November in Cabo San Lucas brings near-ideal weather, dry skies, pleasant water, and good value before the holidays, with hurricane season over and the La Paz whale shark season underway. Here's the breakdown.
What You Should Know
- November is one of the best all-round months in Cabo San Lucas: dry, sunny, warm-but-comfortable weather with hurricane season effectively over and pleasant water still in the mix.
- It is a sweet spot for value, sitting between the low summer and the winter high season, with one busy stretch around US Thanksgiving in late November.
- Humpback season has not started yet (it begins mid-December), but the La Paz whale shark season is underway, making a day trip north a strong wildlife option.
- Book early-to-mid November for the best mix of ideal weather, lighter crowds, and value; reserve ahead if your dates fall over Thanksgiving week.
Cabo San Lucas in November: Is It Worth It?
⭐ Best November window: the first three weeks (before Thanksgiving). You get dry, near-ideal weather, pleasant water, and shoulder-season value before US Thanksgiving and the pre-holiday ramp lift demand at the end of the month.
Cabo San Lucas in November is, for many regulars, the best-kept secret on the calendar. Hurricane season is essentially done, the heat and humidity have broken into dry, comfortable warmth, the water is still pleasant, and prices sit in the friendly shoulder-season band before the winter highs arrive. The only busy stretch is US Thanksgiving week. If you want excellent weather without peak prices or crowds, November is hard to beat.
| Factor | November Rating |
|---|---|
| Weather | 9/10 — dry, sunny, warm but comfortable; among the best weather of the year |
| Crowds | 7/10 — light to moderate; a clear spike around US Thanksgiving week |
| Prices | 6/10 — shoulder season; rising toward December and around Thanksgiving |
| Beaches | 9/10 — pleasant water, dry skies, and calm, comfortable conditions |
| Whale Watching | 1/10 — not yet; humpback season starts mid-December |
| Sportfishing | 8/10 — still strong for dorado, tuna, and the tail of marlin season |
| Nightlife | 7/10 — relaxed, building toward the holiday season |
| Families | 8/10 — comfortable weather and good value outside Thanksgiving week |
| Couples | 9/10 — warm, dry, calm, and uncrowded; an excellent getaway month |
💰 Average November hotel prices (Cabo San Lucas / Tourist Corridor, mid-range 4-star):
Early-to-mid November: ~$220/night · US Thanksgiving week: ~$280/night
Rough mid-range estimates; rates vary by property and booking lead time.
So who is November for? We'd lean toward November for travellers who want winter-quality weather without winter prices or crowds, and who don't need whale watching. We'd book November if comfortable, dry conditions and value are the priorities, and a La Paz whale shark day trip is a tempting wildlife bonus. We'd only steer you to December through March if humpbacks are essential. Most people don't realize how good November is; it delivers some of the year's best weather while still sitting in the shoulder-season price band.
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Cabo San Lucas Weather in November
| Metric | November |
|---|---|
| Avg High | 29°C (84°F) |
| Avg Low | 19°C (66°F) |
| Water Temp | 25–26°C (77–79°F) |
| Rain Days | ~1 |
| Humidity | Low to moderate |
| Wind | Light (occasional north winds late month) |
| Hurricane Risk | Minimal (season ends November 30) |
Temperature and Humidity
November brings back the comfortable weather. Daytime highs settle around 28–30°C (82–86°F) with low-to-moderate humidity, and the oppressive summer mugginess is gone. Evenings turn pleasant and mild, with lows near 19°C (66°F), so a light layer is handy after dark. It is warm enough for full beach days and comfortable enough for desert tours at almost any hour.
Rain Pattern
Rain is minimal. November is firmly back in the dry season, with the summer storm pattern over and most days clear and sunny. Hurricane season officially ends November 30, and late-season risk is very low.
Sea and Outdoor Conditions
The water is still pleasant at 25–26°C (77–79°F), comfortable for swimming and snorkeling without a wetsuit for most guests, though it begins cooling gradually as the month ends. Seas are generally calm, with the first occasional north winds sometimes appearing late in the month. Conditions for boat tours are excellent, and mornings remain the most reliable time for calm, clear water.
