Things to Do in Cabo Verde in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Cabo Verde
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Trade winds drop to their mildest of the year - the Atlantic flattens enough for small boats to reach the offshore coves that are usually unreachable, especially around Sal's east coast
- Hotel rates are still 35-40% below peak season while the weather is already perfect - the last week of May before European school holidays is the sweet spot
- Sea turtles start nesting on Boa Vista's beaches - walk the 6 km (3.7 mile) stretch between Praia de Santa Monica and Praia de Chaves at 5 AM for tracks that look like tractor tires in the sand
- Cachupa festivals happen in every village - the national dish served in 20 different styles from grandmother's clay pots in Tarrafal's main square
Considerations
- The wind never completely stops - May averages 15-18 km/h (9-11 mph) which keeps kite surfers happy but can make beach umbrellas a kite-flying exercise
- Island hopping ferries run reduced schedules - the inter-island catamaran from Mindelo to Praia drops from twice daily to once daily after May 15
- Music clubs in Mindelo switch to weekend-only live music after May 20 as musicians head to Europe for summer festivals
Best Activities in May
Sal Island Catamaran Excursions
May's flatter seas make the 3-hour crossings to Ilhéu de Rabo de Junco possible - a volcanic island where you'll be the only footprints on black sand beaches. The water clarity hits 25 m (82 ft) visibility before the summer plankton bloom starts.
Santiago Island Hiking Trails
The Ribeira Grande canyon hike starts 800 m (2,625 ft) above sea level where May's 21°C (70°F) mornings make the descent manageable. You'll smell wild coffee and hear the distinct whistle of the grey-headed kingfisher that only nests above 600 m (1,969 ft).
Fogo Volcano Wine Tours
May is harvest season for the black volcanic soil vineyards at 1,400 m (4,593 ft). The tour starts with a 4 AM departure to catch the sun rising over the crater rim while tasting coffee that's roasted in iron pans over open fires.
Mindelo Creole Jazz Nights
The Cesária Évora House of Culture hosts Thursday night sessions where musicians who played with the barefoot diva herself take the stage. The sound system hasn't been updated since the 1990s - the warm crackle adds something digital can't replicate.
Boa Vista Turtle Watching
Night walks on Praia de Santa Monica from 9 PM to midnight when loggerheads haul their 200 kg (440 lb) bodies up the beach. Red flashlights only - white light disorients the turtles and the guides will confiscate your phone if you use it.
May Events & Festivals
Festival of São Filipe
Fogo Island's biggest celebration where the entire town of São Filipe transforms into a dance floor. The grogue (sugarcane rum) flows from morning mass through the 3 AM street parties, and every house becomes an impromptu restaurant serving caldo de peixe from family recipes.
Cachupa World Championship
Tarrafal's main square hosts 30 teams cooking the national dish in cast-iron pots over wood fires. The competition starts at 6 AM when you can smell onions and garlic from blocks away, and judging happens at 2 PM after the pots have simmered for six hours.