Dry weather returns while the sea is still warm from the summer. For a lot of travellers this is the best fortnight of the year to be here.
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
November combines things that do not usually overlap. The rainy season has finished, so the eastern islands are dry and sunny again. The sea has not yet cooled from its autumn peak. And the trade winds are returning, which brings the kitesurfers back without yet reaching midwinter strength.
Prices sit below the December-to-February peak for most of the month. If someone asks for a single recommendation and has no fixed dates, November is a strong answer.
Island by island in November
| Island | Avg high | Daily mean | Night | Sea | Wind | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sal | 28°C | 25°C | 23°C | 26°C | 24 km/h | 1 |
| Boa Vista | 28°C | 25°C | 23°C | 26°C | 22 km/h | 1 |
| Maio | 28°C | 25°C | 23°C | 26°C | 21 km/h | 1 |
| Santiago | 28°C | 25°C | 23°C | 26°C | 16 km/h | 2 |
| São Vicente | 27°C | 24°C | 22°C | 25°C | 23 km/h | 2 |
| São Nicolau | 27°C | 24°C | 22°C | 25°C | 20 km/h | 2 |
| Santo Antão | 26°C | 23°C | 21°C | 25°C | 18 km/h | 4 |
| Fogo | 27°C | 24°C | 22°C | 26°C | 17 km/h | 2 |
| Brava | 26°C | 23°C | 21°C | 26°C | 18 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.
Can you swim in Cape Verde in November?
Yes, and the water is still holding much of its summer warmth. This is the last month before the seasonal cooling really starts, so it offers a warm sea with dry-season reliability on land.
Conditions are settled early in the month, with more swell as the wind builds towards December.
Which beaches are sheltered and which have dangerous currents, island by island: where it is safe to swim in Cape Verde.
The wind returns
The northeast trade winds pick up through November. Kitesurfing on Sal becomes reliable again, and the schools that went quiet in the summer are back at full capacity.
For non-surfers the wind is noticeable but not yet at January's strength. Late November beach days can be breezy; early November ones often are not.
Rates on Sal and Boa Vista climb sharply once the winter-sun season starts in earnest. The first three weeks of November frequently deliver December weather at October prices, which is the most useful timing tip on this page.
Hiking and the last of the green
The green islands hold some of their rainy-season colour into November, drying out as the month goes on. Trails are in good condition and temperatures are back to comfortable walking levels.
This is one of the better months for combining a beach island with Santo Antão or Fogo without either half of the trip being compromised.
What to pack for November
- Sunscreen and a hat
- A light layer for the evenings as nights cool
- Snorkel gear while the sea is still warm
- Walking shoes for the green islands
- A windbreak if you are here late in the month
- Insect repellent for the first half of the month
Our full Cape Verde packing list goes further, including what is hard to buy once you arrive.
What's on in November
Turtle hatchlings continue to emerge early in the month, tailing off through November.
A quiet period on the festival calendar before the Christmas season.
Crowds and prices
Moderate and rising. The first three weeks are good value; the last week starts to feel the pull of the December peak.
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 November a good time to visit Cape Verde?
Go in November if
- You want dry weather and a warm sea at the same time
- You want peak-season conditions at shoulder prices
- You kitesurf and want the season's opening weeks
- You are combining a beach island with hiking
Pick another month if
- You want the absolute cheapest prices — September is lower
- You want the strongest possible wind — January is stronger
- You want to see whales or nesting 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 November 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.
November weather FAQ
Is November a good time to visit Cape Verde?
For many travellers it is the best month: dry, sunny, a sea still warm from the summer, returning trade winds and prices below the December peak.
Is the sea still warm in November?
Yes. It has begun cooling from its autumn peak but remains one of the warmer months of the year.
Is Cape Verde windy in November?
The trade winds return through the month, building towards their midwinter peak. Early November is calmer than late November.
Does it rain in Cape Verde in November?
Very little. The rainy season has finished and the eastern islands are effectively dry.