Winter in Cape Verde: More Than a Sun-Soaked Break

Outdoor life and wind-sport adventures under the trade winds

From November to June, Cape Verde experiences its dry season, the most pleasant time of year to enjoy the archipelago. The sky stays clear, the light is bright, and the warmth is gentle, ideal for outdoor activities. With 6 hours of direct flight and only 2 hours of time difference, the air shift is immediate.

From January to March, the trade winds blow steadily over Sal and Boa Vista. The colorful sails of the kite surfers sketch the landscape of Kite Beach, on Sal’s east coast, where seasoned riders and beginners cross paths. In the calm lagoons, schools welcome those discovering wind sports for the first time.

No need to be an expert to give it a go. Sal and Boa Vista’s schools offer introductory courses of a few hours, in shallow water and supervised by certified instructors. The enthusiasts come to seek the wind’s regularity and spots that are still relatively uncrowded. An activity that can easily be added to a beach vacation, for the whole family or for a couple looking for a bit of adrenaline.

From February to May, the humpback whales migrate to the waters around Boa Vista to breed, with a peak viewing period in March and April. A few-hour sea trips allow you to get close to them, often in the company of a marine biologist. An easy excursion to add to a beach stay, and a lovely memory to bring back from the late winter.

Winter is the dream season for walking. In Santo Antão, trails wind between lush valleys and vertiginous ridges, with the ocean as a backdrop. In Fogo, the ascent of Pico, which peaks at 2,829 meters, is done under gentle sun, rewarding you with a sweeping view over Chã das Caldeiras.

The days are bright and the evenings cooler at altitude, to the point that a light sweater becomes welcome after sunset. For hikers, it’s a refreshing alternative to more traditional winter walking destinations, between Creole villages and volcanic landscapes. And after a week of trails, a few days of beach life in Sal or Boa Vista gently round off the trip.

In February, Mindelo transforms its face. In 2027, the carnival will run from February 7 to 14, with the grand parade on Fat Tuesday, February 9, as the main highlight. For a week, decorated floats and batucada flood the streets of the hometown of Cesária Évora, propelled by neighborhood groups that have been preparing the celebration for months. São Nicolau also celebrates its carnival with fervor. In Mindelo, accommodations fill up quickly during this period, and the ideal is to extend the celebration with a few days of hiking in Santo Antão, about an hour by ferry.

Before that, Christmas and New Year are celebrated with family and music. In Sal and Boa Vista hotels as well as in the streets of Mindelo, the New Year’s Eve is lived outdoors, in the warmth of a midsummer evening in December. To attract travelers who want to escape winter during the holidays, provided they book early.

On the Praia side, the Atlantic Music Expo, which brings together artists and programmers from across the Atlantic, will host its 13th edition from April 5 to 8, 2027, followed from April 8 to 10 by the 16th edition of the Kriol Jazz Festival. Two events to discover the Cape Verdean music scene up close, before tracing the history in Cidade Velha.

Reaching the archipelago has never been easier. For the winter 2026-2027 season, Transavia will fly to Sal, Boa Vista, Praia and São Vicente from Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille. Cabo Verde Airlines connects Paris-CDG to São Vicente, Praia and Sal, and the airline is once again accessible in the GDS and via the BSP since September 20, 2026.

Between wind, sea, trails and music, the Cape Verdean winter is to be lived to the fullest. A season that gives travel a whole new dimension, and one worth discovering this year.

And the beautiful season does not stop with winter. From April to June, the archipelago continues to enjoy the dry season: the trade winds ease, the sea becomes calmer and the warmth remains pleasant, a time favorable for swimming, snorkeling as well as hiking. Less in demand than winter, this period also offers more availability, especially for the May long weekends. A window to offer now, in addition to winter sales.