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Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Cape Verde Islands for your holiday.
Climate Overview
18 °C to 30 °C
22 °C to 27 °C
0 – 4.13 in (0 – 6 Days of Rain)Average Annual Temperature is between 23.5 °C (Santa Maria) and 24.5 °C (Praia)
Show temperatures in degree
Geographical Location of the Cape Verde Islands
Table of Contents
Cape Verde (Republic of Cabo Verde) is an island state in the central Atlantic Ocean and belongs geographically to Africa. However, the Cape Verde Islands are about 360 miles away from the African mainland, and the nine inhabited islands of the Cape Verde Islands are home to around 550,000 inhabitants.
Capital and largest city of the country is Praia on the island of Santiago. Cape Verde is divided into the Ilhas de Barlavento and the Ilhas de Sotavento, correspondingly the “islands above the wind” and “under the wind”.
The most famous Cape Verde islands Sal and Boa Vista, both of which, thanks to their good infrastructure and top-class hotel facilities, are particularly suitable for bathing holidays, belong to the first group along with São Vicente, São Nicolau and Santo Antão.
Fogo, Santiago, Brava and Maio belong to the Cape Verde Islands under the wind. The Cape Verde Islands are of volcanic origin and very dry, there are no permanent streams or rivers.
Accordingly, flora and fauna can also be described as semi-desert-like, except for some geckos and sea turtles there are almost no animal species on the islands. The volcanic cone Pico do Fogo with about 2830 meters is the highest elevation of the country.
Weather and Climate in Cape Verde
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Cape Verde’s climate is mild all year round and warmer and significantly drier than the Canary Islands. The difference between night and day temperatures is usually only about 5 °C to 6 °C throughout the year, so even in winter it remains pleasant even after sunset.
It is not without reason that Cape Verde is also known as the”islands of eternal summer”, while in the Canary Islands it is often referred to as the”eternal spring”. The term rainy season is clearly too high on Cabo Verde, because there is only very little precipitation.
Nevertheless, locals call the time from August to mid-October the rainy season on the Cape Verde Islands, even if it only comes to short strong showers on very few days during this travel season. They’re not much more than a welcome little refreshment. Mário Lúcio de Sousa, musician of the famous band Simentera, once said:
“We wait ten months for rain and it’ll be over in five minutes.” Please also take a look at the statistical rainfall in our climate table below. The humidity is comparatively high on the Cape Verde Islands with 70-75%, but the pleasant wind from the Atlantic makes the weather very bearable at all times.
Water sports enthusiasts on Sal and Boa Vista especially love the spring months from February to April, where the strongest wind for kitesurfers prevails. Although this time is suitable for a beach holiday, it is not exactly ideal due to the waves, at least with small children.
Beach Vacation in February
Best Time to Visit Cape Verde Islands: Overview
JanuaryJan Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | FebruaryFeb Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | MarchMar Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | AprilApr Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | MayMay Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | JuneJun Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria |
JulyJul Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | AugustAug Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | SeptemberSep TemperaturesTemp. up to 31 °C | OctoberOct Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | NovemberNov Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria | DecemberDec Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Praia Santa Maria |
When is the best time to travel to Cape Verde?
You will certainly notice with a smile, but further down we call the whole period from January to December the best travel time of the Cape Verde Islands. In fact, the island state is suitable for holidays all year round, although there may be regional differences.
For beach holidays on Sal and Boa Vista we consider the end of March to mid-August as well as mid-October to mid-December as optimal travel time. The Sotavento Islands Santiago, Fogo, Maio and Brava are always a little warmer than the islands above the wind. For active holidays such as hiking, the period from autumn to late spring is a very good travel season, i.e. from around the end of October to the end of April.
May and June are the driest months and very windless, there is little “green” on Cape Verde at this time. July and August are the peak season on the Cape Verde Islands, in September most rain falls and it is often cloudy. This month is therefore not necessarily the best time to travel in Cape Verde.
Best Time to Visit the Regions
Find the best time to visit the regions (Cape Verde Islands) in the following overview.| Location | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|
| Santa Maria | all except September |
| Praia | all except September |
Climate Charts Cape Verde Islands
In the following, you will find climate charts for the regions.
Furthermore, there are some charts you can use for quick comparison of climate between the regions.
Show Climate Chart for
Santa Maria
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Tables Cape Verde Islands
In the following, you will find some climate tables for Cape Verde Islands, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Show climate table for
Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Santa Maria (Cape Verde Islands)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 24° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 26° | 27° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 27° | 25° |
| Night Temperature | 19° | 18° | 18° | 19° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 24° | 23° | 22° | 20° |
| Water Temperature | 23° | 22° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 24° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 0.2 | 0.16 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.04 | 0.55 | 1.34 | 0.28 | 0.12 | 0.08 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Santa Maria is 23.5 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: September (26.6 °C)
Coldest month: February (21.1 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Santa Maria is 26 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
all months
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 2.8 inch on 4 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in Santa Maria.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, April is the sunniest month with an average of 7.2 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 6 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Praia (Cape Verde Islands)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 25° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 26° |
| Night Temperature | 20° | 19° | 20° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 24° | 24° | 24° | 23° | 21° |
| Water Temperature | 23° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 24° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 27° | 26° | 24° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.31 | 1.77 | 4.13 | 2.28 | 1.18 | 0.39 |
| Rainy days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Praia is 24.5 °C.Warmest month: September (26.8 °C)
Coldest month: February (22.2 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Praia is 27 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
all months
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 10.24 inch on 19 rainy daysThere is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in Praia.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, May is the sunniest month with an average of 9.9 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 8 hours of sunshine per day on average.Sights and Highlights
The most beautiful beach of Cape Verde is the long Santa Maria on the island of Sal, where the best hotels on the island are located. A walk from the dunes down to the fishing jetty in the village is one of the highlights of every holidaymaker. Boa Vista also enchants with fantastic beaches and fantastic holiday hotels. If you want to get a deeper insight into the country and its people, we recommend a round trip to Cape Verde.
