Cabo San Lucas in December (2026): Whale Season Begins, Dry Skies & the Holidays

⭐ Best December window: the first two-to-three weeks (before Christmas). You get dry, excellent weather, the opening of whale season, and far lower prices and crowds than the Christmas and New Year peak that follows.

Cabo San Lucas in December is two trips in one. The first half of the month is calm, dry, and good value, with whale season just beginning. The second half is the festive peak of the year, when Christmas and New Year fill the resorts and push prices to their annual ceiling. The weather is excellent throughout: dry, sunny, and comfortably warm by day, cooler by night. Which December you get depends entirely on whether you travel before or during the holidays.

💰 December hotel prices (Cabo San Lucas / Tourist Corridor, 4-star):
Early-to-mid December (2 to 16 Dec): ~$174–184/night · Christmas to New Year's Eve (26 to 31 Dec): ~$296–316/night · Saturday 2 January 2027: ~$250/night
Live median rates for the most-reviewed 4-star hotels in Cabo San Lucas and the Tourist Corridor (30 to 39 of 45 returned a rate each night), two adults, one night, pulled 20 October 2026. Room only, before taxes; rates for dates many months out are often placeholders.

So who is December for? We'd lean toward early December for travellers who want excellent weather, the first whales of the season, and reasonable value. We'd book the holidays only if a festive Christmas or New Year in the sun is the goal and the budget allows, since these are the priciest days of the year. We'd steer value seekers firmly to the first half of the month. Most people don't realize how different the two halves of December are; the same weather cost roughly 40% less before the holidays than during them in our hotel sample.

Temperatures and rainfall are 1991 to 2020 normals for Mexico's Servicio Meteorológico Nacional station in Cabo San Lucas; water temperatures are typical values for the month.

Temperature and Humidity

December brings crisp, dry winter comfort. Daytime highs average about 27°C (81°F) with low humidity, ideal for desert tours and beach days. Evenings turn cool, with lows near 14°C (57°F), so a light jacket is useful after dark and for early whale tours. Occasional cool fronts can drop temperatures briefly early in the month. It is a noticeable shift from autumn's warmth into proper winter conditions.

Rain Pattern

Rain is minimal: about 7 mm (0.3 in) on roughly one day in an average December. The month sits firmly in the dry season, with most days clear and sunny and only the rare passing shower or cool front. It is one of the most dependable months for settled, rain-free weather.

Sea and Outdoor Conditions

The water is cooling to 23–24°C (73–75°F), still swimmable but heading toward the midwinter low, so many guests prefer a wetsuit for longer snorkel or dive sessions. Occasional north winds return through the month, chopping up the Pacific side and open water on some afternoons. Mornings are calmer and clearer, which also suits the season's first whale tours. Médano Beach stays the most protected swimming bay.

Cabo Weather by Month: How December Compares

December is the dry, comfortable start of winter and whale season. Here is how it lines up against the rest of the year across the four factors that most shape a trip.

December has the sharpest split of any month: a calm, reasonably priced first half and the busiest, priciest holidays of the year in the second. Picking your dates is the whole game.

• Early-to-mid December: the value window. Excellent dry weather, the opening of whale season, light-to-moderate crowds, and rates of about $174 to $184 a night in our 2 to 16 December sample, well below the holiday peak. Our take: the smartest time to visit in December by far.
• Christmas and New Year: the annual peak. Resorts fill, rates hit their yearly ceiling (about $296 to $316 a night from 26 to 31 December in our sample, still about $250 on 2 January), and the marina and beaches are at their busiest. Festive and fun, but expensive; book months ahead.
• Whale timing: the first humpbacks arrive mid-December and build toward month's end, so late December offers better whale odds than early December, just at holiday prices.

Expect 4-star hotels around $174 to $184 a night in early-to-mid December, jumping to roughly $296 to $316 a night between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Flights follow the same pattern, peaking sharply over the holidays. Compare live Cabo flight prices before the holiday dates fill. Most guests find early-to-mid December the sweet spot: the same superb weather as the holidays, the season's first whales, and a fraction of the cost.

