Winter-sun season proper. Dry, warm and sunny, with a cooling sea, building wind, and the highest prices of the year over Christmas and New Year.
Santa Maria, Sal · long-term monthly averages · reviewed with a Cape Verde-based contact, September 2026 · air data from ERA5 via Open-Meteo, sea temperature from the marine reanalysis. We show the daily mean next to the average high because the two get confused constantly: a site quoting 25°C and one quoting 22°C for the same island are usually both right, and measuring different things.
Sea temperature through the year (Santa Maria, Sal) — tap a month
The short version
December is dry and reliably sunny, with daytime temperatures that feel extraordinary to anyone arriving from northern Europe. Rain is effectively absent on the eastern islands, and the trade winds strengthen through the month.
The sea is cooling from its autumn peak but has not yet reached the winter low of February. Nights get noticeably cooler than in the summer — an evening layer stops being optional.
Island by island in December
| Island | Avg high | Daily mean | Night | Sea | Wind | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sal | 26°C | 23°C | 21°C | 24°C | 27 km/h | 1 |
| Boa Vista | 26°C | 23°C | 21°C | 24°C | 25 km/h | 1 |
| Maio | 26°C | 23°C | 21°C | 24°C | 24 km/h | 1 |
| Santiago | 26°C | 23°C | 21°C | 24°C | 19 km/h | 2 |
| São Vicente | 25°C | 22°C | 20°C | 23°C | 26 km/h | 2 |
| São Nicolau | 25°C | 22°C | 20°C | 23°C | 23 km/h | 2 |
| Santo Antão | 24°C | 21°C | 19°C | 23°C | 21 km/h | 4 |
| Fogo | 25°C | 22°C | 20°C | 24°C | 20 km/h | 2 |
| Brava | 24°C | 21°C | 19°C | 24°C | 21 km/h | 3 |
The pattern to take from that table: the flat eastern islands run warmer, drier and windier, the mountainous ones cooler and cloudier. Figures measured near sea level say little about the ridges — on Santo Antão it can be several degrees colder and in cloud at altitude while the coast below sits in full sun.
Which island is best in December?
As in most winter months, the differences between the islands are small. Choose by what you want from the trip.
- Sal, Boa Vista or Maio for beach weather. The warmest and driest islands, with average highs of 26°C and one rain day in the month. Sal and Boa Vista are also the windiest, which suits kitesurfing more than lazy beach days. For what to do between beach days, see things to do on Sal and things to do on Boa Vista.
- Santiago if you dislike wind. The same 26°C high, with the lightest wind in the table at around 19 km/h, plus the culture and history of Praia and Cidade Velha.
- Santo Antão or Fogo for hiking. Cooler, with a few more rain days on Santo Antão, but excellent walking weather. Our hiking guide covers the routes.
- São Vicente for a city break with a beach. Mindelo is the liveliest town in Cape Verde, and the island is a few degrees cooler than Sal.
Can you swim in Cape Verde in December?
Yes. The sea is cooler than in autumn but still comfortably warmer than anything in Europe at this time of year, and warmer than it will be in January or February.
Wind chill on the way out of the water becomes a factor as the trade winds build. Sheltered bays are the better choice for long swims.
Which beaches are sheltered and which have dangerous currents, island by island: where it is safe to swim in Cape Verde.
Christmas, New Year and the price peak
The two weeks around Christmas and New Year are the most expensive of the year and the resorts on Sal and Boa Vista run full. Book months ahead if those dates are fixed for you.
Early December is a different proposition: the same weather, considerably lower rates, and beaches that have not yet filled. The first two weeks are the value window.
Cape Verde is a Catholic country and Christmas is observed, but it is a family occasion rather than a commercial spectacle. Resorts put on their own festive programmes; the towns do not transform. If you want lights and markets, this is not that trip. If you want to spend 25 December on a beach, it is ideal.
Wind and watersports
Trade winds build through December and the kitesurfing season is properly under way by mid-month. Sal is the centre of it, with Santa Maria, Kite Beach and Ponta Preta all working.