Among the sights of these Cabo Verde tours are the volcano Pico with its Caldeira, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cidade Velha or the viewpoint Monte Txota on the island Santiago as well as the romantic mountain village Fontainhas on Santo Antão. In addition, colourful markets, friendly people and unforgettable walks on the Cape Verde Islands attract visitors in many places.
Popular Activities
Sal: 6-Hour Experience Tour with a Local Certified Guide
Tours
from 41 $ »
Enjoy an island tour and visit places like Espargos, Blue Eye, Kite Beach, Santa Maria, Miragem, and Murdeira. Swim in Salt Lake, and see lemon sharks.
Sal island: Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour
Tours
from 49 $ »
Experience the beauty of Sal Island on a half-day trip with a local guide. Marvel at the Pedra de Lume Salt lake, swim in the Blue Eye natural pool, and see lemon sharks in a natural habitat.
Sal: Private Airport Transfer to Santa Maria or Espargos
Activities
from 14 $ »
Enjoy a comfortable and economical private transfer between your hotel in Santa Maria or Espargos and Amilcar Cabral International Airport, or vice versa.
More attractions
Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise | Sal Island: Shark Bay Experience from Santa Maria | Sal Island: Guided Full-Day Highlights Tour with Lunch | Santa Maria, Sal Island: Sea Turtle Watching Experience | Santa Maria: Guided Snorkeling Shipwreck and Reef Tour | From Santa Maria: Two-Hour 4WD Buggy Desert Adventure | Sal: Full-Day Trip Around the Island with Lunch and Snorkel |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Praia
broken clouds, 19.2 °CClouds: 75 % Wind: 22 mph NO
Air Pressure: 1016 hPa Humidity: 55 %
Air Pressure: 1016 hPa Humidity: 55 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 09:44 am
The next days …
| 7th Feb 2023 | 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 20 °C to 21 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C |
| 20 °C to 21 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C | 20 °C to 22 °C |
| Clouds: 4 % | Clouds: 97 % | Clouds: 100 % | Clouds: 92 % | Clouds: 98 % | Clouds: 64 % |
| No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
Hottest Month
September: 30 °C
Day Temperature in Praia
September: 30 °CDay Temperature in Praia
Coldest Month
February: 18 °C
Night Temperature in Santa Maria
February: 18 °CNight Temperature in Santa Maria
Rainiest Month
September: 4.13 in
Rain in Praia
September: 4.13 inRain in Praia
Driest Month
April: 0 in
Rain in Santa Maria
April: 0 inRain in Santa Maria
Maximum Water Temperature
October: 27 °C
Water Temperature in Praia
October: 27 °CWater Temperature in Praia
Sunniest Month
May: 9.9 hours/day
Sunshine in Praia
May: 9.9 hours/daySunshine in Praia
Activities and Attractions
Sal: 2-Hour 500cc ATV 4×4 Quad Desert Adventure
Tours
from 98 $ »
Santiago Island: Highlights of Cidade Velha with Local Guide
Tours
from 60 $ »
From Praia: Banana Plantation Tour and Cuscuz Workshop
Tours
from 81 $ »
Distances to Cape Verde Islands
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria | 2720 mi | 3460 mi | 5890 mi |
| Praia | 2840 mi | 3500 mi | 5920 mi |
Where’s Cape Verde Islands?
Show Santa Maria on MapShow Praia on Map
Continent: Africa
All Holiday Destinations in AfricaShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Cape Verde Islands holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
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![Mindelo, São Vicente, Cabo Verde (Caroline Granycome) [flickr.com] CC BY-SA
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Cape Verde Islands: Experiences of our Visitors
Temperatures daily 25 – 27 degrees, constantly strong wind with strong NNO -Boen, thus also sometimes fresh, from 18.00 o’clock felt 10 degrees colder because the wind became even stronger.
Lying on the beach was very unpleasant due to the usually strong wind, as there were strong sand drifts.
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
Moderately warm with occasionally strong wind, but mostly sunny. No rain
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
The weather in August was fantastic. Sun every day.
Was on Boa Vista at Hotel Touareg. Just great.
Highly recommended??????
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Super ideal for bathing holiday dreamlike destination will fly there again and again
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Was there in March 2017 and of 8 days 6 were completely cloudy and also quite cool,felt 15degrees since the constant wind is surely only pleasant in sunshine
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Super Hotel (Karamboa). Weather between 28 and 32 degrees. The water was great too. Like in the Caribbean without palm trees. Anytime again
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Top weather on Cape Verde island salt for 14 days. Sun, sun and more sun. However, it was not really windless, but sometimes a lively wind that created a pleasant CLIMATE feeling.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent