What is the dry season like in Cape Verde in 2026?

National and tourism climate summaries treat roughly November through July as the dry stretch, with scarce coastal rainfall and bright weeks. Cooler months from about January through April often average near 20°C, with sharper night breezes when trades peak. Sea swimming stays workable for most people, cooler in late winter than in autumn.

Barlavento islands such as Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente stay especially arid, often under about 100 mm of rain a year on the coasts. Sotavento hills on Santiago, Fogo and Santo Antão are greener after the short rains but still live most of the year in dry mode: Rain and Best climate. Santa Maria kite weeks lean on this dry, windy half: Living in Santa Maria, Wind and Beach culture.

Expect laundry that dries fast, dusty flats after windy days and higher Saharan haze risk than in the short rainy months: Air quality. UV still burns on clear dry days: UV. Humidity usually sits lower than the sticky August–October window: Humidity and Summer heat.

Hiking on Santo Antão is often firmer underfoot in peak dry months, then muddier after the first heavy bands: Outdoor recreation. Praia courtyard flats can still feel warm in afternoon sun even when nights cool: Living in Praia. Treat water storage and Electra reliability as dry-season infrastructure, not only rainy-season worries.