Weather lowdown
As the last month of winter, February is comparably cold to January but still warm enough for boundless outdoors adventures and lots of fun under the sun. Through the month, average daytime temperature is expected to stay around 23 degrees Celsius, with high peaks reaching up to 24 degrees and lows down to 18 degrees (and almost never any lower). The ideal temperature, coupled with the relatively gentle winds (especially at the Sotavento islands) makes for the perfect opportunity to have outdoors fun.
The capital of Cape Verde, Praia, which is located on the Sotavento island of Santiago, begins to attract more and more tourists in February. Cape Verde enjoys 7 hours of daily sunshine in February.
Sea temperature stays at a comfortable 23 degrees Celsius and there are virtually no clouds on the skies above Cape Verde during February. Rain is very scarce during this month, with total precipitation barely reaching 3 mm due to minor sprinkles above the islands that last for only 3 days of the month on average.
Dates for the diary
From mid-February and until early March, there are numerous carnival celebrations across Cape Verde. In Praia, Santiago, the capital of the nation there are various celebrations on a daily basis. Most of these events are tourist-oriented and attract foreign crowds who come to see exotic dances, sexy performers, extravagant dresses and more as they feast on free street food.
Of particular interest for tourists who wish an authentically Cape Verdian carnival experience is the local carnival in Mindelo on Sao Vicente island. This carnival strongly reminds of the Brazilian fiestas in spirit and looks, with street dancers as well as more Christian-themed carnival inspirations. The carnival in Mindelo has retained its authentic feel even though it has become popular with tourists in the past few years.
Things to do
The Cape Verde islands are all of volcanic origin, but the island of Fogo ('fire' in Portuguese) still has an active volcano, the Pico do Fogo, which erupted as recently as 1995 and saw many of the islands inhabitants removed from their homes for as long as six months. Today, brave travellers should not miss the opportunity to visit the tiny towns of Portela and Bangaeria, located in Cha das Caldeiras, or 'plateau of the crater'. There are several volcano-themed bars and restaurants around the area too.
Sail Cape Verde offers a range of watersports, as well as a 4x4 jeep excursion which takes travellers to the two volcanoes which loom over the capital of Praias. The excursions include yacht boat trips, jeep safaris, diving, snorkelling and more across seven of the archipelago's islands. Your base of operations is a 54 ft long luxurious yacht that comes with its own professional skipper to take you across the majestic islands of Cape Verde.
Hit the beach
The paradise beach of Sal is famous for footie on the beach where locals and tourists alike come to play ball on the sand. This lively yet romantic beach attracts young and vigorous crowds with its beach bars and pristine white sands.
The Santa Maria beach on Sal is simply stunning, offering four and a half miles of golden white sand for tourists to enjoy. Families as well as water sports enthusiasts visit this beach for different reasons. Great life guard services are offered across the beach's span and a flag system helps tourists know where it is safe to swim.
Where to eat & drink
The Sto Andre is an attractive café/bistro located in the beautiful Sao Pedro area of San Vicente. Beautifully secluded and boasting a fine menu, the Sto Andre has recently come in the spotlight as one of the top eateries in San Vicente thanks to its amazing quality of food.
One of the few noteworthy eateries in Calhau, the Serenata serves international dishes focused on healthy eating and genuinely fresh ingredients. There are vegan and vegetarian dishes, as well as local seafood plates prepared with traditional, healthy cooking.
The Tropical Club is a popular beach bar at the island of Fogo popular with surfers and young crowds. The sounds are mostly local here, with a definite preference for Morna during the day, while music becomes more international and pop in style as the sun goes down.
The Elcibar is a beautiful beach bar that frequently hosts live music shows. The Elcibar is located on the island of Boa Vista and is run by a cheerful couple of expats. Morna music is played here in the morning while evenings frequently welcome local and international musicians who come to brighten the nights of Boa Vista.
Where to stay
The Casita Verde hotel on the island of Maio offers clean beach view rooms with breakfast for very low prices. The hotel frequently hosts sculpting, moulding and drumming lessons on the beach as well as a full day tour of the tiny towns of Maio, including a lunch of traditional Cape Verdean delicacies with the locals.
The Sol Na Baia hotel is a beautiful all inclusive resort that offers very low prices. All rooms come with a view over the Atlantic Ocean and the largest rooms all have their own private balconies and spacious patios. The service is excellent and the hotel's bar is worthy of mention for its inexpensive and delicious cocktails.
The Marine Club Beach Resort offers affordable accommodation with style. Rooms are budget priced and the hotel has two on-site bars that are open to non-visitors. The Bar Praia and the Bar Rochino provide a romantic setting for couples to enjoy their evening cocktails. The hotel's restaurant, Tartarughino, serves a delectable buffet.
The 3-star Don Paco hotel offers budget accommodation on the outskirts of Mindelo, San Vicente's beautiful capital. The hotel provides tourists with unrestricted access to San Vicente's numerous landmarks and is strategically located along all the major roads of the island.
The Solar Windelo hotel provides affordable overnight accommodation in Sao Vicente, with bargain prices during off-season months. The hotel offers apartments, standard rooms and luxurious suites to cater to tourists of all budgets. Children under 5 stay for free and the hotel is generally very family friendly.
