Weather lowdown
August is a true tropical month in Cape Verde as it is both the hottest month of the year but also the second rainiest (tied with October). Average daytime temperature climbs up to 27 degrees Celsius and can peak up to 28 degrees on days that have little or no rain. During night time, temperatures typically fall at around 23 degrees Celsius, making August the best month of night swims and night-long beach parties.
Sea temperature is equally inviting at 27 degrees Celsius and while August is fairly cloudy the beaches are almost always full of tourists and partygoers. August is dominated by the Harmattan winds that blow hotly from Africa and the relatively plentiful rainfalls.
August sees dozens of times more rainfall than all the previous months of the year combined with a total monthly precipitation that reaches 53 mm this is the first of the three rainy months in Cape Verde. During August, heavy rain is expected during 6 days of the month, fact that results in only 5 hours of daily sunshine during the month.
Dates for the diary
Visitors to Cape Verde in August must stop by the island of Sao Vicente for the annual Baia das Gatas Music Festival, which takes place on the beach during the first weekend of the month. During daytime, many bands from nearby tropical countries performing live music and as the sun sets, thousands of visitors set up camp on the beach. The party continues well into the early hours and is a great way to experience some traditional Cape Verdean music like Morna, as well as jazz, samba, reggae and much more.
Every August the 15th, Cape Verde celebrates the assumption of Marry along with the local celebrations of Nossa Sra. De Piedade (Our Lady of Pity). This includes religious processions through towns and villages, swimming contests, religious events and folk music festivals with local musicians. As the sun sets, firework displays put a final tone to the religious fiestas.
Things to do
The Faldo Golf Course in Santiago is the closest golf course to the capital and the one that attracts the most visitors. At Faldo, the terrain cascades down towards the sea from a high plateau, incorporating elements of both cliff-top and coastal design into the course. These changes in elevation combined with the unusual winds that cross the site, offer real strategic challenges that will delight golfers of all levels. Inside the site, there is also a number of small water courses with beautiful view over the ocean.
Adventurers can experience the unique whale watching excursions to sand dune quad biking in Cape Verde. These exciting excursions take you on a quad bike to watch sea creatures across various islands. Island hopping doesn't get any more exciting and the prices are reasonable as the excursions can last a whole day.
Hit the beach
The Dunas beach is a beautiful family friendly beach on the island of Sal. This is a very accommodating beach, ideal for families with young children and elderly visitors alike. There are restaurants, bars and a large hotel that boasts a fully equipped spa that is open to non-visitors (with commission).
The Gata beach at the eastern side of Boa Vista is a lively beach famous for its music beach parties. Named for the cats that dwell nearby, this beach sees lots of parties all year round including live music parties and barefoot dancing fiestas.
Where to eat & drink
The Blue Marlin serves the freshest sea food dishes on the island of Boa Vista. The restaurant specialises in fancy Italian and Mediterranean dishes as well as local delicacies cooked with fish caught around Boa Vista.
The Hungry Frog is an excellent seafood grill and BBQ restaurant in Sal's Santa Maria. The menu here is contemporary, with modern dishes and an unpretentious attitude. Prices are great and the atmosphere is family friendly.
The Zero Horas is a popular live music bar with live music in the heart of Praia. The bar attracts mostly locals and tourists with an active interest on the local music scenes. As Cape Verde is famous for its diverse musical culture, here in the Zero Horas you can explore the numerous facets that make this culture so great.
The hotel bar at ClubHotel Riu Funana is one of the most popular beach bars in Sal's Santa Maria area. Open to non-visitors, the hotel welcomes tourists from all across the beautiful Sal who come to have fun under the sun. The drinks are great and the bar carries the standards of quality of the Riu hotel chain.
Where to stay
The Perola Hotel is a beautiful, family run resort at the nation's capital Praia on the island of Santiago. The Perola is located just a few metres from the capital's popular beaches and caters to tourists who seek an authentic Cape Verdian experience.
The Migrante Guesthouse is a famous, family run guesthouse on the island of Boa Vista. The Migrante focuses on providing unsurpassed quality with vintage furniture and very clean communal spaces. This family friendly guesthouse is ideal for families with young children.
The Pestana Tropico is an attractive 4 star all inclusive hotel in Cidade da Praia, capital of Cape Verde. The hotel is a few minutes away from the popular Praia beach, in a very friendly and quiet neighbourhood. Visitors can find numerous shopping centres at walking distance, and the hotel itself offers lots of children-friendly facilities.
The Santa Isabel Pensao is a traditional, family run hotel in Santa Isabel that offers a warm atmosphere and budget prices. Located inside a charming village in Boa Vista, the hotel is charming and affordable. The service is very good while the staff is polite and fluent in English.
Offering quality accommodation with no frills at very low prices, the Residencial Praia Maria offers great value for money to all tourists who want to visit Cape Verde's capital of Praia. Situated at a central location, the hotel allows visitors to freely explore the capital and facilitate smart island hopping with no hassle.
