Beyond the Best Beaches to Visit in April

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park sits in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. Established in October 1953, it centers around the highest mountain in New Zealand. The park covers 707 square kilometers of rugged terrain along the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. April brings the cool, stable air of autumn to the park. This makes it an excellent time for hiking the valley trails before winter snows close them. Glaciers cover 40 percent of the park, and you can easily view the Haupapa / Tasman Glacier, which is the largest glacier in New Zealand. The park shares a border with Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Early conservation efforts here date back to 1885 to protect the native plants and landscape. April offers crisp, clear days with fewer tourists than the busy summer months of January and February.

The Panama Canal is an artificial 82 kilometer waterway that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama. This engineering project serves as a vital route for international trade. Ships pass through locks at each end of the canal. These locks lift vessels 26 meters up to Gatun Lake, which is an artificial fresh water lake created by damming the Chagres River and Lake Alajuela. The ships then travel across the lake and are lowered down at the opposite end. April is the final month of the dry season in Panama. Visiting now gives you the best chance of dry weather before the heavy tropical rains start in May. The original locks are 33.5 meters wide, allowing Panamax ships to squeeze through with only inches to spare.

Antigua Guatemala is a historic city located in the central highlands of Guatemala. It served as the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala from 1543 until 1773. A major earthquake forced the capital to move, leaving behind a wealth of old buildings. The city is famous for its Spanish Baroque architecture and organized grid layout. Because of these preserved churches and ruins, UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site in 1979. It serves as the capital of both its own municipality and the Sacatepéquez Department. April is a highly popular time to visit because the weather is dry and warm. The cobblestone streets are easy to walk, and the surrounding volcanoes are usually free of clouds in the morning.

Lake Atitlán is a large natural lake located in the Sololá Department of southwestern Guatemala. It sits high in the Sierra Madre mountain range. With a maximum depth of 340 meters, it is the deepest lake in Central America. The lake is surrounded by steep hills and three massive volcanoes. April is one of the best months to visit because the dry season is ending, keeping the afternoon winds manageable. The water is generally calm in the mornings, which is the best time for boat travel between the lakeside villages. Each village around the lake has its own distinct culture. Visiting in April allows you to explore these communities in warm, sunny weather without the daily downpours of the summer rainy season.

The Pitons are two volcanic plugs located on the southwestern coast of Saint Lucia. They consist of Gros Piton and Petit Piton. These green peaks rise directly from the edge of the Caribbean Sea. April is a great month to visit Saint Lucia. The winter crowds have started to thin out, but the heavy summer rains have not yet arrived. The humidity is relatively low, making the steep climb up Gros Piton much more manageable than in the summer months. While Gros Piton is a popular hiking destination, Petit Piton is much steeper and requires actual climbing skills. The surrounding waters are home to coral reefs, making the area popular for diving and snorkeling right off the shore.

Arenal Volcano is a conically shaped stratovolcano in northwestern Costa Rica. It stands 1,633 meters high with a crater that measures 140 meters in diameter. It is located in the Alajuela province, near the town of La Fortuna. Geologists estimate that Arenal is a young volcano, less than 7,500 years old. It was dormant for hundreds of years before a major eruption in 1968. It is also known by local names such as Pan de Azucar and Guatusos Peak. April is the end of the dry season in Costa Rica. This means you have the highest chance of seeing the volcano summit without it being blocked by thick clouds. The hiking trails around the base are dry and easy to navigate.

Victoria Falls sits on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Known locally as Mosi oa Tunya, which means the smoke that thunders, it is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. It measures 1,708 meters wide. April is the peak of the high water season. The Zambezi River is swollen with rains that fell upstream during the previous months. The volume of water cascading over the edge is immense, creating massive columns of spray that you can see from miles away. The region surrounding the falls has a high level of biodiversity. Scottish missionary David Livingstone was introduced to the falls in 1855, naming them after Queen Victoria.

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Opened in 2010, it was deemed the world's most expensive standalone casino property at eight billion Singapore dollars. The resort includes a hotel with 1,850 rooms and a massive luxury shopping mall called The Shoppes. It also houses the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, an ArtScience museum, theatres, and a floating Apple store. April weather in Singapore is hot and humid, but it falls between the monsoon seasons. This means you will experience less rain than in the winter months. The rooftop infinity pool offers clear views across the city skyline during the dry April evenings.

Hội An is a historic port town located in Vietnam. The Old Town is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It represents an example of a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries. April is one of the best months to visit central Vietnam. The weather is warm and dry, avoiding both the intense heat of the summer and the heavy rains of the autumn typhoon season. The evenings are pleasant for walking along the river. The town is famous for its wooden merchant houses, historic bridges, and hundreds of silk lanterns. At night, the streets are closed to motorized traffic, making it peaceful to explore on foot or by bicycle.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge in Sydney, Australia. It spans the harbour from the central business district to the North Shore. Designed by British firm Dorman Long, the bridge opened in 1932. Locals call the bridge the Coathanger due to its distinct arch design. It carries trains, cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. Walking across the pedestrian pathway offers excellent views of the nearby Sydney Opera House. April is autumn in Sydney, bringing mild temperatures and lower humidity. It is one of the driest months of the year, making it perfect for climbing the bridge structure or walking along the harbor. The summer crowds have departed, making top spots much quieter.