15 SAIL A TALL SHIP THROUGH THE CANARIES

Off the west coast of Africa lie the Canary Islands, which have a rich history as a seafarers’ stopover. Board a tall ship in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to embark on an Atlantic sailing adventure, learning how to navigate, set the rigging and unfurl sails.

The Santa Maria Manuela, a four-masted gaff schooner, spends a week cruising around Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro before heading back to Las Palmas. Keep your eyes peeled: the nutrient-rich waters between the islands are great place to spot cetaceans. Short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins often leap through the waves, while migratory species such as spotted, striped and rough-toothed dolphins sometimes appear. sailtraininginternational.org EG