Todos Santos in May (2027): Weather, Crowds, Surf & Things to Do

⭐ Best May window: May 2–27. Almost the whole month works. Aim for weekdays and avoid the US Memorial Day weekend (May 29–31, 2027), which brings a small bump in visitors; book restaurants ahead for Mexican Mother's Day on Monday, May 10.

Our May Ratings

These are our editorial ratings for May conditions in Todos Santos (10 = best), not traveller review scores. For risk factors, a higher score means less of a problem; for a seasonal draw that isn't running, 0 means not available.

💰 Average May hotel prices (Todos Santos and nearby coast, boutique hotels):
Early May (4–7): ~$225–310/night · Mid May (18–21): ~$225–310/night · Memorial Day weekend (28–31): ~$225–310/night · Luxury resorts: ~$460–1,170/night
Rough estimates from room-only rates for two adults, sampled in September 2026 for May 2027; taxes and fees are extra, and rates vary by property and booking lead time.

Todos Santos in May is one of the best-kept secrets of the Baja calendar. It is the sunniest month of the year, averaging about nine hours of sunshine a day with no rain, and the cool Pacific keeps daytime highs around 26°C (79°F). That makes Todos Santos noticeably more comfortable than La Paz, where May highs are already around 32°C, and a pleasant contrast to the heat building on the Cabo side.

The trade-off is that the seasonal headliners are gone. Whale season ended in April, winter surf has faded, and the Pacific is still cool at around 20°C. The town is quieter too, with winter residents back home. We'd lean toward May for couples, walkers, writers, and anyone who wants sunshine and space more than wildlife. We'd only steer you elsewhere if you want warm-water swimming or whales; for the first, base yourself on the Sea of Cortez side, and for the second, come back between January and March.

Most people don't realize how much cooler Todos Santos is than the rest of southern Baja in late spring. The same Pacific that makes the water cool keeps the air mild, so May is a month when the town's reputation as the "cool" side of the peninsula is most obviously deserved.

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

May highs average about 26°C (79°F), barely warmer than April, while nights warm to around 14°C (58°F). That's the Pacific at work: the cool ocean keeps Todos Santos far milder than the Sea of Cortez side. The biggest difference between May and the winter months is at night, when a light sweater is usually enough and the heavy winter jacket can stay at home.

Rain Pattern

May is rain-free on average, with 0 mm and no rainy days, and it is the sunniest month of the year at around nine hours of sunshine a day. The main weather quirk is the morning marine layer, a band of low cloud or haze that sometimes sits over the coast in late spring and usually burns off by late morning.

Sea and Outdoor Conditions

The Pacific averages about 20°C (68°F) in May, ranging from roughly 17°C to 23°C (63–72°F) and warming slowly from March's low. Winter swells are gone, so Cerritos is usually small and friendly, while the south swells that power Costa Azul on the Cabo side become more frequent from spring. Town beaches can still have strong shore break on bigger days. Mornings are the calmest time of day before the northwest breeze builds.

Hurricane Season Starts, Quietly

The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially runs from May 15 to November 30, with the peak from July to September, according to NOAA's Climate.gov. Storms that affect southern Baja in May are uncommon. We think the tradeoff is simple: book refundable rooms and tours, check the forecast in the week before you travel, and otherwise treat May as a dry, settled month.

May vs April and June

May is shoulder season. There are no big holidays drawing crowds to Todos Santos, just a few dates that shape the month.

• May 1 (Saturday): Labor Day. A national holiday in Mexico; expect a slightly busier weekend at the beaches and Cerritos.
• May 10 (Monday): Mexican Mother's Day. One of the busiest restaurant days of the year in Mexico. Book lunch or dinner ahead if you're eating out.
• May 29–31: US Memorial Day weekend. A small bump in American visitors, more noticeable in Cabo San Lucas than in Todos Santos.

When we sampled room-only rates in September for May 2027, boutique hotels in and around town came in around $225–310 per night across early May, mid-May, and Memorial Day weekend, essentially the same as spring. The difference is at the top end: luxury resorts ranged from roughly $460 to $1,170, well below the $700-plus that several charged in March and April. Only 10 to 11 of the roughly 95 properties listed by our booking partner returned rates, and some of that gap is properties that had not yet released May rates rather than sell-outs. Our take: May is the month to try one of the high-end resorts if you've been eyeing them. For where to stay, our Todos Santos hotels guide ranks the ten best by verified guest reviews, with live prices.

The town is quieter than in winter, but still fully open in May; the bigger closures come later in summer. For getting here, our Los Cabos airport transfer guide covers the drive from SJD; confirm your operator serves Todos Santos, since not every transfer company covers the outlying towns by default.

May's real seasonal advantage in Todos Santos is the climate itself. With no whales and no winter surf, the draw is simply that this is the most comfortable place in southern Baja to be as the rest of the peninsula heats up.

