Todos Santos in December means dry, mild winter weather, the start of humpback whale season, the first sea turtle hatchling releases, consistent winter surf, and the busiest, priciest holiday weeks of the year. Here's the weather, crowds, prices, and the tours worth booking from Todos Santos.
What You Should Know
- December is the start of winter high season: dry, sunny days near 27°C (80°F), cool nights around 14°C (57°F), and the first humpback whales arriving from mid-month, building toward the January-to-March peak.
- It's also when sea turtle hatchling releases begin on Todos Santos beaches, according to the local conservation group, making December one of the few months you might see both whales and baby turtles.
- The month splits in two: early and mid-December are calm and moderately priced, while Christmas to New Year is the busiest, most expensive stretch of the year, when rooms sell out and top-end rates can more than double.
- The Pacific cools to around 23°C (73°F) and the winter swell is in full swing at Cerritos, so surfers get consistent waves while casual swimmers will find the water brisk and the town beaches rough.
Tours Worth Booking From Todos Santos in December
Because Todos Santos has relatively few organized excursions, the most useful tours for visitors staying here are concentrated in Cabo San Lucas and along Highway 19, about an hour south. Every tour below was chosen for how well it works as a day out from a Todos Santos base in December. Our featured booking is the humpback whale cruise from Cabo San Lucas: whale season runs December through April according to Visit Los Cabos, and the first reliable tours of the season come in the second half of December. Earlier in the month, the desert tours on Highway 19 are the better bet.
Is December a Good Time to Visit Todos Santos?
⭐ Best December window: December 12–20. The first humpbacks of the season are arriving, the weather is dry and settled, and you're ahead of the Christmas to New Year peak, when rooms sell out and prices jump. Earlier in the month is quieter and cheaper still, but whale sightings are less reliable.
Our December Ratings
These are our editorial ratings for December conditions in Todos Santos (10 = best), not traveller review scores.
| Factor | December Rating |
|---|---|
| Weather | 9/10: dry, sunny, and mild, with cool nights |
| Crowds | 5/10: calm early in the month, then the busiest weeks of the year |
| Prices | 4/10: moderate early, peak over Christmas and New Year |
| Beaches | 6/10: beautiful and dry, but cooling water and winter shore break |
| Surf | 9/10: winter swell in full swing at Cerritos and San Pedrito |
| Whale Watching | 7/10: season opens mid-month and builds through the holidays |
| Art & Culture | 9/10: galleries open, holiday traditions, and a food and wine festival in recent years |
| Families | 8/10: great weather, turtles and whales, but holiday prices |
| Couples | 9/10: mild days, sunsets, and festive evenings; book ahead for the holidays |
💰 Average December hotel prices (Todos Santos and nearby coast, boutique hotels):
Early Dec: ~$135–315/night · Mid Dec: ~$180–310/night · Christmas to New Year: ~$190–510/night · Luxury resorts: ~$510–1,730/night
Rough estimates from room-only rates for two adults, sampled in September 2026 for December 2026 dates, because most properties had not yet released December 2027 rates; taxes and fees are extra, and 2027 rates may differ.
Todos Santos in December is the start of the town's best season. The weather settles into the dry, sunny, mild pattern that lasts until spring, the galleries and restaurants are fully open, and two of the Pacific coast's great wildlife events begin: the first humpback whales arrive from mid-month, and sea turtle hatchling releases start on the local beaches.
The catch is the calendar. The last week and a half of December is the busiest and most expensive time of the year, and the Pacific is cooling toward its winter low. We'd lean toward the first three weeks of December for travellers who want winter weather, the first whales, and the town in full swing without holiday pricing. We'd book the Christmas to New Year weeks only if your dates are fixed by school or work, and then as early as possible.
Most people don't realize how early the holiday rooms go. In our sample for the week after Christmas, only 8 properties returned rates at all, against 14 in mid-December, and one boutique hotel's rate more than doubled.
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Todos Santos Weather in December
| Metric | December |
|---|---|
| Avg High | 27°C (80°F) |
| Avg Low | 14°C (57°F) |
| Water Temp | 21–26°C (69–78°F) |
| Rain Days | ~2 |
| Humidity | Low to moderate |
| Wind | Moderate (cool northwest breeze) |
| Hurricane Risk | None (eastern Pacific season ends November 30) |
Long-run averages for Todos Santos; air temperature and rain via Climates to Travel, sea temperature via seatemperature.org. Individual years vary.
