December is the month Los Cabos locals call the start of the good stretch. The summer humidity is gone, the skies are clear by 7 a.m., and the Sea of Cortez has settled into the glassy mornings that make whale watching and sportfishing so reliable. It is also the start of peak season in the formal sense: resorts fill up, prices climb, and the marina gets crowded on Christmas Eve in a way that surprises first-timers. If you know what to expect, Cabo in December is one of the best months to visit. If you don’t, the holiday pricing and crowd intensity can catch you off-guard.
This guide covers the weather, what activities are running well, where the crowds concentrate, and how to plan around the holiday weeks if your trip falls in that window.
December Weather in Los Cabos
The dry season is fully established by December. Daytime highs run in the upper 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit across most of the month, and humidity stays low. Mornings can dip into the low 70s in Cabo San Lucas and the mid-60s in the higher elevations. You will not need a jacket during the day, but a light layer is useful for evenings, especially on a dinner cruise or out after sunset.
Rain is uncommon in December but not impossible in the first week, as the remnants of the Pacific hurricane season occasionally push residual moisture north through early December. The probability drops sharply after the first week, and by mid-December the weather pattern that holds through April is firmly established.
The Sea of Cortez water temperature in December runs around 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, warmer than most of the United States at that time of year but noticeably cooler than the 82-plus degrees of September and October. Snorkeling at Chileno Beach and Santa Maria is still comfortable for most adults, though a short wetsuit top is appreciated by anyone who runs cold.
Wind picks up in the afternoons, particularly along the Corridor between the two towns. Morning activities on the water are almost always calmer than afternoon ones. This matters when you’re booking whale watching or sportfishing tours.
For a full month-by-month breakdown, the weather by month guide has a useful comparison across the whole year.
The Holiday Weeks: Christmas and New Year’s in Cabo
The two weeks from roughly December 20 through January 2 are the highest-demand period of the entire Cabo calendar. Resorts that run at 60 to 70 percent occupancy in November hit 90 to 100 percent by December 23. A room that goes for $350 a night in early December can run $600 or more during the peak holiday block at many Corridor properties.
The Médano Beach area in Cabo San Lucas is particularly busy over the holidays. Beach clubs operate at capacity, and the marina fills with charter boats, water taxis, and private yachts. San José del Cabo’s Art District and the side streets around the historic plaza stay noticeably calmer and are worth a morning if you want to see the town without the holiday-week intensity.
One practical note: book your airport transfer before you arrive. No reliable Uber pickup operates at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), and prepaid shuttles book out quickly in December. Arranging ground transport on short notice during the holiday block is harder and more expensive than securing it a few weeks in advance.
If the holiday period is not a fixed constraint, the first two to three weeks of December offer the same good weather and the same activities without the Christmas and New Year’s rate premium. That window is one of the better-value times to visit Cabo all year.
Whale Watching in December
Mid-December marks the beginning of humpback whale season in the Sea of Cortez and the nearshore Pacific. The migration bringing whales south from cold-water North Pacific feeding grounds typically starts reaching the Cabo area around December 15. Numbers build through January and February, which are the peak months. Early December whale watching tours run, but sighting rates are lower than they will be once January arrives and the population density increases.
If seeing whales is a primary goal of your December trip, plan your tour for the second half of the month rather than the first. The last week of December and the first week of January is when numbers are building fast enough that encounters are reliably likely. Tours depart from the Marina Cabo San Lucas, typically run two to three hours, and operate on morning schedules when seas are calmest.
For the full breakdown on tour types, what to bring, and how to choose an operator, see the whale watching activity page.
Sportfishing in December
December is one of the stronger months for offshore sportfishing in Los Cabos. The Bisbee’s Black and Blue Tournament in October marks the peak of the billfish calendar, and December carries much of that same productive energy forward. Striped marlin are running well through December, dorado (mahi-mahi) remain present around the offshore banks, and wahoo are caught regularly.
Water temperatures in the high 60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit, cooler than October, hold fish in the nutrient-rich currents that converge off Land’s End. Full-day charters targeting striped marlin typically depart around 7 a.m. and return mid-afternoon. Half-day inshore trips targeting roosterfish and smaller species are available for a shorter time on the water.
Charter prices vary by vessel size and target species. A shared 6-person boat targeting dorado and reef species can run $150 to $200 per person. A private full-day sportfisher targeting billfish runs roughly $1,000 to $2,500 depending on the boat. The sportfishing page covers the range of options and what to look for when booking.
Beaches and Activities in December
December is a solid month for the Corridor’s swimmable coves. Chileno Beach and Santa Maria Beach both sit in protected bays that block the northwesterly swells that can affect exposed coastlines. Both are free to access, have clear water for snorkeling, and are much quieter than Médano Beach in Cabo San Lucas.
Médano Beach is the main swimmable town beach and stays busy through the month. Beach club loungers go fast on weekends and throughout the holiday weeks; arriving before 9 a.m. gives you the best position. Pacific-facing beaches including Solmar Beach are for walking and sunsets only. The currents are genuinely dangerous and that does not change by season or time of year.
ATV and off-road tours through the desert foothills run well in December. The dry conditions mean desert trails are at their best, and the temperatures make a morning ride comfortable rather than brutal. Sunset dinner cruises book quickly during the holiday weeks; if you want a specific departure time or vessel type, reserve several days in advance.
Where to Stay in December
Los Cabos has three main bases: Cabo San Lucas, the Corridor, and San José del Cabo. The biggest pricing premium in December lands on the all-inclusive resorts along the Corridor and the beachfront properties facing Médano Beach. San José del Cabo has more mid-range options and a quieter pace, and it’s the closest of the three to SJD airport.
The where to stay by area guide breaks down the trade-offs by location, resort type, and budget range. For context on what’s included in all-inclusive rates versus what carries an extra charge, cabo resort fees and tipping guide is worth reading before you commit to a property.
Getting to Cabo in December
All flights into Los Cabos arrive at SJD, about 30 minutes from San José del Cabo and 45 to 50 minutes from Cabo San Lucas. December is the busiest flight month of the year for SJD. Direct routes from Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, and Chicago fill up weeks in advance for the Christmas-through-New Year’s window.
For the best seat availability and rates, book December flights to Cabo by early November. The window of December 14 to 20 flies in cheaper than the holiday block and offers the same good weather. If your schedule allows departing a secondary city with a connection through Phoenix or Dallas, those itineraries can run $200 to $400 less than nonstops during the peak holiday week.
The best time to visit guide has a full comparison of all months, which is useful if you’re weighing December against February or March for a trip where flexibility exists.