Cabo Weather by Month: How November Compares
November is the comfortable, dry return of good-weather season. Here is how it lines up against the rest of the year across the four factors that most shape a trip.
| Month | Weather | Water Temp | Whales | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Excellent (dry, mild) | Cool | Peak | Very high |
| February | Excellent (dry, mild) | Cool | Peak (best for calves) | High |
| March | Excellent, warming | Warming | Peak | High (spring break) |
| April | Warm, dry | Warming | End of season | Moderate (Easter spike) |
| May | Warm, dry | Pleasant | None | Moderate (low) |
| June | Hot, sunny | Warm | None | Low |
| July | Hot, humid | Warm | None | Moderate (summer) |
| August | Hot, humid | Warmest | None | Moderate |
| September | Hot, humid, storm risk | Warmest | None | Low (quietest) |
| October | Warm, easing | Warm | None | Low–moderate |
| November | Warm, dry | Pleasant | Not yet | Moderate |
| December | Excellent (dry, mild) | Cooling | Season starts | High (late-month holidays) |
Crowds and Prices in November
November is a shoulder month with strong value and comfortable crowds, broken by one busy holiday week. The shape of the month is easy to read.
- Early-to-mid November: the sweet spot. Near-ideal weather, pleasant water, light crowds, and shoulder-season rates. Our take: the best value-to-weather window of the entire year for many travellers.
- US Thanksgiving week (late November): the spike. The American holiday brings a surge of visitors, lifting hotel rates and tour demand for roughly a week. Book ahead if your dates land here.
- End of November: pre-holiday ramp. After Thanksgiving, demand and rates begin climbing toward the December high season, so late November is pricier than the start of the month.
Expect mid-range 4-star hotels around $220/night for most of the month, rising toward $280/night over Thanksgiving and as December approaches. Flights are reasonable outside the holiday week. Most guests find early-to-mid November the smartest time to visit Cabo all year: winter-quality weather at shoulder-season prices, before the holiday crowds arrive.
Wildlife and Water in November: Whale Sharks and the Warm Sea
Humpbacks haven't arrived yet, but November still offers strong wildlife and water options, headlined by the La Paz whale sharks.
- La Paz whale shark season: the gentle-giant snorkel season in La Paz Bay is underway in November, making a day trip north a standout wildlife experience while you wait for humpback season to begin. See our La Paz whale shark guide.
- Snorkeling and diving: still-pleasant water and calm, clear conditions make for excellent reef time at Pelican Rock, Chileno Bay, and Cabo Pulmo, with the Los Islotes sea lion swim open.
- Sportfishing: dorado and tuna remain strong, with the tail of marlin season still producing; November is a comfortable, productive month on the water.
- Boat cruises: dry, calm evenings make sunset catamaran cruises around El Arco especially reliable.
Humpbacks return in mid-December, so if your trip is late November and flexible, the first arrivals occasionally appear right at the end of the month. For the full season, see our whale watching guide.
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Best Activities in Cabo San Lucas in November
| Activity | November Rating | Best Time of Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whale shark swim (La Paz) | 8/10 | Morning | Season underway; a strong wildlife day trip north |
| Snorkeling tours | 8/10 | Morning | Pleasant water and calm, clear conditions |
| Scuba diving | 8/10 | Morning | Good visibility; Los Islotes sea lion swim open |
| Sportfishing (La Paz / Cabo) | 8/10 | Morning | Dorado and tuna strong; tail of marlin season |
| ATV desert tours | 9/10 | Morning | Dry, comfortable air; one of the better months for the desert |
| Camel ride & eco ranch | 9/10 | Morning | Pleasant, dry conditions; comfortable any morning |
| Zipline canyon circuit | 9/10 | Morning–midday | Clear, dry skies and great visibility over the hills |
| Sunset catamaran cruise | 9/10 | Evening | Dry, calm evenings make for excellent Land's End sunsets |
| Playa Balandra (La Paz) | 9/10 | Midday | Calm, shallow, turquoise bay; comfortable conditions |
| Tequila tasting | 9/10 | Any | Great any day; a relaxed cultural break |
| Hip hop boat party | 7/10 | Daytime | Pleasant water and a relaxed pre-holiday crowd |
| Whale watching | 1/10 | — | Not yet; humpback season starts mid-December |
What we'd prioritise in November
November's dry, comfortable weather is ideal for almost everything, so we'd spread the trip across land and sea. The La Paz whale shark day trip is the wildlife highlight, while snorkeling, diving, and a sportfishing charter all deliver. The dry air makes this one of the best months for desert tours like ATV rides, camel rides, and the zipline circuit. For the complete menu, see our guide to the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas, and our Cabo San Lucas itinerary guide for sequencing it all.
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More November Activities Worth Booking
Beyond the headliners, a few experiences round out a November trip especially well, even if they don't have a dedicated guide on this site yet:
- La Paz whale shark day trip: the season is underway, and the gentle-giant snorkel is a memorable wildlife outing while humpbacks are still weeks away.
- Cabo Pulmo snorkel or dive day trip: still-warm, clear water makes the protected marine park's reefs an excellent outing.
