Best Time to Visit Cabo Verde

Praia and the islands: how timing differs

We only cover Praia here, on Santiago island, so that's our guide. Praia is the capital, with its hilltop Plateau district, a busy market and the old town of Cidade Velha nearby. The best months are December to April.

Cabo Verde is a group of islands off West Africa. Conditions vary a little from one island to the next. Sal and Boa Vista are flat and dry, while Santo Antão is steep and green after the rains. We don't have data for those islands, so check them before you plan a hiking trip.

The seasons

Think of two seasons. The dry season runs roughly from December to April. Days are warm and mostly sunny, and the sea breeze keeps afternoons comfortable. It's a good time for wandering Cidade Velha, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and for beach days at Tarrafal on the north of Santiago.

The wet season is late summer into autumn. September is both the hottest month in Praia, at 28°C, and the wettest, with 83 mm. Our data shows no ties for either. Expect sticky afternoons and sudden heavy showers rather than all-day rain. The hills turn green, which is lovely if you're hiking, but you'll want a flexible plan for the beach.

Events, crowds and high season

High season matches the dry months, and December to April is when prices and crowds tend to rise. Europeans escaping winter fill the resorts, mostly on Sal and Boa Vista. Praia itself stays calmer, since it's more a working capital than a resort town.

Independence Day on 5 July is a national holiday and brings concerts and gatherings. Carnival, in February or March, is the big one. Mindelo on São Vicente is famous for it, but Praia holds its own parade. Flights and rooms fill quickly then, so you'll want to sort out inter-island transport early.

If you like quiet and lower prices, try November or May. They sit just outside the best window and are usually less busy. Want the safest bet for sun? Aim for February.