So there I was last night, buzzing about finally taking that Cape Verde trip I’d been saving for. Had my laptop open, credit card ready to book flights straight to Boa Vista. Sun, sand, saltwater – perfect getaway, right? Almost clicked “confirm payment” when this little nagging voice in my head went, “Hold up… did you even check the weather there?”
Why I Almost Skipped Checking
Truth be told, I usually skip this step. How bad could it be on a tropical island? Sunscreen packed, good to go! But something felt off this time. Maybe it was seeing “Boa Vista” pop up cheap on deals. Got me suspicious. Figured, why not? Quick peek won’t hurt. Opened up that government weather site – the big one everyone uses.
The Forecast That Made My Jaw Drop
Typed in “el tiempo en boa vista” (yeah, still force of habit from Spanish trips!). Scrolled down to the detailed forecast expecting endless sunshine icons. Got this instead:
- Friday Sept 5 (TOMORROW!): Little rain cloud icon. Seriously? 30°C but light rain predicted. Humidity already giving me sweaty palms.
- Saturday Sept 6: Went from bad to worse. Showers turning to clouds, high of 21°C? Low dipping to 11°C? Night sweats planned their arrival!
- Next Week: Scrolled further… rain, overcast, more rain. Almost half the 15-day forecast splattered with those depressing dark clouds and raindrops. One day even warned of wind gusts strong enough to steal my hat!
The Hourly Breakdown
Couldn’t believe my eyes. Clicked tomorrow’s hour-by-hour. Saw the misery unfold:
- 10 AM: 23°C, “light drizzle” starting. Fantastic.
- 1 PM: 26°C, rain decided to show up properly.
- 7 PM: 23°C, winds picking up. Dinner plans? Cancelled.
- Overnight: Cooled right down to 17°C. Packed shorts would mock me.
Stared at the screen thinking, “My tropical beach escape… this ain’t it.” Visions of huddling under a towel while rain hammered the resort bar drained the excitement fast.
The Pivot That Saved My Vacation (Probably)
Panic mode activated. What now? Scrolled through the dates like a madman. Spotted something: after next week’s doom and gloom, things started clearing up towards mid-month. Fewer rain symbols, more sun peeking through, warmer nights. Not perfect, but manageable. Immediately ditched my original dates.
Took a deep breath, deleted the flights I almost booked. Went back to search. Found a slot later in September based on the forecast showing mostly suns and mild wind. Heart racing, booked THAT window instead. Paid extra, sure. But cheaper than being stuck indoors watching rain for a week.
My Big Takeaway
Booking flights first, asking weather questions later? Nope. Learned my lesson hard this time. Never again. That 10-minute detour to check “el tiempo” might be the difference between paradise and a washout. Especially for an island spot like Boa Vista where those trade winds and surprise storms bite. Always peek at the forecast before hitting purchase. My vacation (and my sanity) depends on it! Weather is messy, travel is messy, double checking saves your bacon.
