tazacorte beach in La Palma.
For kayaking and snorkeling
-The Port of Calero in Yaiza, Lanzarote.
For diving
– Puddle at low tide. San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Tenerife.
-Nogales beach in Puntallana on the island of La Palma.
