Cape Verde · Month comparison
March vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs March at #3. The quietest month with the best sunshine — an underrated gem for those in the know.
March
#3 of 12 months
Best match
Post-Carnival shoulder window — superb weather, easing crowds, and excellent value.
- ↑March is the optimal weather month for the archipelago: sunshine hours at their annual peak (8.8), virtually no rain (2mm), and temperatures ideal at 26°C. The Harmattan dust season is ending, and the air clarity in March is exceptional — the Santiago mountains are visible from Boa Vista on particularly clear days.
- ↑Post-Carnival pricing returns to normal levels on São Vicente, and the resort islands ease from their January-February peak as European school holidays end. This is the best-value month for a quality trip.
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per day) and the lowest tourist volumes: European package tourism has wound down from the winter peak and hasn't yet been replaced by summer visitors.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 | March | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 9 |
| Value score | 7 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 26.5°C | 27.3°C |
| Monthly rain | 2mm | 1mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8.8hrs | 9hrs |
March trade-offs
- ↓March can bring occasional Calima (Saharan dust storm) events — days when visibility drops and fine red dust coats everything. These pass within 24–48 hours but can disrupt water sports and outdoor plans briefly.
- ↓The best wind sports conditions are ending: March trade winds are strong but beginning to moderate compared to the January-February peak. Kitesurfers wanting the most consistent wind should come January or February.
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 →