Spring rolls into Playa de la Arena with some extra degrees here and there, switching the average temperature to 18°C (64°F), while the nights maintain their pleasant cool at 14°C. The hotter days of March are expected to reach 21°C on the high average, an obvious improvement from the previous month of February. Humidity is constantly low at 73% on average, making it a comfortable pleasure to relax on the beautiful island of Tenerife as everything begins to bloom.
The days grow longer, with up to 10 hours of glorious sunshine and a continuous 80% chance of full-on sunny days. Combined with the 3% chance of rain and 4% chance of clouds, you pretty much have the perfect weather conditions for a holiday in these parts of the Canary Islands, blessed with an abundance of sunlight and more than pleasant heat. Rainfall is not expected to exceed 12mm, spread over the course of 6 days, so you are most likely to welcome the rare refreshing spring shower. Please do not forget the SPF lotion though the temperatures may be great and the sun beyond generous, but the unprotected skin will suffer if overexposed.
The beautiful Atlantic Ocean keeps its deep blue waters friendly at 18°C (64°F) on average, welcoming the usual tropical currents that usually grace the island. It's not perfect for deep water swimming and deep diving, but it'll do just fine if you're looking to simply dip your toes or go for a quick splash to cool off from the noon sun, should it find you on the beach. Chances of winds stay high at 60% on average, with wind speeds of up to 13mph most of them north and north-eastern influences from the neighbouring shorelines of Portugal and Morocco.
Puerto de Santiago has many hotel options with a charmingly rustic touch one great example is Apartamentos Poblado Marinero, a lovely complex which offers self-catering apartments for just £43 per night for couples. The units come fitted with air conditioning and feature a fully equipped kitchen, a private bathroom, flat screen TV and a comfy lounge area. They're all part of what is considered to be a typical low-lying Canarian architecture style, with a patio framed by lush gardens which connects the various spaces of the hotel. You'll definitely enjoy the saltwater swimming pool, as well as the freshwater lake dubbed El Laquillo, complete with a spacious sun lounge. This little corner of paradise is part of the Tenor Nature Reserve, and thus offers superb views of the natural beauty surrounding the complex, and the many paths which are perfect for trekking and hiking activities.
Hotel Rural Conde is another great option, known for its rural setting in the heart of a banana plantation. It comes with a swimming pool, a mini-market and a common barbecue area which is perfect to use during this time of the year. All of the units go for £28 per night and are self-catering apartments complete with fully equipped kitchenettes, private bathrooms and living rooms with flat screen TV and air conditioning. It's just a little over a mile away from the coast and the beautiful town of Alcala, and almost 2 miles away from Guia de Isora.
Alternatively, for something smaller and equally affordable, you can opt for a double room at Albergue de Bolico, priced at £34 per night during the month of March. This hostel rests on the outskirts of the charming Buenavista Del Norte, surrounded by natural beauty and incredible views of Teno Rural Park. There is a shared bathroom and a common lounge area with a flat screen TV and you can arrange numerous adventurous trips from the reception, including paragliding, cycling and kayaking tours.
Of the artificial beaches that are part of Tenerife's necklace of sandy splendour, Playa de la Pinta on Adeje's coast is by far one of the prettiest around. Pinta is a superb stretch of fine golden sand, framed by a buzzing promenade, with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and the neighbouring island of La Gomera. It's the perfect spot to relax and even take a quick swim, due to shallow and very calm waters, undisturbed by deceiving undercurrents and generally measuring well over the average temperature.
Most importantly, you'll find plenty of shops and restaurants along this beach, most of them with charming terraces and a rich selection of seafood dishes, as well as a large shopping centre bustling with fast food spots and yummy snack bars. There are also some insanely fun inflatables and even trampolines leading straight into the shallow water, and they're equally attractive for both the young and the more adult. We certainly won't say no to some water slide fun!
An excellent place to try out in March is Café Jardin Flor del Drago, near Playa de la Arena hotel. This is a very upscale dining venue, with small but tastefully impressive servings of international and Spanish cuisine. Aside from the extremely popular and comprehensive 5-course gourmet lunch and wine tasting for just £32, this gem of a place also loves delighting its guests with fine specialities such as beef carpaccio with red peppers, beetroot chutney on soft pork, as well as delicious scallops with squid ink pasta. You simply cannot go wrong with whichever plate you choose.
Not far from Dragos Del Sur Hotel sits Tasca Juanito, a wonderful family run restaurant that stays away from the usual "tourist trap" label. This spot is popular with both locals and visitors, and makes a habit of cooking good and heartfelt food, with dishes ranging from local Spanish and seafood to some more international delights. Some of the menu highlights include the wide variety of tapas, tuna croquettes, the fried rabbit and the delicious chickpea stew. You can hardly go wrong with any of the choices available and the house wine is good and cheap.
The Chicken Shack is a great choice for lunch, dinner and drinks, and it's often the source of memorable nights for many couples that have set foot inside. Obviously the chicken is phenomenal, the chips are hand cut and golden-fried, the warm bread sports a crunchy crust and the salads are made from fresh, locally sourced produce. The prices are equally attractive and the owner will often come out and entertain his guests with good hearty laughs and fun stories. It's often among the top choices of returning vacationers from anywhere in the world.
There's nothing more impressive than a group of whales swimming around and breaking out of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean as they jump and dive back in with a massive splash and now you have the opportunity to watch them from nearby Los Gigantes, where the waters are clear and perfect for this activity. Dolphins and whales populate this area, so you can get on board a catamaran or one of the wicked glass-bottom boats, and go get a front-row seat at one of nature's most beautiful shows. The bottlenose dolphins are quite the stars of this spectacle, so expect some impressive aerial tricks from these beautiful marine creatures.
The Auditorio Adan Martin in beautiful Santa Cruz is home to the fabulous Tenerife Symphony Orchestra the culture of classical music is very potent and vibrant on this island, and the great talents that are part of it never fall short when it comes to intense and emotional performances. The orchestra puts on a show here on a monthly basis, and they're often accompanied by guest sopranos, tenors and other magical solo voices, so you might as well make your way down to the auditorium this month and immerse yourself in one of the most graceful forms of music ever created.
Thursday 24 March and Friday 25 March are both Easter public holidays in Tenerife. Maundy Thursday commemorates the last supper of Jesus Christ with his Apostles, as described in the Bible, while Friday is Good Friday, when Christians commemorate his death on the cross. Both are religious festivities often accompanied by business and public services closures, but are also good occasions for group lunches and dinners at some of Arena's more traditional venues. The church services are also fascinating to watch, as Spanish Christians have an interesting take on religious ceremonies.
