Things to Do in Cabo Verde in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Cabo Verde
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Trade winds drop to their gentlest levels of the year, making the 24°C (75°F) Atlantic water feel like a bathtub and perfect for long snorkeling sessions at Monte Verde on São Vicente.
- January is the sweet spot between peak holiday pricing and the February carnival surge - you'll find rooms 30-40% cheaper than December while still getting 8 hours of daily sunshine.
- The aliseios winds shift northeast, creating perfect kitesurfing conditions at Kite Beach on Sal - consistent 15-20 knot winds that run through early afternoon without the summer gusts.
- Pastéis de milho (corn pastries) appear fresh from wood-fired ovens across Santo Antão villages - a seasonal treat that starts appearing in late December and disappears by February.
Considerations
- The harmattan dust from the Sahara occasionally blankets Santiago and Sal in a fine orange haze for 2-3 days, turning sunset orange but irritating sinuses and coating camera lenses.
- January sits right in the middle of wave season for northern Atlantic swells - Praia de Santa Maria gets 2-3 meter (6-7 foot) waves that make swimming hazardous but surfing spectacular.
- Hotel pools across Boa Vista and Sal run chilly at 20-22°C (68-72°F) - refreshing for some, teeth-chattering for others, especially after sunset.
Best Activities in January
São Vicente Mountain Hiking Tours
January's 22°C (72°F) mornings make the 750 m (2,460 ft) climb to Monte Verde's summit almost pleasant - the island's highest point offers 360-degree views where you can see Santo Antão's peaks floating in the Atlantic haze. The trails run dry (no muddy sections like October), and you'll pass through eucalyptus groves that smell like Vicks VapoRub in the morning sun.
Sal Island Kitesurfing Packages
Kite Beach's northeast winds hit the perfect 16-18 knots in January - steady enough for beginners to learn without getting dragged, strong enough for advanced riders to boost 10 m (33 ft) jumps. The water stays warm enough for 3-hour sessions without a wetsuit, and the beach bars serve ice-cold Strela beer while you watch other riders.
Santiago Island Cultural Food Tours
January evenings in Praia's Plateau district mean cachupa stew bubbling in cast-iron pots at sidewalk restaurants - the national dish simmers for 4 hours with hominy, beans, and whatever fish came in that morning. The tours run through Achada de Santo António market where women sell grogue (sugarcane rum) in reused plastic water bottles.
Boa Vista Turtle Watching Expeditions
January marks the tail-end of loggerhead nesting season on Boa Vista's 55 km (34 mile) coastline - females still haul themselves onto Ervatão Beach under new moons, and guides use red-filtered flashlights to track their 3-hour nesting process without disturbing them. The air temperature drops to 20°C (68°F) at night, so bring a windbreaker.
Santo Antão Coffee Plantation Cycling
The 800 m (2,625 ft) Paul Valley creates its own microclimate in January - mornings start misty at 18°C (64°F) then clear to reveal terraced coffee farms where beans dry on raised beds. The 15 km (9.3 mile) descent from Pico da Cruz to Porto Novo drops 1,000 m (3,280 ft) through eucalyptus forests and past distilleries making grogue from sugarcane.
Fogo Volcano Summit Treks
January's 21°C (70°F) summit temperatures make the 2,829 m (9,281 ft) climb to Pico do Fogo's crater almost tolerable - the active volcano's last eruption in 2014 created new black lava fields that crunch like broken glass under hiking boots. The caldera still steams in places, and local guides time ascents to catch sunrise over neighboring Brava Island.
January Events & Festivals
Festival de Música da Baía das Gatas
São Vicente's full-moon beach party transforms Baía das Gatas into an open-air concert venue - local morna legends perform on a driftwood stage while food stalls sell grilled lobster and cold beer until 4 AM. The natural amphitheater's acoustics carry Cesária Évora covers across the bay.