Best time to visit Cape Verde: weather and seasons by month

Cape Verde is warm and dry for most of the year, so the season you pick is mostly about wind, rain and price rather than whether you can travel. The table below summarises what each month does to your trip. Entry rules do not change with the season, but the airport security fee and EASE registration must be sorted before you fly whatever month you choose.

First, decide what the trip is for. If it is beaches and sun, Sal and Boa Vista work almost any month; the flat eastern islands are sunny and dry nearly all year at 24–30 °C. The trade winds blow hardest December to April, which is kitesurf season and also the busiest, priciest stretch. If it is hiking, aim for November to May on Santo Antão, Fogo or the Santiago interior, where the heights are cooler and cloudier and the August–October rains can wash out trails.

Second, weigh the rain. August to October is the brief wet window, and September is the wettest month, with occasional tropical storms and rough ferry crossings between islands. October still sees rain fade and the valleys turn green, which is good for photos but less reliable for long walks. November onwards the dry season returns and conditions settle.

Third, check the calendar. Carnival in Mindelo and Praia falls in February or March and fills São Vicente; Easter week lifts resort prices; Christmas and New Year are the peak of the peak. If you want lower prices and quiet beaches, June and the September–October shoulder are the value months, with the trade-off of heat, humidity or rain.

Fourth, book the pieces that sell out. Inter-island flights and ferries fill in peak season, so confirm each one the day before you travel and reserve early for December to April. Register on EASE and pay the airport security fee at least five days before you fly, whichever month you pick.

Saharan dust haze (bruma seca) can dull the sky between December and March, especially around São Vicente and Mindelo. It is usually a visibility and comfort issue rather than a health emergency, but travellers with asthma should check conditions.

The mountain islands are noticeably cooler and cloudier than the coast, so pack a layer even in the dry season. Ferries are the most weather-sensitive link in the chain: September and October crossings are the ones most likely to be cancelled or rough.

Public holidays close offices and some businesses but rarely disrupt a beach trip. The ones that move prices and crowds are Carnival, Easter, Independence Day on 5 July, and the Christmas–New Year period.