For sunbathers the same wind means the middle of the beach can be gritty. Resorts with walled beach sections are worth paying for in December and January.
What to pack for December
- A light fleece or jumper for evenings
- Sunscreen — the winter sun here is still strong
- A beach shelter or windbreak
- Sunglasses that stay on in wind
- Rash vest if you plan long swims
- Walking shoes if hiking is on the plan; conditions are excellent
Our full Cape Verde packing list goes further, including what is hard to buy once you arrive.
What's on in December
Christmas and New Year celebrations across the islands, family-centred rather than commercial. Resorts run their own festive programmes.
Wildlife is quiet: turtle season has ended and whales have not yet arrived.
Booking Christmas and New Year
School holidays across Europe and North America fall over the same two weeks, so direct flights and family rooms sell out first. If your dates are fixed, book early and compare departure airports; our guide to flight times by airport shows the direct routes. If you can travel in the first half of December, you get the same weather at lower prices. Travelling with children? See Cape Verde with kids.
Day trips for a December holiday on Sal and Boa Vista
Prices, times and availability are shown on GetYourGuide. Many tours offer free cancellation.
Sal island tour with a local guide
- About 6 hours, hotel pick-up
- Buracona Blue Eye, Pedra de Lume, Palmeira
- Private option available
Catamaran trip from Santa Maria
- Sail along Sal's west coast
- Swim and snorkelling stop
- Pick-up available
Boa Vista island tour
- Full day with hotel pick-up
- Viana Desert, Curral Velho, Ervatão beach
- Swim stop and lunch break
Browse all: Sal tours ↗ · Boa Vista tours ↗
Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Crowds and prices
The first two weeks are moderate. From around the 20th it becomes the busiest and most expensive period of the year, holding through the first week of January.
To compare across the whole year, see the best time to visit Cape Verde. For the choice of resort type, is all-inclusive worth it covers where it pays off.
Is December a good time to visit Cape Verde?
Go in December if
- You want guaranteed winter sun
- You want to spend Christmas on a beach
- You kitesurf
- You want excellent hiking weather
Pick another month if
- You are on a budget and travelling over the holidays
- You want the warmest possible sea
- You want quiet beaches
- You want to see whales or turtles
Not sure which island suits you regardless of month? Compare all nine, or read the head-to-head on Sal or Boa Vista.
Plan and book your December trip
🏨 Where to stay
Areas compared, with maps and resorts.
🧭 Tours and trips
Prices and availability on GetYourGuide.
Tour links go to GetYourGuide; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
December weather FAQ
Is Cape Verde warm in December?
Yes. Days are warm and sunny with almost no rain, though nights cool enough to want a light layer and the trade winds strengthen through the month.
What is the weather like in Cape Verde at Christmas?
Warm, dry and sunny. Long-term December averages for Sal are a high of about 26°C, a daily mean of 23°C and a sea temperature of around 24°C, with typically just one rain day in the month. By Christmas the trade winds are building, so beaches on Sal and Boa Vista can be breezy, and evenings are cool enough for a light layer.
Is December a good time to visit Cape Verde?
For reliable winter sun it is one of the best months. The trade-offs are peak pricing over Christmas and New Year and a sea that is cooling.
How warm is the sea in December?
Cooler than autumn but warmer than January or February, and still comfortably swimmable.
Is Cape Verde busy at Christmas?
Very. The two weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive of the year. Early December is much better value for the same weather.
What is the temperature in Cape Verde in December?
On Sal, Boa Vista, Maio and Santiago, December averages a high of about 26°C, a daily mean of 23°C and nights around 21°C. The mountainous islands are a degree or two cooler at sea level and colder at altitude.
Which Cape Verde island is warmest in December?
Sal, Boa Vista, Maio and Santiago, all with average highs of about 26°C. Santiago is the least windy of the four.
Can you swim in Cape Verde at Christmas?
Yes. The sea is around 23–24°C in December, warmer than in January or February. The trade wind can make it feel cool when you get out, so sheltered bays are best for long swims.