Temperature and Humidity
December highs average about 27°C (80°F), and nights drop to around 14°C (57°F), three degrees cooler than November. Days are warm and sunny, but mornings and evenings on the coast call for a sweater and a light jacket, as Climates to Travel advises for this time of year. The biggest difference from November is after dark: December evenings are genuinely cool.
Rain Pattern
December is dry, averaging about 20 mm of rain over roughly two days, often from a passing winter front rather than a tropical storm. Sunshine averages around seven hours a day.
Sea and Outdoor Conditions
The Pacific averages about 23°C (73°F) in December, ranging from roughly 21°C to 26°C (69–78°F), and cools through the month toward its winter low. The winter northwest swell is in full swing, which makes December one of the best months for surfing at Cerritos and San Pedrito, and makes the shore break at the town beaches stronger. What typically happens is that mornings are calm and glassy, with the northwest breeze building after midday.
December vs November and January
| Factor | November | December | January |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Warm, dry | Mild, dry, cool nights | Mild, dry, cold nights |
| Pacific water | ~25°C | ~23°C | ~21°C |
| Whales | None | Season opens mid-month | Peak season begins |
| Surf | Winter season begins | Winter swell | Winter swell |
| Turtles | Nesting | Hatchling releases begin | Releases continue |
| Crowds | Festivals, Thanksgiving | Holiday peak late month | Holiday tail, then festival week |
Crowds and Prices in Todos Santos in December
December is really two months: a calm, good-value first half and the busiest holiday stretch of the year.
- Early December: GastroVino and a quiet town. In 2025, the GastroVino food and wine festival was held on December 5–7 in Todos Santos, with wineries and restaurants pouring and serving around the town's public plaza. Check whether it returns on similar dates in 2027.
- December 12: Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe. One of Mexico's most important religious celebrations, with church services and processions across the country; it falls on a Sunday in 2027.
- December 16–24: Las Posadas. The traditional nine nights of Christmas processions and gatherings leading up to Christmas Eve.
- Christmas to New Year: the peak. Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and New Year's Eve on a Friday in 2027. Mexican school winter holidays usually begin in the second half of December, and US and Canadian holiday travellers arrive at the same time.
Most properties had not yet released December 2027 rates when we checked in September 2026, so we sampled December 2026 dates. Boutique hotels in and around town came in around $135–315 per night in early and mid-December, while the week after Christmas saw rates of about $190–510, and luxury resorts ranged from roughly $510 to $1,730 across the month. Only 8 properties returned rates for the post-Christmas dates, against 10 to 14 earlier in the month. Our take: if you're coming for the holidays, book your room months ahead. For where to stay, our Todos Santos hotels guide ranks the ten best by verified guest reviews, with live prices.
For getting here, our Los Cabos airport transfer guide covers the drive from SJD; book holiday transfers early too, and confirm your operator serves Todos Santos.
Whales Arrive and Turtles Hatch: December's Wildlife
December is when the Pacific coast's wildlife season begins, with two very different events.
The First Humpbacks
Whale season in southern Baja runs from December through April, with January to March as the peak, according to Visit Los Cabos. The first humpbacks arrive from mid-December and numbers build through the holidays, so late December brings the first reliable whale tours of the season out of Cabo San Lucas. From Todos Santos, keep binoculars handy at Punta Lobos and La Pastora on clear mornings; shore sightings become more frequent as the month goes on, though they're never guaranteed.
Todos Santos Whale Calendar
| Month | Whale Activity |
|---|---|
| December | Season starts; humpbacks arriving from mid-month |
| January | Peak season begins; spouts and breaching often visible from shore |
| February | Peak; the likeliest month for close encounters |
| March | Final peak month; gray whales heading north |
| April | Declining; the last humpbacks leave |
Sea Turtle Hatchling Releases
Three species of sea turtle nest on the beaches around Todos Santos, and the local group Tortugueros Las Playitas protects the nests in a hatchery. According to the group, olive ridley hatchling releases run from December to April and black sea turtle releases from December to March. Releases usually happen around sunset and depend on when nests hatch, so they can't be booked like a tour; ask locally once you arrive. In our view, it's one of the most memorable things you can do in Todos Santos, and December is the start of the window.
For the full whale watching comparison, see our Cabo San Lucas whale watching tours guide. We'd book December cruises for the second half of the month, and 2–3 weeks ahead over the holidays.
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Holiday Crowds, Cooling Water and Winter Swell: December's Trade-offs
December's downsides are the holiday crush and the ocean turning wintry.
