Things to Do in Cabo Verde in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Cabo Verde
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak wind season for Sal and Boa Vista makes December absolutely ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing - consistent 20-25 knot northeast trade winds blow daily from November through March, with December hitting the sweet spot before European Christmas crowds arrive in late month
- Sea turtle nesting season overlaps with December on Boa Vista, particularly at Praia de Ervatão and Praia de Lacação - loggerhead turtles are still laying eggs through early December, and you can join monitored night walks with Turtle Foundation patrols around 21:00-23:00 for genuine conservation experiences
- Morna and coladeira music festivals ramp up as Cape Verdeans return home for holidays - live music venues in Mindelo and Praia see top performers most weekends, and the informal tabanka gatherings happen more frequently as diaspora families reunite, giving you authentic access to Cape Verdean musical culture
- Hiking conditions on Santo Antão are genuinely perfect - the October-November rains have greened the valleys without creating muddy trails, temperatures in the highlands sit around 18-22°C (64-72°F), and visibility is crystal clear for the Cova crater and Ribeira Grande valley walks before the dry season browns everything out by February
Considerations
- European package tourists arrive in serious numbers from December 20th onward, particularly to Sal and Boa Vista - flight prices from Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Brussels jump 40-60 percent after December 18th, and beachfront hotels in Santa Maria can be fully booked or charging peak-season rates of 180-250 euros per night
- The harmattan wind occasionally blows dust from the Sahara across the islands, creating hazy conditions that reduce visibility and leave a fine layer of grit on everything - this typically happens 3-5 days per month in December, and when it hits, sunset views disappear and outdoor gear needs constant cleaning
- December sits right in the middle of the dry season, so waterfalls on Santo Antão and Santiago are reduced to trickles or completely dry - if dramatic cascading water is what you're after, you'll be disappointed, though the hiking itself remains excellent
Best Activities in December
Kitesurfing and windsurfing on Sal's east coast beaches
December delivers the most reliable wind conditions of the year - the northeast trades blow 20-25 knots almost daily, with Ponta Preta and Kite Beach offering consistent wave and flat-water conditions. Water temperature sits around 23-24°C (73-75°F), so you can get away with a shorty wetsuit or just boardshorts. The wind typically builds from 11:00 onward and holds until sunset. Early December is notably less crowded than late month when European surf camps arrive en masse.
Santo Antão ridge and valley hiking
The trails are in absolutely prime condition - October and November rains have greened the terraced valleys without creating the mud you'd encounter in peak rainy season, and temperatures in the highlands hover around 18-22°C (64-72°F) making full-day hikes comfortable. The Cova crater to Ribeira Grande descent is particularly stunning right now, with visibility often extending 30-40 km (19-25 miles) across the valleys. Start hikes by 08:00 to avoid afternoon heat in lower elevations.
Live morna and coladeira music experiences in Mindelo
December sees Cape Verdean diaspora returning home for holidays, which means the music scene in Mindelo absolutely comes alive. Venues like Casa da Morna and the bars along Rua de Lisboa host performances most Friday and Saturday nights, typically starting around 22:00 and running past midnight. You'll hear traditional morna alongside more upbeat coladeira, and the atmosphere is genuinely local rather than tourist-show polished. Late December also brings informal neighborhood tabanka gatherings as families celebrate together.
Loggerhead sea turtle conservation walks on Boa Vista
Early December overlaps with the tail end of nesting season - loggerhead turtles are still coming ashore to lay eggs, particularly on the island's eastern beaches like Praia de Ervatão and Praia de Lacação. Monitored night walks with conservation organizations run around 21:00-23:00 and last 2-3 hours. You'll walk dark beaches watching for nesting females, and guides explain the threats these turtles face and how local protection efforts work. This is genuine conservation work, not a tourist show.
Coastal and interior 4x4 exploration on Santiago
December's dry conditions make the interior dirt roads of Santiago fully accessible - routes to Pico de Antónia and the remote western coast villages like Porto Mosquito are passable without the mud challenges of October-November. The landscapes are still relatively green from recent rains, and temperatures inland sit around 24-27°C (75-81°F). Cidade Velha and Tarrafal beach make natural coastal stops, and the highland coffee-growing regions around São Jorge dos Órgãos are particularly pleasant in December's moderate temperatures.
Snorkeling and diving around Sal's offshore reefs
December brings excellent underwater visibility - typically 20-25 meters (65-82 feet) - as the ocean settles after any late-season storms. Water temperature sits around 23-24°C (73-75°F), comfortable with a 3mm shorty wetsuit. The reefs around Buracona and Palmeira host moray eels, octopus, various rays, and occasional nurse sharks. Lemon sharks are sometimes spotted at Shark Bay near Santa Maria, though sightings have decreased compared to five years ago. Seas are generally calmer in mornings before afternoon winds build.
December Events & Festivals
Informal tabanka celebrations across islands
These aren't scheduled tourist events but rather spontaneous neighborhood gatherings that happen as Cape Verdean families reunite for holidays. Tabanka involves traditional drumming, dancing, and communal meals, particularly strong in Santiago's interior villages and Mindelo's neighborhoods. Late December sees the most activity around Christmas and New Year. Accessing these requires local connections and language ability - your accommodation host might help facilitate an invitation if you express genuine interest respectfully.
Gamboa Festival in São Nicolau
This music and cultural festival typically happens in mid-December in the town of Tarrafal de São Nicolau, featuring Cape Verdean musicians performing morna, coladeira, and funaná. The festival runs 2-3 days and attracts performers from across the archipelago. It's a genuinely local event rather than a tourist production, though visitors are welcome. Exact dates vary year to year, so confirm with São Nicolau tourism offices or local contacts if you're planning around this.