December is when the humpbacks come back. The first arrivals typically appear around mid-December, migrating into the warm Baja waters to breed and calve, and numbers build steadily toward the end of the month. Early December is too soon for reliable tours, but by late December operators are running regular whale watching trips and sightings become dependable, a fitting finale to the year and a preview of the January-to-March peak.

If whales are a priority for a December trip, aim for the second half of the month and book a morning tour. In our view, December whale watching is best seen as the exciting opening act: not yet peak numbers, but the first real chance of the season, often with fewer boats on the water than in the busy months ahead.

Cabo Whale Watching Calendar

Humpback season in Cabo runs mid-December through April. Here is the month-by-month arc so you can see exactly where December falls.

For the full operator comparison and what to expect on the water, see our complete Cabo San Lucas whale watching tours guide. Ready for peak season? Our Cabo in January guide covers the first of the peak months. Late-December morning tours give the best odds and calmest seas.

The holidays are December's defining event, and they transform the town. Whether they're a draw or something to plan around, here's what to expect.

• Peak prices and demand: Christmas through New Year (roughly December 20 to January 2) is the most expensive, fully booked stretch of the year. Reserve hotels, tours, and holiday dinners months in advance.
• Festive atmosphere: resorts run special holiday programming, the marina is lively, and New Year's Eve brings fireworks over the bay and parties across town. The energy is a genuine draw for many.
• Where to base yourself: the marina and Médano Beach are the busiest and most festive; the Tourist Corridor and San José del Cabo are calmer if you want a quieter holiday.
• Cool fronts and wind: the holidays can coincide with occasional cool fronts and north winds, so pack a layer for evening events and expect some choppy afternoons on the water.

Our take: the holidays in Cabo are festive and reliably sunny, but you pay the year's top prices for them. If the celebration is the point, book very early; if it isn't, the first half of December gives you the same weather for far less.

What we'd prioritise in December

December's dry winter air is superb for land tours, so we'd give the edge to ATV tours, camel rides, horseback riding, and the zipline circuit. Late in the month, the season's first whale watching tours start running, and the La Paz whale shark day trip is in full swing. Festive sunset cruises and an indoor tequila tasting round out the holiday mood. 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.

Beyond the headliners, a few experiences round out a December trip especially well, even if they don't have a dedicated guide on this site yet:

• Late-December whale watching: catch the very first tours of the new season, often with fewer boats than the peak months ahead.
• La Paz whale shark day trip: the season is in full swing, a memorable wildlife outing while Cabo's humpbacks are just arriving.
• New Year's Eve cruise or dinner: festive sunset and dinner cruises and special resort menus mark the holidays; book well ahead.
• Early-morning desert tour: dry, cool December air makes ATV, camel, and zipline tours especially comfortable.
• San José del Cabo Art Walk: the Thursday-evening gallery stroll runs through the high season, a relaxed festive-season evening.

• Travel before Christmas week for value. Early-to-mid December has excellent weather, the season's first whales, and far lower prices than the Christmas and New Year peak (about $174 to $184 a night through 16 December in our sample).
• Book the holidays months ahead. Christmas and New Year are the busiest, priciest days of the year; hotels, tours, and dinners fill early.
• For whales, aim late in the month. The first humpbacks arrive mid-December and build toward month's end, so late-December morning tours offer the best odds.
• Pack layers for cool evenings. Nights are cool and occasional cool fronts pass through, so bring a jacket for evening events and sunrise tours.
• Lean into land tours. Dry, comfortable December air makes ATV, camel, and zipline tours some of the best of the year.
• A wetsuit helps in the water. The sea is cooling to 23–24°C, fine for short swims but cool for longer snorkel or dive sessions.
• Watch for north winds. Book water tours for the morning and choose free cancellation, as afternoons can get choppy.
• Adding Todos Santos in December? Our Todos Santos in December guide covers the Pacific side an hour north, where the first humpbacks can be spotted from shore, turtle hatchling releases begin, and the winter surf is in full swing.
• Adding La Paz in December? Our La Paz in December guide covers the Sea of Cortez side farther north, where whale shark season peaks.
• Visiting at a different time of year? December opens whale season; our Cabo in November guide covers the dry, value-friendly run-up, and Cabo in January covers the first of the peak whale months. The full season runs mid-December through April.