Holiday Crowds and Prices
From roughly December 20 to New Year, Todos Santos is at its busiest. Rooms sell out, top-end rates can more than double, restaurants need reservations, and tours out of Cabo San Lucas fill up. If you're travelling then, book rooms, transfers, and tours months ahead.
Where You Can and Can't Swim
- Punta Lobos, La Cachora, La Pastora, and the long beaches near town: heavy winter shore break and strong currents. Beautiful for walking, whale-spotting, and sunsets; not for swimming.
- Playa Los Cerritos (about 15 minutes south): the most forgiving beach in the area and the standard winter beginner surf beach, but it gets real waves now.
- Playa Las Palmas (San Pedrito): can be calm on small days, but exposed to winter swell.
Surfing in December
December sits in the heart of the November-to-March winter season at Cerritos, when northwest swells arrive consistently (see the Cerritos surf statistics). With the water around 23°C, a 3/2 wetsuit is comfortable. We'd give Cerritos the edge for lessons from Todos Santos; our Cabo surf lessons guide explains why winter lessons move there.
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Best Things to Do in Todos Santos in December
| Activity | December Rating | Best Time of Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic center, galleries & Hotel California | 10/10 | Morning or late afternoon | Fully open; festive in the second half of the month |
| Surfing at Cerritos | 9/10 | Morning | Winter swell in full swing; 3/2 wetsuit |
| Whale sharks (La Paz) | 9/10 | Morning | Peak whale shark season in La Paz Bay; about 1 hour north |
| ATV tour at Migriño | 9/10 | Morning | On Highway 19; cool, dry weather |
| Punta Lobos coastal hike | 9/10 | Late afternoon | Mild weather; watch for the first whales |
| Whale watching boat tour (Cabo) | 8/10 | Morning | Season opens mid-month; best in late December |
| Todos Santos tour with camel ranch | 9/10 | Full day | Pleasant desert temperatures; runs as a day trip from Cabo |
| Zipline canyon circuit (Cabo) | 8/10 | Morning–midday | Comfortable winter temperatures |
| Sea turtle hatchling release | 7/10 | Sunset | Release season begins; depends on nests hatching |
| Snorkeling (Cabo) | 6/10 | Morning | Water cooling; a wetsuit helps |
| Swimming at Todos Santos town beaches | 2/10 | — | Heavy winter shore break |
Editorial ratings for December conditions, not traveller review scores.
What we'd prioritise in December
Time the trip first. In the first half of the month, we'd book this: the Migriño ATV trails on Highway 19 and a whale shark swim in La Paz Bay, both at their best in cool, dry December weather. In the second half, book a Cabo whale cruise as the humpbacks arrive, and ask locally about sunset turtle releases.
Surfers should plan dawn sessions at Cerritos, and everyone should leave time for the galleries, the mission church, and the famous Hotel California, which are at their most festive in December. If you're based in Cabo instead, the Cabo Adventures Todos Santos tour with camel ranch, lunch, and tequila tasting is the most-reviewed way to see the town in a day. For more ideas, see our guide to the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas.
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More December Experiences Around Todos Santos
These experiences don't have dedicated guides on this site yet, but they suit a December stay especially well:
- GastroVino food and wine festival: held on December 5–7 in 2025, with wineries and restaurants around the plaza; check the 2027 dates.
- Las Posadas and holiday traditions: the nine nights of posadas from December 16 lead up to Christmas Eve, with processions, piñatas, and ponche in towns across Mexico.
- Sunset horseback ride: December's mild afternoons and golden light make it one of the best months for a beach ride.
- Punta Lobos fishing pangas: watch the local fleet land its catch, and scan the horizon for the season's first whales from the bluff above.
- El Pescadero farms and farm-to-table dining: the winter growing season is in full swing; book holiday dinners well ahead.
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Our Take
The sweet spot in December is narrow: the week or so before Christmas, when the first whales are arriving and turtle releases are starting, but the holiday rush hasn't hit. We'd aim for December 12–20 and book everything, from rooms to whale cruises, before the autumn.
Tips for Visiting Todos Santos in December
- Book holiday dates very early. Rooms, transfers, whale cruises, and restaurants all fill for Christmas to New Year.
- Book whale cruises for the second half of the month. The first humpbacks arrive from mid-December and numbers build toward January.
- Ask about turtle releases. Hatchling release season begins in December; releases are nest-dependent and usually at sunset.
