The rosca de reyes tradition
The rosca is a ring-shaped sweet bread topped with candied fruit and sugar paste. Hidden inside are small plastic figurines of the baby Jesus. Whoever finds one in their slice owes the group tamales on Día de la Candelaria, February 2. Families, offices and schools all cut roscas in the first week of January.
The night of January 5, kids leave shoes out for the Reyes Magos to fill. Some towns also hold public rosca cuttings, which are announced locally at short notice.
Who it's for
Families, mostly. There is no big public event to plan around, so treat it as a tradition to join rather than a show to see. Supermarkets and panaderías across Cabo stack roscas by the door from late December into early January.
January 6, 2027 is a Wednesday, and most of the holiday crowds have gone home by then, so it is a calmer week to visit.
Making it part of your stay
Pick up a rosca in town, 5 to 10 minutes by taxi from Médano, and cut it on the terrace after a beach day. If you are traveling with kids, our Cabo with kids guide and family activities page have January ideas, and early January is prime time for whale watching.
Where to buy a rosca
Any supermarket bakery in Cabo San Lucas will have them, but local panaderías usually make better ones. Sizes run from a small ring for four people to huge ones for office parties, so buy for your group size. Roscas sell out on the afternoon of January 6, so buy in the morning or the day before. A cup of hot chocolate or café de olla is the classic pairing. If you find a figurine, you know what you owe everyone on February 2.