Cape Verde · Month comparison
January vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs January at #9. The quietest month with the best sunshine — an underrated gem for those in the know.
January
#9 of 12 months
Strong option
Peak winter sun season — Sal and Boa Vista at full capacity, trade winds strong.
- ↑January is deep in the prime tourism season for the resort islands: Sal (Santa Maria) and Boa Vista deliver near-guaranteed sunshine (8.1 hours per day), warm swimming temperatures (23°C water), and almost no rain. For northern Europeans fleeing January cold, Cape Verde in January is among the best-value sun destinations reachable from London or Lisbon.
- ↑Trade winds in January are at their most consistent: the Sal kite beach at Kite Beach near Santa Maria delivers 6–7 Beaufort wind regularly, and the IKO-certified schools (Kite Evolution, ProCenter) run full schedules. Beginners and intermediates both thrive in January's reliable conditions.
April
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The quietest month with the best sunshine — an underrated gem for those in the know.
- ↑April sees the highest sunshine hours of the year (9.0 per day) and the lowest tourist volumes: European package tourism has wound down from the winter peak and hasn't yet been replaced by summer visitors. The Sal resort area is calm, prices are competitive, and the wind sports infrastructure is fully operational.
- ↑The Cidade Velha UNESCO site on Santiago island is best visited in April's dry season light: the ruined Portuguese colonial city (founded 1462) — the oldest European settlement in sub-Saharan Africa — has extraordinary atmosphere at the Pillory Square and the Cathedral ruins. The Saturday market on the road from Praia is a genuine cultural experience.
| Factor | January | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 9 |
| Value score | 5 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 26.2°C | 27.3°C |
| Monthly rain | 3mm | 1mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8.1hrs | 9hrs |
January trade-offs
- ↓January is the peak tourist month for Sal and Boa Vista: package holiday resorts from the UK, Germany, and Portugal fill the all-inclusive hotels, and Santa Maria's beach strip is well-populated. This is not an off-the-beaten-track experience.
- ↓Accommodation prices are at their annual peak for the resort islands. São Vicente and Santo Antão remain reasonable, but Sal and Boa Vista command January premiums.
April trade-offs
- ↓Trade winds moderating from their January-February peak: kitesurfers and windsurfers will find April conditions excellent but less consistently powered than the winter prime months.
- ↓Some Mindelo music venues and cultural spaces run reduced programmes in April — the post-Carnival lull affects the cultural calendar on São Vicente.
Scores compare months within Cape Verde. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →