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Where is the country of Cape Verde located? The Republic of Cape Verde is an archipelago located west of mainland Africa. The country is also often referred to as the Cape Verde Islands. The country is about a six-hour flight from the Netherlands, making it a popular winter sun destination. It is one of the better winter beach destinations in the mid-range in terms of climate. The Cape Verde Islands consist of a total of ten islands. Popular holiday destinations are Santiago, Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente.

Based on the amounts of precipitation, Cape Verde just does not meet the criteria for a warm desert climate. Based on long-term average figures, Cape Verde has a warm steppe climate (type BSh according to the Köppen climate classification). Because the rainfall is very erratic, it can easily happen that the precipitation during some years is so low that, based on that year, there would be a desert climate (<250 mm precipitation per year).

Cape Verde holiday

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Sunny and dry

An important characteristic of the Cape Verde Islands is that many months are dry and that the sun shines exuberantly. The period February to June is especially sunny, while rain hardly stands a chance on the beaches of Cape Verde. It is not without reason that Cape Verde is especially popular among Europeans in the spring, when the weather in Europe is usually not yet stable enough for a holiday in the sun. Daytime temperatures range from an average of 24-25 degrees in winter to 29-30 degrees in September. At night, the mercury drops to 18-19 degrees in winter and 23-24 degrees in summer. In the winter months you may sometimes need a sweater or cardigan in the evening when the wind is a bit cooler.

Influence of the Sahara

Cape Verde is located at the height of the Sahara, one of the warmest and driest areas in the world. The fact that the weather in Cape Verde is more pleasant is due to the influence of the sea. The relatively cool seawater supplied by the Canary Current moderates the heat. In the winter months, however, it can happen that relatively warm air full of sand is supplied from the Sahara. The temperature can then rise quite quickly within a very short time. The sand clouds create a temporarily unpleasant atmosphere, which usually lasts no longer than a day. This harmattan wind can occur between November and March.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Best time to visit Cape Verde

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Cape Verde? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Cape Verde or the Cape Verde Islands have increased in popularity as a holiday destination in recent years. Perhaps it would be better to say that this group of islands off the West African coast has become very popular as a beach destination. That is ultimately what by far the largest part of the tourists who book a holiday to Cape Verde do. They mainly fly to the island of Sal to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. That is what the hotels on Sal and Boa Vista mainly focus on. They are mostly larger and more luxurious beach resorts where you lack nothing. To discover the real Cape Verde, there are all kinds of excursions that are offered. Of course Cape Verde has more to offer than all-inclusive holidays. Other forms of tourism, including cultural tours, You can travel to Cape Verde all year round. Daytime temperatures are almost always pleasant. In the winter months, think about 22 to 25 degrees, which is great for a winter sun holiday. In the summer, which is the hottest period in Cape Verde, 26 to about 30 degrees Celsius is normal. It can get warmer. The thermometer sometimes wants to rise to 35 degrees or even higher.

Best months

If we have to designate a period as the best time to travel to Cape Verde, then it is two periods. The first period is from April to mid – July. The month of November is also great for a holiday to the Cape Verde Islands. From the end of July to the end of October there is a period in which it can sometimes rain slightly on the Barlavento Islands (including Sal and Boa Vista). In addition, this is a period in which there is a very small chance that a tropical cyclone will come close between mid-August and the end of September.

Cape Verde during the school holidays

If you are bound by the Dutch school holidays, the May holidays and the first weeks of the summer holidays are the best travel periods. For Belgians, the Easter holiday is an excellent time to celebrate a holiday in Cape Verde. Those who fly to Cape Verde during the autumn holidays can be lucky in terms of weather, but there is also a chance of a period with quite a lot of clouds and sometimes some rain. Spring break is very popular for a week of sun, sea and beach in Cape Verde. On the northern islands it can sometimes be a bit too chilly.