Cabo Weather by Month: What to Expect Year-Round

The short answer

November through April is the sweet spot: warm, dry, low humidity, and comfortable from morning to evening. December through March is peak season, with the busiest beaches, highest room rates, and the best whale watching in Baja Sur. May and October are solid shoulder months with good weather and noticeably thinner crowds. June through September is hot and humid, with hurricane risk peaking in August and September. The Sea of Cortez reaches its warmest water temperatures (low 80s F) from July through October, which matters for snorkeling, diving, and water sports.

One thing that surprises many first-timers: even in summer, Los Cabos rarely gets the prolonged heavy rain that hits other Mexican beach destinations. Most precipitation during the wet season falls as afternoon thunderstorms that clear by evening. The bigger concern in summer is heat, not being rained out all day.

Month by month

January: Highs around 75-78F, lows in the mid-50s F. Sea temperature approximately 68-70F. Essentially zero rain. Peak season in full swing. This is one of the most popular months for US visitors escaping cold weather at home. Gray whale season in the Pacific lagoons to the north is running, and humpbacks are active in the Sea of Cortez. Beaches are busy, particularly Médano in Cabo San Lucas. Book accommodations and whale watching tours well in advance. Evenings can feel cool enough for a light jacket near the water.

February: Highs 77-80F, lows upper-50s to low-60s F. Sea around 68-70F. Dry. Still peak season, similar crowd levels to January. Valentine's Day week and Presidents' Day weekend both drive spikes in resort pricing. Gray and humpback whales are still present, making this one of the top months for a whale watching excursion out of Cabo San Lucas marina. Water visibility for snorkeling and diving is good but not at its annual peak.

March: Highs 80-84F, lows mid-60s F. Sea 69-72F. Very low rain chance. Spring break runs through much of March, bringing a noticeable shift in the crowd profile toward younger travelers and groups. Beaches like Médano get loud during spring break weeks. If you prefer a calmer trip, consider early March before college breaks start, or push to late March when many groups have cleared out. Weather remains excellent. The 5 days in Cabo itinerary is a reliable template for a March trip.

April: Highs 84-88F, lows upper-60s F. Sea 70-73F. Near-zero rain. An underrated month. Peak crowds have thinned after spring break, Easter week aside, and hotel rates often drop 20 to 30 percent from their January highs. Whale season is winding down by late April. Daytime heat is building but still very manageable. One of the better value windows in the calendar.

May: Highs 90-94F, lows low-70s F. Sea 73-76F. Rain still negligible. The shoulder month before summer heat sets in fully. Fewer visitors, lower rates, and comfortable mornings and evenings even if midday is warm. Good month for golfers who can play early tee times and for snorkelers who want Chileno or Santa Maria coves without a crowd. Sportfishing remains productive.

June: Highs 94-98F, lows mid-70s F. Sea 76-79F. Occasional brief afternoon thunderstorms, though still mostly dry. Heat is real by June. Early morning activities are pleasant; midday beach time requires shade and shade. Resort pools and air-conditioned rooms see heavy use midday. Rates are meaningfully lower than peak. Humidity starts to climb.

July: Highs 96-100F, lows upper-70s F. Sea 79-82F. Humidity elevated, afternoon thunderstorms more frequent. Hurricane season is active, though direct hits are rare. Water temperatures are warm enough that snorkeling and diving are comfortable even without a wetsuit. Summer crowds are largely Mexican families and budget-conscious US travelers. Cabo San Lucas nightlife stays busy year-round; that does not change in summer.

August: Highs 96-100F, lows high-70s F. Sea 82-84F, warmest of the year. Highest rain risk of the year; tropical systems can bring several inches in a day when a hurricane or tropical storm passes close. Direct hurricane landfalls happen but are not common, roughly a handful of significant events per decade. If you book August, purchase travel insurance and watch the National Hurricane Center forecasts during the weeks before your trip. Water visibility can drop after heavy rain but recovers quickly.