- Pack a warm layer. Nights drop to around 14°C, and the coast feels colder with a breeze.
- Surf early, with a wetsuit. The winter swell is consistent, and a 3/2 is comfortable at around 23°C.
- Plan a La Paz day. Whale shark season is at its peak in La Paz Bay, an hour north.
- Rent a car. Cerritos, Migriño, La Paz, and every Cabo tour departure need wheels, and most tour pickups cover Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo hotels rather than Todos Santos.
- Treat the beaches with respect. Winter shore break makes the town beaches dangerous; swim at Cerritos on calm days.
- Visiting at a different time of year? November has warmer water, festivals, and no holiday pricing: see our Todos Santos in November guide. January brings peak whale season and the town's music festival: see our Todos Santos in January guide. For the southern tip of the peninsula this month, see our Cabo San Lucas in December guide.
How We Put This Guide Together
The Cabo Tour Guides team built this December guide from long-run climate averages for Todos Santos (Climates to Travel and seatemperature.org), whale season timing published by Visit Los Cabos, hatchling release seasons published by Tortugueros Las Playitas, the GastroVino festival's published dates, swell statistics for Cerritos from Surf-Forecast, our own La Paz and Cabo seasonal coverage, and live pricing data. Because most properties had not yet released December 2027 rates when we checked in September 2026, hotel price ranges come from December 2026 dates; tour ratings and prices come from current booking data. Ratings reflect what actually shapes a December trip to Todos Santos: dry, mild winter weather, the start of whale season, the first turtle hatchling releases, consistent winter surf, cooling Pacific water, and the holiday peak at the end of the month. All scores out of 10 are our editorial ratings, not traveller review scores. Because very few tours start in Todos Santos itself, the tour recommendations focus on the highest-rated, most-reviewed operators in Cabo San Lucas and along Highway 19, plus the day trips that bring visitors up to Todos Santos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Todos Santos good in December?+
Yes, especially before Christmas. December brings dry, sunny days around 27°C (80°F), the start of humpback whale season from mid-month, the first sea turtle hatchling releases, and consistent winter surf at Cerritos. The trade-offs are cool nights around 14°C, cooling Pacific water, rough town beaches, and the busiest, most expensive holiday weeks of the year from about December 20.
What is the weather like in Todos Santos in December?+
Dry, sunny, and mild. Highs average around 27°C (80°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F), with about 20 mm of rain over roughly two days and around seven hours of sunshine a day. Bring a sweater and a light jacket for the evenings.
Can you see whales in Todos Santos in December?+
Yes, from mid-month. Whale season in southern Baja runs from December through April, with the first humpbacks arriving from mid-December and numbers building toward the January-to-March peak. Late December brings the first reliable whale cruises out of Cabo San Lucas, about an hour south, and shore sightings from Todos Santos become more frequent as the month goes on.
Can you see baby sea turtles in Todos Santos in December?+
Possibly. According to the local conservation group Tortugueros Las Playitas, hatchling releases on Todos Santos beaches run roughly from December to April. Releases usually happen around sunset and depend on when protected nests hatch, so ask locally once you arrive.
Is December expensive in Todos Santos?+
It depends on the week. Most properties hadn't released December 2027 rates when we checked, but December 2026 rates for boutique hotels ran roughly $135–315 per night (room only, before taxes) in early and mid-December, rising to about $190–510 after Christmas, with luxury resorts from about $510 to $1,730. Rooms are scarce over the holidays, so book early.
What is the best week to visit Todos Santos in December?+
December 12–20. The first humpbacks are arriving, turtle release season is starting, the weather is dry and settled, and you're ahead of the Christmas to New Year peak. Early December is quieter and cheaper still, but whale sightings are less reliable.
What are the best things to do in Todos Santos in December?+
Take a Cabo whale cruise in the second half of the month, watch for whales from Punta Lobos, ask about sunset turtle releases, surf the winter swell at Cerritos, swim with whale sharks in La Paz Bay, ride the Migriño ATV trails on Highway 19, and enjoy the galleries and holiday atmosphere in town. In recent years the GastroVino food and wine festival has been held in early December.
Is Christmas busy in Todos Santos?+
Yes. From about December 20 to New Year, Todos Santos is at its busiest: rooms sell out, top-end rates can more than double, restaurants need reservations, and whale cruises fill. In our sample, only 8 properties had rooms the week after Christmas, against 14 in mid-December. Book everything months ahead.
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