Playa de la Arena weather by month

When to go to Playa de la Arena

For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August, September, October. December is the wettest month (55 mm, about 7 rainy days) and July the driest (0 mm). The sea is warmest in September at 23.7°C and coolest in March at 19.1°C.

Getting there

A direct flight from London Gatwick to Tenerife Sur Airport (TFS, 34 km from Puerto de Santiago) takes roughly 4 h 24 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Atlantic/Canary.

Records and extremes, 1991-2020

The hottest day recorded in Playa de la Arena between 1991 and 2020 reached 38.4°C on 28 July 2007; the coldest fell to 8.4°C on 26 March 2019. In August one day in ten tops 32.3°C and about 31% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 12.9°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was December 1991 with 184 mm, against a December average of 55 mm.

Late autumn and winter: mild days, cooler evenings

November still offers useful warmth, averaging 23°C by day with a sea temperature of 22°C, so it can suit a mix of swimming and time outdoors. December cools to 21°C and has 7 rain days on average, making flexible plans more sensible than a holiday built entirely around the beach. January and February both average 20°C by day and 16°C at night: comfortable for being outside, but pack a layer for evenings. February's sea temperature falls to 19°C, which may feel cool for lingering swims. These months suit travellers avoiding summer heat, provided they accept some rain and less sunshine.

Spring: increasingly warm and dry, but the sea lags behind

March starts gently, with daytime temperatures of 21°C and nights of 16°C. April edges up to 22°C, with rain becoming a little less frequent, so both months suit travellers who want mild conditions rather than strong heat. The catch is the sea: it averages 19°C throughout March and April, so warm afternoons do not necessarily mean comfortable long swims. May makes a clearer shift towards beach weather, reaching 24°C by day with just 1 rain day on average and 9 hours of sunshine. Light clothes become more useful during the day, though a layer remains sensible after dark as nights average 18°C.

Summer and early autumn: choose dry heat or warmer water

June offers a useful balance: 26°C days, 20°C nights and 0 rain days on average. July and August reach 29°C, making shade and a slower pace sensible around midday; August nights remain warm at 23°C. July has the most sunshine, averaging 12 hours, while the sea warms from 21°C in June to 23°C in August. September is a strong alternative if swimming matters most: days average 28°C and the sea reaches 24°C, though rain becomes more likely. October keeps that sea warmth while daytime temperatures ease to 26°C. Its 5 rain days on average are the catch, so choose summer for the driest conditions or early autumn for warmer water, accepting a greater chance of showers.