The second month of Canarian spring brings a few more degrees across the board, offering mild and wonderful average temperatures of 19°C (66°F). The hotter days are expected to reach 22°C on the high average, while the nights are comfortably warm at an increased 16°C. Humidity continues its slow descent to 72% on average, with very low and non-oppressive dew points, making any day of April an absolute pleasure to spend on this bright side of Tenerife.
In fact, the days get even longer, with up to 11 hours of splendid sunshine, and an impressive 80% chance of sunny days throughout the month. Chances of rain are close to nothing, with 2% on average expected mainly in the first and second week of April, while chances of cloudy days are equally easy to dismiss at just 3% on average. This easily translates to an entire month of clear blue skies, plenty of warmth and a rare 5-minute shower here and there, as rainfall volume is unlikely to exceed 6mm on average, spread over 6 days. Again, we do recommend packing some sun lotion on this holiday while the sun may seem to be user-friendly, prolonged and unguarded exposure to its ultraviolet rays might sensitize the skin.
The winds continue to blow boldly over the western coast of Tenerife, most of them shifting from north to more eastern influences. The hot and dry gusts of Western Sahara's neighbouring shoreline make their presence felt, with speeds of up to 13mph on average. Chances of windy days are still up at 60% on average, a good influence on the ocean waters as well, rising tides and making enough waves to create excellent sailing, parasailing and windsurfing conditions. On top of that, the Atlantic Ocean warms up to 19°C (66°F), its tropical currents flowing more from the southern parts and making its waters better for swimming and even snorkelling.
Apartamentos Arena Suites is the one of the closest to the beautifully black Arena beach, offering self-catering apartments for just £52 per night for couples in April. Complete with a large swimming pool and lush tropical garden, this aparthotel features units fitted with air conditioning, fully equipped kitchen, lounge area and flat screen TV. Each apartment also boasts a balcony opening up to superb views of the Atlantic Ocean, along with an outdoor dining table. You'd only be a 5-min drive away from Playa de la Arena, and just 500 yards from Los Gigantes' main beach.
Offering double rooms for just £46 per night, Hotel Bahia Flamingo is situated right on the seafront promenade of Playa de la Arena. It holds a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and a fine dining restaurant. All of its modern and stylishly simple suites offer views of the beach and ocean from private balconies, along with air conditioning and flat screen TV. Guests also have access to the on-site bar, TV lounge and Spanish café.
Apartments with beautiful views of the garden are available for £58 per night at El Marques Palace, a beautiful hotel resort situated close to the impressive cliffs known as Los Gigantes. The décor is classic and tastefully executed, the outdoor swimming pool is wonderful and open all-year round, the poolside snack bar has a fun little table tennis extension and the terrace surrounding the heated pool just begs for sun kisses. All of the apartments are fitted with air conditioning and fully equipped kitchen, as well as a plush lounge area, flat screen TV and en suite bathroom. The Arena beach is a 15-minute walk from the property, and Tenerife Sur Airport is a 45-min drive.
As the weather simply gets better and better, and as the Atlantic Ocean continues its slow but sure way to perfectly warm waters, you can easily make your way down south-west of Playa de la Arena and enjoy a day or two out on Playa Fanabe & Torviscas. This is a lengthy stretch of fine golden sand which touches through two different resorts, with shallow and calm waters, high quality sun beds and other amenities.
It's great for water sports activities as you can easily arrange parasailing and windsurfing adventures from here, and the water quality makes it perfect for deep water swimming and snorkelling. There are plenty of restaurants and boutiques along the promenade, and there's even easy access to a couple of impressive shopping centres to hang out at during lunch time.
Since it's getting slightly hotter during the day, you probably won't be a fan of heavy or consistent meals, and you'll probably want to go for lighter sandwiches and salads. One place that specializes in such treats with strong seasonal influences included among the flavours is Deli on the Hill, which loves to also surprise its customers with constantly changing but equally delicious quiches and pies. It's all made to order, so your bespoke sandwich is prepared and handled up to your standards. On top of that, they also do a mean homemade cake, which they serve till the afternoon, along with coffee or some pre-dinner wine. They also do birthday cakes, so you might want to consider them if you're planning to celebrate yourself in Playa de la Arena.
For incredible views of the ocean and the beautiful La Gomera along with that glass of high quality sangria and rich selection of yummy tapas, you can always stop by Cappuccino Maria. There's also a much-adored option of warm muffins and artisanal ice cream sundaes to pick from, and the staff are known to be always nice, professional and welcoming. We reckon this is definitely one of Arena's top spots for indulgence, and it's definitely made it on our list!
For an impressive balance between value for money, atmosphere and service, you should try Alfonso Bar, known to be one of Puerto de Santiago's hidden gems. This charming venue specializes in local and international cuisine, and has a recurring habit of drawing its guests in over the promise of fine drinks, then holding them over for lunch or dinner too. The staff is super-friendly and they're more than happy to accommodate you even if all you want is a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. The atmosphere is excellent and the music just flows.
Since we mentioned earlier that April is one of the best months for sailing and other exciting aquatic activities, you might as well jump on the Mustcat Catamaran Adult adventure, which takes you on a splendid cruise along the western coast of the island, for incredible views of volcanic cliffs such as Los Cristianos and Palm Mar, as well as the superb La Caleta and its bays. Chances are you will get to see plenty of dolphins and whales swimming and playing along, jumping and splashing around in their natural habitat. The tour doesn't keep you on the boat though! You'll also be swimming and snorkelling in two of the bays that are part of the itinerary, giving you the unique opportunity to admire Tenerife's beautiful marine life underwater. They provide all the equipment and training needed, and there is also a delicious buffet-style lunch available during the trip, with salads and light foods aplenty, as well as a free bar on the draught beer, wines and soft drinks.
The Masca & The King Cave is another excellent tour option to experience during this month, given the excellent weather conditions and overall bloom of the endemic flora of the island. You'll get to visit the hidden and fascinating village of Masca, nestled high up in the mountains and untouched by the passage of time. The tour will let you explore this beautiful place, and then take you to Garachico, one of the virgin lands of Tenerife, untouched and unspoiled by man. You'll end the tour with a lengthy visit at the King's Cave bodega, where you'll undergo some extensive wine tasting complete with cheese selections and some bits of history about the venue and its surrounding area.
