When to Visit Los Cabos:
A Month-by-Month Guide to Sun and Sea
Your dates change everything
Los Cabos does not have one good season. It has four completely different ones, and picking the wrong one can cost you, sometimes in money, sometimes in missing the one thing you actually flew down for. What the Sea of Cortez offers in February is nothing like what you find in September. Before you start shopping for flights, it helps to know what you want waiting for you when you land.
The four seasons of Los Cabos
High season: December through March
The weather during these months is as good as it gets. Temperatures stay between 68°F and 84°F, skies are mostly clear, and the ocean is calm. This is when the largest wave of visitors arrives from the U.S. and Canada, which means fuller hotels and higher rates across the board. If that does not put you off, this is when the destination is at its most active.
What you will not find at any other time of year: humpback and gray whales in the Sea of Cortez. Mexico's SEMARNAT sets the official season from December 15 to April 15, and January and February are the months with the most sightings. Watching a 60,000-pound animal breach 30 feet from your boat is not something you walk away from unchanged.
Shoulder season: April through June
The big groups clear out, prices drop, and the weather stays very pleasant. Travelers who time their trip to these months usually come away with the best value of the year. Sport fishing shifts into high gear: Dorado (mahi-mahi) run strong in both the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez, and the local captains know exactly where to find them. If fishing is part of why you are going, May and June are hard to beat.
Low season: July through October
This is Pacific hurricane season. Most visitors avoid it, and that is exactly why hotels and airlines offer their lowest prices of the year. According to Mexico's DATATUR tourism data, hotel occupancy in Los Cabos can drop nearly 40% in August compared to January, which creates real room to negotiate rates or upgrade to a higher category at shoulder-season prices.
Direct hurricane strikes on Baja California Sur are uncommon, but rain and irregular surf are real possibilities. If your trip is built around beach days, another window makes more sense. If your priority is making your budget go further and you have some flexibility, July through October is your opening.
The quiet stretch: October into November
October and November bring the best underwater visibility of the year. Whale sharks move through the Sea of Cortez alongside manta rays and schools of fish that do not appear in any other season. Divers and snorkelers who have been to Los Cabos before often time their return visits around these months specifically.
Surfing: it depends on which coast you choose
The Pacific-facing beaches get their best swells from December through February. On the Sea of Cortez side, the active window runs from April through October. June through August can produce consistent waves on both coasts when the southern swell kicks in. One thing worth knowing: Los Cabos has hosted international surf competitions largely because the two coasts offer different conditions within just a few miles of each other.
Sport fishing: year-round, but not all the same
Fishing in Los Cabos never stops. What changes is what is biting: blue and black marlin run July through November, yellowfin tuna are consistent most of the year, dorado peak in spring and early summer, and snapper and grouper are reliable through winter. The biggest tournaments, including the Black & Blue Marlin and the Tuna Jackpot, both land in October, making it the busiest month of the year for anglers.
Quick guide: when to go based on what you want
- Whale watching: January and February. That is the peak, no contest.
- Diving and snorkeling with whale sharks: October and November.
- Dorado (mahi-mahi) fishing: May and June.
- Surfing on the Pacific side: December through February.
- Best hotel rates: May, August, and September.
- Good weather without the peak-season crowds: late April or early May.
- Christmas and New Year's with a full resort atmosphere: December, but book months in advance.
Guests who come back a second or third time tend to pick dates they skipped the first trip around. They show up in May, find quieter beaches, the same ocean, and room budgets that let them stay a few extra days. That is Los Cabos too.
You know when. Now choose where to stay.
Club Solaris Los Cabos sits minutes from the main whale watching departure points, with direct access to the most recommended fishing and diving tours in the area. You pick the dates. We take care of the rest.
Frequently asked questions about Los Cabos seasons
When is the best time to visit Los Cabos?
It depends on what you want. December through March has whales and ideal weather but higher prices. April through June offers lower rates and great sport fishing. July through October has real discounts if you are comfortable with some rain risk. October and November are peak season for diving with whale sharks.
When can you see whales in Los Cabos?
The official season runs December 15 to April 15, per Mexico's SEMARNAT. January and February have the most humpback and gray whale sightings in the Sea of Cortez.
When is it cheapest to travel to Los Cabos?
Low season is July through October, with the lowest hotel, flight, and tour prices of the year. May, August, and September are the best months for deals if you book in advance.
Are there hurricanes in Los Cabos?
Pacific hurricane season runs July through October. Direct hits on Baja California Sur are uncommon, but rain and rough surf are possible. Most years the effect is minor, though it is worth tracking the forecast if you travel during that window.