April weather: use coastal averages correctly
IPMA’s 1991–2020 normal for Ponta Delgada / Observatório Afonso Chaves gives April a mean temperature of 16.0°C, an average daily high of 18.8°C and an average daily low of 13.3°C. Mean monthly rainfall is 79.6 mm, with 10.2 days recording at least 1 mm. These are long-term measurements for a low-elevation São Miguel station, not the forecast for your dates or temperatures for a mountain ridge. A day counted as rainy need not be wet all day.
IPMA: Ponta Delgada 1991–2020 climate normalChoose São Miguel for one week without another airport move
For a first April visit, our editorial recommendation is one week on São Miguel rather than trying to collect several islands. Ponta Delgada is the practical starting base if you want town services and booked excursions; Furnas suits a stay focused on the eastern thermal area. Keep Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo for a clearer weather window, with Ponta Delgada or a pre-booked Furnas visit as alternatives when high viewpoints are clouded in. Do not interpret a lowland forecast as clearance for a particular hiking route.
Whale watching is a reason to consider April
The operator @AZORES identifies spring, March to June, as the season for large baleen whales, including blue, fin and sei whales. April therefore has a different wildlife appeal from a trip chosen mainly for summer swimming. A seasonal pattern cannot guarantee a particular species, a sighting or a boat departure. Book a suitable outing earlier in the stay, leaving another possible day if the operator cancels for sea conditions; a spare day only helps if another departure has space.
@AZORES: whale-watching seasonsA second island needs dated connections, not a summer map
If a second island is important, price the flights and usable nights before paying for rooms. Terceira adds Angra do Heroísmo and a distinct island stay; Pico and Faial make more sense when you have enough time for the extra flight and local ferry logistics. Atlânticoline’s current system covers central and western islands, not São Miguel departures. An October timetable also cannot establish next April’s sailing pattern. Use a published sailing for the intended date, and do not build the final ferry or island flight tightly against an independent flight home.
Atlânticoline: current timetable and portsWhat to pack and what not to promise yourself
Pack a waterproof outer layer, layers for cooler evenings, and walking footwear with grip; take dry clothing for after wet activities. A swimsuit can be useful for a booked thermal visit, but that does not make April a guaranteed swimming holiday. For canyoning, use the operator’s equipment and acceptance rules rather than treating rainwear as river safety gear. Avoid filling every day with a non-refundable outdoor activity: a whale trip, a high viewpoint and an island transfer can all need different weather windows.
April or a later month?
Choose April if spring wildlife, mild sightseeing and flexibility matter more than dependable heat. If your main aim is warmer coastal weather, the same Ponta Delgada normal gives July an average high of 24.7°C and 26.0 mm of monthly rain, compared with April’s 18.8°C and 79.6 mm. That comparison supports a seasonal choice, not a dry-weather guarantee or a claim that every island has the same climate. Accommodation prices and Easter demand need quotes for your own dates; there is no defensible universal April discount.
IPMA: Ponta Delgada 1991–2020 climate normal