- Sunset catamaran cruise around El Arco: dry, calm November evenings deliver some of the most reliable sunsets of the year.
- San José del Cabo Art Walk: the Thursday-evening gallery stroll runs in the cooler high season, a relaxed cultural evening.
- Combo desert day: dry, comfortable air makes a camel-and-ATV or zipline-and-ATV combo a great use of a morning.
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From Our Experience
The one thing we'd tell every November visitor is to book the first three weeks if you possibly can: that pre-Thanksgiving window delivers some of the best weather of the entire year while you're still paying shoulder-season prices, which is the single best value-to-conditions trade Cabo offers.
Tips for Visiting Cabo San Lucas in November
- Go before Thanksgiving for the best value. Early-to-mid November pairs near-ideal weather with shoulder-season rates, before the holiday crowd and pre-December ramp lift prices.
- Book ahead over Thanksgiving week. The US holiday is the one busy stretch of the month; reserve hotels and tours early if your dates overlap.
- Make the La Paz whale shark trip. The season is underway, and it is the standout wildlife experience while humpbacks are still weeks from arriving.
- This is a great month for desert tours. Dry, comfortable air makes ATV, camel, and zipline tours pleasant at almost any morning hour.
- The water is still good, but cooling. At 25–26°C, swimming and snorkeling are comfortable; a thin wetsuit helps for longer sessions late in the month.
- Pack a light layer for evenings. Nights turn mild as the dry season settles in.
- Hurricane season ends November 30. Late-season risk is very low, making November one of the most weather-reliable months of the year.
- Visiting at a different time of year? November is the dry, comfortable run-up to winter; our Cabo in October guide covers the easing of storm season, and Cabo in December covers the start of whale season and the holidays. For peak whales, January through March are the months.
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How We Put This Guide Together
The Cabo Tour Guides team built this November guide from long-run climate data for Los Cabos, hurricane-season records, sea-temperature and sportfishing patterns for the Sea of Cortez, La Paz whale shark season timing, and the booking and pricing trends we track across local operators and hotels through the autumn shoulder season. Ratings reflect what actually shapes a November trip: dry, comfortable weather, the effective end of hurricane season, pleasant but cooling water, the La Paz whale shark season, and shoulder-season value with a Thanksgiving spike. We weighed each activity on how its real-world conditions change in November rather than on its year-round reputation. Tour recommendations point to operators with verified booking records and strong review volume, with an emphasis on morning departures and free-cancellation flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabo San Lucas good in November?+
Yes, it is one of the best months. November brings dry, sunny, comfortable weather with hurricane season effectively over, pleasant water, and shoulder-season value. The main busy stretch is US Thanksgiving week. The only thing missing is humpback whales, whose season starts mid-December.
What is the weather like in Cabo San Lucas in November?+
November is warm, dry, and comfortable. Daytime highs average about 29°C (84°F) with low-to-moderate humidity, lows near 19°C (66°F), and very little rain. Hurricane season ends November 30, with minimal late-season risk, and ocean water is still pleasant at 25–26°C (77–79°F).
Can you see whales in Cabo San Lucas in November?+
Humpback whale season has not started yet; it begins mid-December. The occasional first arrival can appear at the very end of November, but it is not reliable. However, the La Paz whale shark season is underway, so a day trip north offers an excellent wildlife alternative.
Is November expensive in Cabo San Lucas?+
November is moderate shoulder-season value. Mid-range 4-star hotels run around $220/night for most of the month, rising toward $280/night over US Thanksgiving and as December approaches. Early-to-mid November offers the best value before the holiday crowds.
Is the water warm enough to swim in Cabo in November?+
Yes. November water is still pleasant at 25–26°C (77–79°F), comfortable for swimming and snorkeling without a wetsuit for most guests, though it cools gradually as the month ends. Seas are generally calm, with the first occasional north winds late in the month.
What is the best week to visit Cabo in November?+
The first three weeks, before US Thanksgiving. That window pairs some of the best weather of the year with shoulder-season prices and light crowds. Late November sees the Thanksgiving spike and the start of the pre-December ramp toward high-season rates.
What activities are best in Cabo in November?+
November's dry, comfortable weather suits almost everything. The La Paz whale shark day trip is the wildlife highlight, snorkeling, diving, and sportfishing all deliver, and the dry air makes it one of the best months for desert tours like ATV rides, camel rides, and ziplining.
Is there a hurricane risk in Cabo San Lucas in November?+
Very little. Hurricane season officially ends November 30, and late-season risk is minimal. November is one of the most weather-reliable months of the year, with dry, settled, sunny conditions throughout.
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