Things to Do in Cabo Verde in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
November Weather in Cabo Verde
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
82°F (28°C)
High Temp
72°F (22°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Trade-wind season peaks, turning every island into a kitesurfer's playground without the summer crowds.
- + Sea turtles nest on Boa Vista's 22 km (14 mile) Praia de Chaves, you can watch them lay eggs 20 m (66 ft) from your towel.
- + Music festival circuit heats up with Baía das Gatas on São Vicente (first weekend) and Kriol Jazz Festival in Praia (mid-month).
- + Hotel rates drop 30-40% from peak summer, the same ocean-view room that costs a fortune in August suddenly becomes reasonable.
Considerations
- − The harmattan wind carries Saharan dust that turns sunsets orange but coats everything in fine sand, bring sunglasses and expect gritty skin.
- − Some restaurants close for 'temporada baixa' (low season), the beach shacks on Sal that depend on summer package tourists.
- − Ocean temperatures are cooling to 24°C (75°F), locals swim. But northern Europeans might find it brisk for long sessions.
Year-Round Climate
How November compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°C | 19°C | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C | 19°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Mar | 25°C | 19°C | 0.0 inches (0 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C | 19°C | 0.0 inches (0 mm) |
| May | 26°C | 20°C | 0.0 inches (0 mm) |
| Jun | 27°C | 21°C | 0.0 inches (0 mm) |
| Jul | 28°C | 22°C | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C | 23°C | 1.2 inches (30 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C | 24°C | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Oct | 29°C | 23°C | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C | 22°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Dec | 26°C | 20°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Best Activities in November
Top things to do during your visit
November strips Cabo Verde to its bones. The last rains die in October, leaving volcanic slopes a dull green and the Atlantic breeze sharp with salt and warm earth. Locals call this the islands' true face: skies bright, ocean still summer-warm, no festivals cluttering the calendar. You hear only the slap of fishing boats at dawn and, after dark, a cavaquinho strummed in a Praia square. The numbers back the feeling. Highs hover around 28 degrees Celsius, down a notch from September's peak. Rainfall? A token 0.1 inches. The month is a hinge, warm without the crush of summer, dry without the winter dust. Hike cloud-kissed peaks or wander cobbled streets. The sky stays huge and rinsed clean. Stick to Santiago and you can stitch together days that move from desert plain to misty ridge to black-sand beach, all before sunset.
From Praia: Discover Santiago Island in 1 Day
otherOne long loop crosses Santiago from the arid south outside Praia to the dripping interior peaks, then drops to Tarrafal's black volcanic sand.
The temperature swings are dramatic.
Insider tip: Pack a layer.
Serra Malagueta Natural Park Hike & Relaxing Swim at Tarrafal Beach
adventureHike the Serra Malagueta Natural Park among dragon trees and volcanic grit, then swim Tarrafal's surprisingly warm north-coast water.
Guides usually pause for farm coffee or fruit.
Santiago Island: Best of Praia & Cidade Velha Tour, a World Heritage Site
culturalWalk Praia's Plateau, then head to Cidade Velha, a UNESCO site. Notice the white cathedral against the sky and the Pelourinho, the tropics' oldest colonial pillory.
In the Ruins of Sao Francisco, ask about the African lines hidden in the stone.
Santiago Island Experience - Culture, Nature & Tarrafal Beach
guided_experienceStart at Assomada market: charcoal-grilled tuna, hand-woven panu di terra cloth. Lunch at a rural kantina means cachupa stew.
Arrive hungry.
Insider tip: Finish on Tarrafal beach.
Private Tour in Praia, Cape Verde
private_tourA private guide tailors Praia to your pace. Roam Achada Santo Antonio's alleys, duck into corner shops, sip espresso where locals do.
Add Sucupira Market if you want chaos.
Hiking: Monte Tchota Natural Park - Pico D'Antónia (1394m) - Longueira
adventureClimb Pico D'Antónia, Santiago's summit. Pass through endemic forest, hear the Cape Verde warbler, taste cool air at the top.
Descend through Longueira's fields.
Insider tip: Boots with ankle support are mandatory. The trail turns slick.
This month: Clouds erase views by late morning.
Where to Stay in Cabo Verde in November
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for November travellers.
November Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
First weekend of November
Baía das Gatas Music Festival
São Vicente's legendary full-moon party draws 30,000 people to a natural bay where the water's warm enough for midnight swims. Three stages feature everything from traditional batuque drums to electronic DJs, with food stalls serving grilled lobster and cold Strela beer. The festival starts Friday at sunset and doesn't stop until Sunday dawn.
Mid November
Kriol Jazz Festival
Praia's historic Plateau district transforms into an open-air jazz club for three nights. International and Cabo Verdean musicians perform on stages built around 19th-century colonial buildings. The sound of saxophones echoes off stone walls while locals dance in the plazas where their grandparents once listened to morna.
Packing Checklist
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Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Cabo Verde Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Ask for 'lagosta natural' at Boa Vista beach shacks, cold lobster hauled in that morning, priced at half European rates.
The finest grogue, sugarcane rum, travels in plain bottles from roadside stands. Locals gauge quality by how thick the condensation ring grows.
November dust storms paint the wildest sunsets you'll ever witness. Be on Sal's Shark Bay at 5:30pm for shots that look digitally altered.
Mindelo's vegetable market stirs at 6am when farmers arrive by boat from Santo Antão. Pineapples taste like candy yet vanish by 8am.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don't assume all islands share one climate, Santiago's peaks soak up 1,500 mm (59 inches) of rain while Sal scrapes by on 50 mm (2 inches); pack for both.
Avoid tight flight connections between islands, November winds delay departures, so leave a 3-hour buffer for inter-island hops.
Forget Caribbean-style beaches, most stretches are black volcanic sand with strong currents. The white sand strips sit only on Sal and Boa Vista.
Don't attempt all 9 islands in one go, internal flights chew up whole days. Limit yourself to 2-3 islands for a week-long November stay.
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