April 2026 Newsletter – Palm-Mar, Tenerife, Spain

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Hello again! It’s time for our monthly newsletter. Here’s what Steve and I have been up to in April.

We ended our 12-week stay in Lima, Peru, on April 8th and headed to the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. We flipped hemispheres (and seasons) but kept the same mild weather.

Even though the temperature is similar, so much is different. Tenerife is much sunnier and much quieter. I don’t think we realized how intense living in Lima was until we arrived in Tenerife.

We’ve been to Tenerife before and it is one of our favorite places in the world. There’s just something about it beyond the cleanliness of the towns and the rustic beauty of the landscape.

Where We’re Staying

We are in Palm-Mar, a resort town with 2,600 residents. It is just a 15-minute drive to the larger, better-known areas of Los Cristianos and Las Americas. We had hoped to find an Airbnb near the water in one of those two towns but didn’t like what we were seeing.

We found a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath apartment with a huge balcony. We’re not on the shore, but we do have an ocean view.

This apartment is larger than the one in Lima, and that was intentional. We invited several people to join us here. Everyone couldn’t make it, but our friends Greg and Terry came for four nights at the end of April, and our daughters will be here for two weeks in May.

When we’ve stayed in other towns in Tenerife, we were able to get around by walking or taking the bus. Buses in Palm-Mar run infrequently, so we rented a car. It’s a good thing we did, because while Uber is available, it is crazy expensive.

What We’ve Been Doing

Heading into our ninth year of full-time travel, there is no doubt that we’ve slowed down. As much as we hate to admit it, we aren’t getting any younger. Steve turned seventy in January, and I am not far behind.

Shopping

Much of our first week was filled with setting up our household and stocking up on groceries.

Even though our apartment is well appointed, we took advantage of the fact that there are two IKEAs on Tenerife to make the place even more comfortable.

We got things from IKEA like suction towel bars so the towels can dry faster, area rugs for in front of the sinks to avoid slipping, and extra hand towels and dish towels.

We were excited that there was an IKEA just a 15-minute drive away. When we got there, we were surprised to find a small parking lot. It could hold about 50 cars. When we entered the store, we saw why. It is the smallest IKEA we’ve ever seen. You could go through it in twenty minutes.

I jokingly called it the world’s smallest IKEA, but it turns out that there are smaller ones. This one is a pick-up point. There is a large IKEA in the north of the island. It was only a 45-minute drive from the small one, so we were able to finish our shopping there.

We also bought an air fryer since we will be here for 12 weeks. Even though we can’t take it with us, it is worth the cost.

In the past, we’ve mostly made do with what we have, but now that we are staying in some places much longer, we’re willing to spend a little money and time to be more comfortable.

Enjoying the area

One of our favorite things to do, no matter where we are, is wander and soak up whatever the place has to offer. Tenerife is made for this. The island is dotted with seaside towns where you can stroll along the water and watch the scenery shift around every bend. Smooth tan sand gives way to black volcanic beaches, then pebbled coves, then stretches so rocky you can’t figure out how anyone actually makes it to the water’s edge.

One day, we decided to check out Monkey Park Zoo. We weren’t expecting much, especially since it only cost 10 euros (about $12 per person). We were pleasantly surprised. The grounds were immaculate and the animals were lively, even though we went in the afternoon. Is it a must-see in Tenerife? No. But if you’re looking for a few hours’ diversion, it’s not a bad choice.

Sightseeing with friends

Having guests was a great opportunity to revisit a few of the places on Tenerife that we had seen before. This included Mt. Teide National Park (more on that below) and the mountain town of La Orotava, the oldest town in Tenerife.

Steve and Greg spent one day deep-sea fishing, but didn’t catch anything. Meanwhile, Terry and I relaxed in the warm baths at Aqua Club Thermal.

Experiencing our first calima

A calima, which neither Steve nor I ever heard of, is when sand and dust from the Sahara Desert blow across the Atlantic Ocean to the islands. In addition to the fine particles, which you don’t want in your lungs, pollutants are picked up along the way.

The result is hazardous air quality. People are advised to stay inside with their doors and windows shut.

The recent one started on our second Saturday here and was expected to last until mid-week. It cleared out on Tuesday.

Before this stay, we had spent fifteen weeks in the Canary Islands. We had perfect weather every day, with temperatures in the 70s and no rain, so this was a bit of a shock.

Planning the rest of 2026

In October, we hope to be in Japan. There is so much we want to see throughout the country, so we plan to be in full tourist mode. From what we understand the culture is very formal, and many attractions require advanced booking, sometimes by several months, so this is a difficult trip to plan.

Should Japan work out for October, we would then head to Da Nang, Vietnam, for two months. Planning this will be a breeze since we’ve already been there and it will be a much more laid-back trip than Japan.

Five Things About Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest and most populous Canary Island. It has almost 1 million residents and over 7 million tourists visit it each year.

The island has 220 miles or 350 km of coastline. You can circle the island via highways in three hours, but the dramatic landscape encourages multiple stops.

The islands were named after dogs, not birds. However, the dogs in question might not have been dogs at all, but instead, monk seals (or sea dogs). An alternative theory is that the islands were named after large dogs that once roamed them.

The canary bird gets its name from the islands, as does Canary Wharf in London. It was named for the islands because one section of the docks was built to receive produce from the islands.

Spain’s highest point, Mt. Teide, is in the middle of the island. It is in the Teide National Park. The park is the oldest and largest national park on the islands, covering 47,000 acres or 19,000 hectares.

Mt. Teide is an active volcano, but not to worry. It last erupted in 1909 and is closely monitored.

In the park, you can view Mt. Teide from the ground, wander trails while taking in the otherworldly landscape, and ride a cable car partway up the mountain. Adventurous souls can hike to the summit, but this is an arduous hike that requires advance permission.

Tenerife has multiple microclimates, though the number varies depending on the classification method used. You can bathe on a sunny beach, breathe mountain air in cool green forests, and even see snow on Mt. Teide on the same day.

Tenerife is home to Siam Park, the largest waterpark in Europe. And according to Tripadvisor, it is also the best waterpark in Europe, and has been for the past ten years!

Visitors can enjoy Europe’s largest wave pool, a 200-meter-long water slide, or a relaxing lazy river, along with many other attractions.

What’s New on the Website

In April I published our March newsletter and a summary of my short trip back to the U.S. titled “I flew 2,800 Miles for No Kings 3 – Was it Worth It?”

Where to Next?

We’ll be in Tenerife until July 2nd, then we’re off to Flic en Flac, Mauritius, where we’ll spend four weeks. Mauritius is a small island 1,200 miles or 2,000 km off the southeast coast of mainland Africa.

Then we head to Bali, Indonesia, for 8 weeks. While there, we’ll take side trips to Singapore and Komodo National Park, home of the komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard.

Tentative plans from there are Japan, Da Nang, Vietnam, and the Maldives. That would take us through the end of 2026.

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Until Next Time

That’s it for our April newsletter. Steve and I would love to hear about your travel plans. Are you staying close to home, treating yourself to a bucket-list vacation, or visiting a place that gets you out of your comfort zone? Just drop a comment below.

Happy traveling,
Linda