Los Cabos in December: Weather, Whales, Crowds & What to Book

Los Cabos in December is the destination operating at full power. The summer humidity is long gone, daytime temperatures settle into a near-perfect 24–27°C (75–81°F), the first humpback whales start breaching in the bay, and the entire town strings itself with lights for Christmas and New Year's Eve. It is, by almost any measure, the best month to be here — and everyone knows it. December is also peak season's peak: flights fill up, hotel rates climb to their annual high, and the marina boardwalk gets genuinely busy between Christmas and New Year's. This guide covers what December in Cabo actually feels like, what it costs, what you must book early, and how a Baja Pass takes real money off the month's inflated activity prices.

What Is the Weather Like in Los Cabos in December?

In a word: ideal. Expect sunny days around 24–27°C (75–81°F), almost zero chance of rain, and low humidity — the desert-meets-ocean climate at its best. Evenings are the surprise for first-timers: after sunset the temperature drops noticeably, often into the 13–17°C (mid-50s to low-60s °F) range, so dinners on the marina and sunset cruises genuinely call for a light jacket or sweater. The sea is cooler than summer — roughly 22–24°C — which is still comfortable for swimming and snorkeling, though some people prefer a shorty wetsuit for longer sessions in the water. Hurricane season is fully over by December, and rain is rare enough that you can plan boat days weeks in advance with confidence. For a month-by-month comparison of temperatures, sea conditions, and rain, see our full Cabo San Lucas weather by month breakdown.

Whale Season Opens December 15

This is December's headline act. Humpback and gray whales migrate down from Alaska to breed and calve in the warm waters of Baja California Sur, and the official whale watching season in Los Cabos opens on December 15 and runs through mid-April. Late December sightings are already strong — humpbacks breaching, tail-slapping, and mothers arriving with newborn calves as the season builds into January and February. Booking a tour in the season's opening weeks means smaller crowds on the water than the February rush. Tours range from big catamarans to small zodiac-style boats that get you closer to the action; our whale watching guide compares the formats, and our whale watching prices breakdown covers what you should expect to pay — typically $60–$130 USD per person depending on boat size and duration. Baja Pass members get 2-for-1 pricing on partner tours like the luxury whale watching cruise and the whale photo safari, which effectively halves the cost for two people during the most expensive month of the year.

Do You Need a Wetsuit in December?

For a quick swim or a standard one-hour snorkel stop, no — most visitors are perfectly fine in a swimsuit. If you are planning longer water time, like a two-tank dive trip or a full morning of snorkeling at Chileno Bay or Santa Maria, a 3mm shorty makes the session much more pleasant, and most operators include one at no extra charge. The upside of winter water is visibility: with less plankton in the water column, December through February typically delivers the clearest snorkeling and diving conditions of the year, which is exactly when you want to be in the water at spots like the Arch and Pelican Rock.

How Crowded and Expensive Is Cabo in December?

Honest answer: the first half and the second half of December are two different trips. December 1–14 is a quiet sweet spot — high-season weather with shoulder-season energy, decent hotel availability, and restaurants you can walk into. From roughly December 20 through January 2, Los Cabos runs at maximum occupancy. Hotel rates at beachfront resorts routinely double their September prices, popular restaurants book out days ahead, and the best boats and tour slots for the holiday week sell out weeks in advance. Flights from major US and Canadian cities also hit their annual price peak around the holidays. None of this should scare you off — the atmosphere between Christmas and New Year's is genuinely festive and unlike any other week here — but you need to plan like it is peak season, because it is. If you have flexible dates and want December weather without December pricing, aim for the first two weeks or compare months in our best time to visit Cabo guide.

What Should You Book Early for a December Trip?

For travel between December 20 and January 2, treat these as book-now items the moment your flights are confirmed:

• Hotels: 2–4 months out for the holiday weeks. The well-located mid-range spots sell out before the luxury resorts do.
• Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinner reservations: the marquee restaurants set special menus and fill up by early December.
• Whale watching and boat tours: holiday-week departures sell out; book as soon as season opens on December 15 or earlier.
• Yacht charters: New Year's week is the single most in-demand stretch of the year for private boats — reserve 4–6 weeks ahead. Baja Pass members get 50% off yacht charters across a fleet of 11 boats from 33' to 100'.
• Airport transfers and rental cars: both tighten up in the holiday window; see our getting around Cabo guide for options.
• Golf tee times and spa appointments: not covered by any pass, but they book out just as fast in holiday week.

Christmas and New Year's Eve in Cabo

Cabo does the holidays with a Mexican-beach-town twist: posadas and nativity displays in the plazas, Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) as the big family dinner night, and resorts running full holiday programs with special menus. New Year's Eve is the town's biggest night of the year. Fireworks go off over the bay and the marina, nearly every restaurant runs a gala dinner, and downtown becomes one connected party that runs well past sunrise. El Squid Roe — the most famous party venue in town, open from breakfast through dinner and turning into an 18+ nightclub after 10pm — throws one of the loudest New Year's celebrations in Baja. If a big night out is on your agenda, our Cabo nightlife guide maps the whole downtown scene. One local tip: book your NYE dinner early and eat early; the streets fill up fast after 10pm and you will want to be where you intend to celebrate before midnight.

What Should You Pack for Cabo in December?

December packing trips people up because they picture summer Cabo. Days are warm, but those cool desert evenings are real. Bring:

• Swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen — beach and pool days are fully on.
• A light jacket, sweater, or hoodie for every evening — you will use it daily.
• Long pants and one dressier outfit for holiday dinners and NYE.
• A windbreaker or light layer for boat trips — mornings on the water are brisk.
• Comfortable walking shoes for the marina and downtown, plus sandals.
• Sunglasses and a hat — December sun is gentler than July but still strong at midday.

A December Day-by-Day Itinerary Idea

Here is a realistic four-day December rhythm that balances whales, water, and holiday nights. Day 1: settle in, walk the marina, sunset drinks, early dinner downtown. Day 2: morning whale watching tour while the water is calm, afternoon at Medano Beach, then a sunset sailing cruise past the Arch — December sunsets around 5:45pm are some of the year's most photogenic. Day 3: desert day — an ATV or camel excursion in the morning, long lunch, spa or pool recovery in the afternoon, big night out downtown. Day 4: snorkeling at Santa Maria or Chileno Bay in the morning (the water is clearest in winter), souvenir run, and a final marina dinner. Swap in a half-day sport fishing charter if your group fishes — December still produces dorado, tuna, and striped marlin. If you have more time, a day trip to Todos Santos adds an artsy counterpoint to the holiday buzz.

How the Baja Pass Cuts December's Peak Prices

December is the one month where activity prices have no reason to discount — demand does not require it. That is exactly why a discount pass earns its keep here. The Baja Pass is $75 USD one-time, valid for 365 days, and covers the member plus one guest. It unlocks 2-for-1 pricing at 24 partner activities — whale watching, snorkeling, ATVs, sailing and more — plus 50% off yacht charters and 50% off sport fishing charters, and daily 2x1 mains and 2x1 all drinks from 9am to 7pm at El Squid Roe (mains 2x1 excludes totoaba, boss cheese, steak, shrimp and rib eye). Run the math on a holiday trip for two: one whale watching tour, one snorkel outing, and one ATV excursion at December rates, and the pass has typically already paid for itself before you touch the yacht discount. Plug your own plans into the savings calculator to see your number, and check whether a Cabo discount pass is worth it for a full honest breakdown. Since the pass is valid 365 days, a December purchase also covers a return trip any time in the following year.