Cape Verde · Month comparison
November vs April
April ranks #1 overall vs November at #7. The quietest month with the best sunshine — an underrated gem for those in the know.
November
#7 of 12 months
Best match
Winter season ramps up — trade winds strengthening, sun reliable, and crowds returning.
- ↑November is the opening of the winter season and is excellent: trade winds reaching their autumn strength, 8 sunshine hours, 5mm of rain, and temperatures at the most comfortable level of the year (27.5°C). It's warm enough for beach and water sports but cooler than the summer peak.
- ↑The kitesurfing and windsurfing world begins rediscovering Cape Verde in November: the Sal and Boa Vista conditions are consistently excellent, the international instructors return, and the water sports scene is energised without the January-February volume.
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per day) and the lowest tourist volumes: European package tourism has wound down from the winter peak and hasn't yet been replaced by summer visitors.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 | November | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 9 |
| Value score | 6 | 8 |
| Crowd score | 6 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 27.5°C | 27.3°C |
| Monthly rain | 5mm | 1mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8hrs | 9hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓Accommodation prices begin creeping back up from the October trough as the winter season establishes: good Sal beach hotels and Boa Vista resort properties require booking 4–6 weeks ahead for December onwards.
- ↓Whale watching doesn't begin until March — one of the signature November experiences (whales) requires waiting until the spring migration.
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 →