Cape Verde in January means winter sun: about 25 °C (77 °F) in the afternoon and 19 °C (66 °F) at night in Sal, almost no rain (3 mm (0.1 in)) and steady trade winds. Verdict: ✅ a good month for sunshine, kitesurfing and hiking, with one reservation about swimming: the water is among the coolest of the year and the wind can be a nuisance on exposed beaches.
After the holidays, demand eases a little and the weather stays stable. To compare with other months, see our page on when to go to Cape Verde.
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Cape Verde in January: key facts
- Verdict: ✅ dry and sunny, windy
- Sal: 25.0 °C (77 °F) in the afternoon, 19.2 °C (67 °F) at night, 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain
- Praia (Santiago): 26.7 °C (80 °F), the warmest of the large islands
- Wind: strong trade winds, ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing
- Good to know: Saharan dust haze possible on some days
- Time difference: in January, 1 hour behind London (GMT) and 4 hours ahead of New York (EST)
Weather in Cape Verde in January: island by island
| Island (station) | Max | Min | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sal (airport) | 25.0 °C (77 °F) | 19.2 °C (67 °F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Santiago (Praia) | 26.7 °C (80 °F) | – | 1 mm (0.04 in) |
| São Vicente (Mindelo) | 24.4 °C (76 °F) | – | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Differences between the islands are small. Sal and Boa Vista, flat and windy, are the most touristy; Santiago is a little warmer; Mindelo a little milder. On the high ground of Santo Antão and Fogo it is clearly cooler, and nights are cold in the Fogo caldera. In the evening a light sweater is useful even by the sea.
Dry haze and wind
Mostly from December to March, the harmattan can bring a haze of Saharan dust (bruma seca) that veils the sun and reduces visibility, sometimes for several days. The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 28 July 2026) notes that such sandstorms can happen between December and February and, when intense, can disrupt air travel, especially on Boa Vista; if it happens during your stay, contact your tour operator or airline. The north-east trade winds blow hard: perfect for wind sports, less so for sunbathing on the exposed beaches of Sal and Boa Vista, where the sand flies. The wind also hides the heat of the sun: sunscreen remains essential.
Can you swim in Cape Verde in January?
Yes, but the water is among the coolest of the year (January to April is the coldest period) and the sea is often rough because of the wind. Look for sheltered beaches, such as the bay of Santa Maria in Sal, and note that tides and currents around the islands are very strong: use beaches with a lifeguard on duty and respect the warning flags (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 28 July 2026). For warmer, calmer water, aim for May-June or October-November.
Things to do in Cape Verde in January
- Kitesurfing and windsurfing in Sal (Kite Beach, Ponta Preta) and Boa Vista, in the middle of the trade-wind season (December to April).
- Surfing: the winter swell (December to March) reaches Ponta Preta.
- Hiking on Santo Antão: terraced valleys and ridges, in the best temperature conditions (November to March).
- Climbing Pico do Fogo, which rises to about 2,830 m (9,285 ft): set off early in the morning and bring warm clothes.
- Mindelo and its music scene, which starts preparing for the carnival in February or March.
- Praia and Cidade Velha on Santiago, the first colonial settlement of the archipelago.
Crowds and prices in January
Until early January, the holidays keep prices very high. After that, demand stays strong (winter sun) but less tense, ahead of the February school holidays. Outside holiday periods, book 1 to 2 months ahead. Most travellers arrive at Amílcar Cabral airport in Sal. Between islands, book domestic flights and check ferry timetables, which are often irregular. The time difference in Cape Verde is constant because the archipelago does not use daylight saving time: Cape Verde is on UTC−1 all year, so in January it is 1 hour behind London (GMT) and 4 hours ahead of New York (EST).
For visa-free stays, passport validity and pre-arrival registration, see our guide to the entry requirements for Cape Verde.
What to pack for Cape Verde in January
- Light clothes for the day, a sweater and windbreaker for the evening and the mountains
- High-protection sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat that stays on in the wind
- Hiking shoes for Santo Antão or Fogo
- A waterproof bag against sand lifted by the wind
- Some escudos in small notes for shared taxis, markets and small shops
Cape Verde in January: who is it for?
- Kitesurfers and windsurfers: ✅ peak trade-wind season.
- Hikers: ✅ ideal temperatures on Santo Antão and Fogo.
- Winter sun: ✅ 25 °C (77 °F) and almost no rain.
- Relaxed swimming: ⚠️ cool water and a rough sea; choose a sheltered beach.
- Small budget: ⚠️ prices still high at the start of the month, easing afterwards.
For a week, Sal or Boa Vista are enough for the beach and wind sports. For ten days or more, combine a flat island and a hiking island: São Vicente (Mindelo) then Santo Antão by ferry, or Santiago then Fogo. Keep a spare day for connections, as domestic flight and boat timetables often change.
If January does not suit you
Cape Verde in December has comparable weather, but is more expensive over the holidays; Cape Verde in February is the coolest and windiest month, the month of the Mindelo carnival. For a warmer sea, aim for April and then May-June, or October-November.
Other January sun: the Canary Islands, Egypt or Thailand in the middle of the dry season. More ideas: where to go in January.
Good to know on the ground in January
- Escudos are useful for shared taxis, markets and small shops; cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants (see our Cape Verde guide).
- The wind hides the feeling of heat: sunscreen is essential, even in cool weather.
- Tides and currents around the islands are very strong: use beaches with a lifeguard on duty and respect the warning flags (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 28 July 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Cape Verde in January?
Dry and mild: 25 °C (77 °F) in the afternoon and 19.2 °C (67 °F) at night in Sal, with 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain over the month, according to the 1991-2020 normals. Praia is a little warmer (26.7 °C (80 °F)).
Is it warm enough to swim in January?
The air is, the water is cooler: it is one of the coolest periods of the year for the sea. Choose a beach sheltered from the wind.
Which island should you choose in January?
Sal or Boa Vista for the beach and kitesurfing, Santo Antão or Fogo for hiking, in good temperature conditions.
Is the wind a nuisance in Cape Verde in January?
It blows hard on the flat islands. It is an asset for wind sports and for coping with the sun, but it lifts sand on exposed beaches.
What is the dry haze in Cape Verde?
A haze of dust from the Sahara, carried by the harmattan from December to March. It veils the sky on some days without being constant.
Our sources
- World Meteorological Organization, 1991-2020 climate normals (NOAA archive): stations of Sal (Amílcar Cabral airport), Praia (Nelson Mandela airport) and Mindelo
- UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Cape Verde (GOV.UK, updated 28 July 2026, read on 11 November 2026)
- Clock-change rules: GOV.UK, When do the clocks change and NIST, Daylight Saving Time; Cape Verde time zone (UTC−1, no daylight saving time): IANA time zone database, read on 11 November 2026
- Data taken from our page on when to go to Cape Verde
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.