La Paz figures from our La Paz in May guide; Todos Santos figures from the sources in the weather section above.

What typically happens is that visitors who base themselves in Todos Santos in May get the best of both: cool, sunny days for exploring the Pacific side, and one or two trips across to the Sea of Cortez for warm-water swimming. We'd book this for at least one day: Playa Balandra near La Paz for calm turquoise water, or a Cabo snorkel cruise. May is also the last full month to snorkel with the sea lions at Los Islotes before the colony closes for pupping season around June 1; see our Isla Espíritu Santo tours guide.

Closer to town, the long sunny days are ideal for the coastal walk from Punta Lobos, early hikes in the Sierra de la Laguna foothills before the midday sun, and sunsets at La Pastora with the beaches almost to yourself.

May's downsides are all about the ocean on the Pacific side: cool water, beaches that still aren't safe for swimming, and surf that sits between seasons.

Where You Can and Can't Swim

• Punta Lobos, La Cachora, La Pastora, and the long beaches near town: strong shore break and currents on most days. Beautiful for walking and sunsets; not for swimming. Drownings do happen on this coast, so take the warnings seriously.
• Playa Los Cerritos (about 15 minutes south): the most forgiving beach in the area, with a sandy bottom and a sheltered point, and usually gentle in May.
• Playa Las Palmas (San Pedrito): a palm-backed cove that can be calm enough to wade on small days; check conditions first.

Surfing in May

The main winter surf season at Cerritos runs roughly November to March (see the Cerritos surf statistics for month-by-month swell data), so May waves there are generally smaller: good for a first lesson, less exciting for experienced surfers. South swells increasingly favor the Cabo side, which is why our Cabo surf lessons guide recommends Costa Azul from spring through fall. We'd give Cerritos the edge for a gentle first lesson from Todos Santos, and Costa Azul the edge for anyone after better waves. A spring suit or 3/2 wetsuit is still comfortable at around 20°C.

Cool Water

At around 20°C, the Pacific is refreshing rather than warm. The Sea of Cortez, around 24°C in May according to our La Paz coverage, is the place for long swims and snorkeling.

Editorial ratings for May conditions, not traveller review scores.

What we'd prioritise in May

Split the trip between the two seas. On the Pacific side, enjoy what May does best: long, sunny, mild days in town and on the coast, with sunsets at La Pastora and a walk from Punta Lobos. Then give at least one day to the Sea of Cortez; we'd give the edge to Espíritu Santo's sea lions before the colony closes around June 1, with Playa Balandra as the easier alternative.

For adrenaline, the Migriño ATV trails on Highway 19 are the closest big tour to town; book a morning start as the desert warms up. 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 in the south of the peninsula, see our guide to the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas.

These experiences don't have dedicated guides on this site yet, but they suit a May stay especially well:

• Horseback riding on the beach: small local outfits run rides along the sand and through the desert; an evening ride in May's mild air is hard to beat.
• Punta Lobos fishing pangas: the local fleet launches and lands its boats through the surf just south of town, and May's quiet beaches make it easy to watch.
• El Pescadero farms and farm-to-table dining: the farming community between Todos Santos and Cerritos supplies many local restaurants, and May is an easy month to get a table.
• Mother's Day in town (May 10): a big family celebration across Mexico, with restaurants full of multi-generation lunches. A nice slice of local life, as long as you book ahead.
• Sunset hikes: the long, clear evenings of the sunniest month make guided sunset walks along the old port and coast especially good.

• Book flexible. Hurricane season officially opens May 15; storms in May are uncommon, but refundable rooms and tours cost you nothing.
• Plan a Sea of Cortez day. For warm, calm water, head to Playa Balandra, Espíritu Santo, or a Cabo snorkel cruise rather than the Pacific beaches.
• Catch the sea lions before June. The Los Islotes colony closes for pupping season around June 1, so late-May visitors should book the Espíritu Santo trip early in their stay.
• Start desert tours early. Migriño, the zipline canyon, and foothill hikes are best in the morning as May days warm up inland.
• Reserve for Mother's Day. May 10 is one of the busiest restaurant days of the year in Mexico.
• Rent a car. Migriño, Cerritos, 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.
• Check opening hours. A few restaurants and galleries keep shorter off-season hours; confirm before making a special trip.
• Pack sun protection. May is the sunniest month of the year, and the cool breeze hides how strong the sun is.
• Visiting at a different time of year? June stays dry and mild while the rest of southern Baja heats up: see our Todos Santos in June guide. April is similarly quiet with slightly cooler water: see our Todos Santos in April guide. For whales, go between January and March: our Todos Santos in February guide covers the peak. For the southern tip of the peninsula this month, see our Cabo San Lucas in May guide.