December weather in Cabo
December averages a high of about 81°F (27°C) and a low of about 56°F (14°C), with very little rain. Days are sunny and good for the beach; evenings are cool enough for long sleeves, especially on the water. The sea cools through the month but is still comfortable for most swimmers, and a thin wetsuit top helps for longer snorkels. Hurricane season is over by December. Full month-by-month numbers are in Cabo weather by month.
Sunset is early, around 5:40 PM, so dinner plans start earlier than in summer. See our sunset spots guide.
Whale season starts in December
Mexico's official whale-watching season in Los Cabos opens on December 15 (the 2025 to 2026 federal notice ran it to April 30). Humpbacks arrive through the month, and sightings pick up toward January. A December trip is often a good time to see the first whales with fewer boats around. See our whale season guide and whale watching tours.
Near Todos Santos, volunteers begin sunset releases of hatchling sea turtles from about December 10. Details on our Todos Santos day trip page.
What's on: Guadalupe, Posadas and Christmas
December is the biggest month of the Mexican calendar:
- December 12: [Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe](/events/virgen-de-guadalupe-cabo/), with processions and church celebrations.
- December 16 to 24: [Las Posadas](/events/las-posadas-cabo/), nine nights of candlelit processions, piñatas, ponche and tamales in parishes and neighborhoods.
- December 24: Nochebuena, the big family dinner. Many restaurants run set menus and book out. See [Christmas in Cabo](/events/christmas-in-cabo/).
- December 31: [New Year's Eve](/events/new-years-eve-cabo-san-lucas/), the busiest night of the year, with bars and beach clubs packed and fireworks around the bay at midnight.
New Year's Eve fireworks over the bay
At midnight on New Year's Eve, hotels, beach clubs and restaurants around Cabo San Lucas Bay set off their own fireworks, so the sky over Médano and the marina lights up from several places at once rather than one official show. Watching from Médano Beach is free; a boat in the bay puts you in the middle of it, but New Year's charters sell out months ahead. Plan transport home before the party, as taxis are scarce after midnight.
Crowds and prices: early vs late December
Early December, up to about the 18th, is one of the best-value times of the high season: warm weather, quieter beaches, easy restaurant bookings and prices below the holiday peak. From around December 19, Christmas week and New Year's week are the two most expensive weeks of the year for villas and hotels, often with 7-night minimum stays, and flights, boats and chefs book out.
- Book holiday-week stays many months ahead; they sell out first.
- Reserve Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinners before you fly.
- Stock up on groceries before December 23; supermarkets are packed on the 23rd and 24th.
- Book airport transfers early for the weekend before Christmas, the busiest arrival days.
Things to do in Cabo in December
December is an easy month to fill. The weather suits the beach and the golf course, and nothing closes for the season. Whale watching starts mid-month, sunset cruises head out around 5 PM (bring a layer), snorkeling at Santa María and Chileno is still good, and the cooler air makes golf and a Todos Santos day trip more pleasant. Sportfishing continues, with striped marlin season getting going toward the new year; see sportfishing in Cabo. Our events calendar lists what's on each week.
One practical note: with sunset around 5:40 PM, the day is shorter than in summer. Start boat trips and day trips early, and book sunset activities for late afternoon rather than evening.
What to pack for December
Pack for summer days and cool evenings. Beachwear and sun protection for the day, plus a light sweater or fleece, long pants and closed shoes for dinners and boat rides after sunset. If you'll snorkel a lot, a thin wetsuit top makes longer swims comfortable. Holiday dinners at nicer restaurants are smart casual. Our packing list for Cabo has the full rundown.
Who December suits
Early December suits couples, golfers and anyone who wants high-season weather without high-season crowds. The holiday weeks suit families and groups who want sun for Christmas and don't mind planning ahead and paying peak prices. If you want quiet beaches and whales in full swing, February and early March are the alternative; see the best time to visit Cabo.
Spending December at a villa
Holiday guests at the villa tend to settle into the same pattern: beach and boats by day, dinners at home with the family, and New Year's Eve on the terrace watching the fireworks over the bay. If you're planning the holidays, our Christmas and New Year's villa page shows the live holiday rates and minimum stays for Villa 1.