September: Highs 94-98F, lows high-70s F. Sea 82-84F. Still the highest hurricane risk month, alongside August. Sea surface temperatures in the mid-80s F support storm development. This is the least-visited month in Los Cabos, and rates reflect it. Some resort operators cut services during September due to low occupancy. If weather holds, diving and snorkeling conditions can be good. Do not book September without travel insurance.

October: Highs 88-93F, lows low-70s F. Sea 80-82F. Rain risk drops sharply after mid-October. One of the best shoulder months. By the second half of October, the worst of hurricane season is past, humidity is falling, and temperatures are returning to comfortable levels. The Bisbee's Black and Blue marlin tournament runs in late October and draws serious sportfishing energy to the marina. Water temperatures are still warm from the summer, making this an excellent month for diving and snorkeling. Rates are lower than peak season.

November: Highs 82-87F, lows mid-60s F. Sea 76-79F. Essentially dry. Shoulder season transitioning to early peak. Thanksgiving week and the week after are busy; outside those windows, November offers good weather at below-peak rates. Humpback whale activity begins increasing in the Sea of Cortez through the month. A very good time to visit if your dates are flexible.

December: Highs 78-82F, lows upper-50s to low-60s F. Sea 72-75F. Dry. Peak season starts in earnest around mid-December and runs through the Christmas and New Year's week, which is the most expensive and crowded period of the year. Early December before the 15th is a solid window: excellent weather, fewer crowds than the holiday rush, and rates that have not yet hit their seasonal ceiling. Christmas and New Year's weeks require booking six months or more out for popular properties.

What to know

The gray whale season is one of Baja's most distinctive natural events. Pacific gray whales migrate to the lagoons north of Los Cabos (Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Laguna San Ignacio) to calve from late December through mid-April. Day trips from Cabo San Lucas to the calving lagoons are a long but genuinely memorable excursion if you're visiting between January and March.

Hurricane season runs officially June 1 through November 30, with peak risk in August and September. The Sea of Cortez's warm surface temperatures fuel eastern Pacific storms that sometimes track toward the tip of Baja. The most impactful direct hit in recent history was Hurricane Odile in September 2014, which caused significant damage. That level of event is not annual; it is the tail risk you are accounting for when you buy travel insurance and fly in August or September.

Sea temperature matters more than air temperature for many visitors. If snorkeling and swimming comfort are a priority, you want sea temps above 75F. That window runs roughly April through November, with the warmest water July through October. The swimmable beaches on the Sea of Cortez side (Chileno, Santa Maria, Palmilla) are warm and calm year-round by air temperature standards; the Pacific-facing beaches like Solmar are dramatic but not swimmable in any season due to currents.

Flights into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) are busiest and priciest December through March and during spring break. Flying midweek in April, May, or October typically yields better fares. Once you land, check the SJD airport guide and airport transfers and transportation guide before you go.

Practical tips

Pack sun protection regardless of month. At Los Cabos's latitude, UV index runs high year-round, and even in January you will burn faster than you expect. Reef-safe sunscreen is required at Cabo Pulmo and recommended throughout the region.

If you're visiting December through February, bring a light jacket for evenings. Temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s F after sunset feel cold when you've been in the sun all day. Resort restaurants with outdoor seating can be chilly after 8 p.m. in winter.

Mornings are almost always comfortable, even in peak summer. Plan any strenuous outdoor activity, hiking, golf, ATV tours, for before noon in June through September. After 1 p.m. from June through August, shade and water become the priority.

The dry season means dust. The Corridor's desert terrain kicks up fine dust during windy spells, particularly in spring. If you have respiratory sensitivities, this is worth factoring into your month choice.

Travel insurance is not optional if you're visiting July through September. Hurricane-related trip cancellations, while not annual events, do happen and can strand you or cost you a nonrefundable reservation. The Los Cabos Travel Guide covers travel requirements and entry separately.