Spending Christmas in Cabo is a very easy way to escape winter. At the tip of Baja California Sur, Los Cabos has warm December weather, beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants and some of Mexico’s best luxury resorts.
There’s still plenty of Christmas spirit here too. Christmas in Cabo brings Mexican traditions like Las Posadas, festive dinners and celebrations that continue through to Rosca de Reyes in January.
Days, meanwhile, can be spent whale watching, sailing along the coast or doing very little beside the hotel pool. If you’re looking for sunshine, good food and a more relaxed way to spend the holidays, Christmas in Cabo is hard to beat.
Here’s your complete guide to how to spend Christmas in Cabo in 2026, with the celebrations to look out for and all the best things to do and eat.
Read more: The Best Time to Visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Why Spend Christmas in Cabo?
Christmas in Cabo gives you warm weather, beach days and plenty of festive atmosphere without the winter coats. December temperatures hover around 75°F (24°C), making it one of the best times of year to be outside.
You can spend your days at Playa del Amor, snorkel at Chileno Bay or get out on the water. December also falls within Cabo’s whale-watching season, when humpback and gray whales migrate through the waters around Baja California Sur.
Christmas traditions haven’t disappeared either. The Maratón Guadalupe-Reyes runs from the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 through Día de Reyes on January 6, with plenty of celebrations in between. You’ll also see Las Posadas, Christmas decorations and nativity scenes around town.
The resorts get particularly festive, with special dinners, events and plenty happening over Christmas and New Year. It’s an easy destination if you want Christmas traditions, but would much rather experience them in the sunshine.
Things to Do During Christmas in Los Cabos
Celebrate Las Posadas
One of the biggest Christmas traditions in Los Cabos is Las Posadas, held over nine nights from December 16 to 24. The celebrations recreate Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, with processions, songs and gatherings taking place throughout the area.
Look out for celebrations at local churches and in public spaces, where you can often join in or simply watch. Afterwards, things usually become much more social, with piñatas, music, tamales, buñuelos and plenty of ponche.
If you’re spending Christmas in Cabo, it’s one of the best ways to experience a more traditional side of the festive season beyond the resorts.
Cabo San Lucas Nautical Christmas Parade
One of the more fun Christmas events in Cabo is the Cabo San Lucas Nautical Christmas Parade, part of the annual Mar y Christmas festival. Instead of your usual parade floats, you get boats and yachts completely covered in Christmas lights sailing through Cabo San Lucas Bay.
It’s best watched from around the Marina or Playa El Médano, where crowds gather along the waterfront. The wider festival usually includes live music, local artisans, food and cultural performances, with the boat parade and fireworks as the main event.
For 2026, the official dates haven’t been announced yet. In 2025, Mar y Christmas took place on December 13 and 14, with the Nautical Christmas Parade beginning at 5:30pm on December 14. Twenty-five illuminated boats took part, followed by fireworks over the bay.
If you’re planning Christmas in Cabo in 2026, I’d keep the weekend around mid-December free and check back closer to the date once the official programme is released.
Go Whale Watching
Christmas also happens to coincide with the beginning of whale-watching season in Baja California, giving you another very good reason to get out on the water.
From December onwards, humpback whales migrate to the warmer waters around Los Cabos, and sightings become increasingly common as the season progresses. Tours leave from Cabo San Lucas, with everything from small-group boats to private yacht charters available.
If you’re spending Christmas in Cabo, I’d absolutely make time for this. Just bear in mind that December is still early in the season, with whale activity generally picking up further into winter.
Take a Mexican Cooking Class
If you want a break from the beach, book a Mexican cooking class. Several of Cabo’s luxury resorts offer genuinely good culinary experiences, and it’s a fun way to learn a little more about Baja’s food beyond simply ordering it at dinner.
At Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection, you can join workshops at Cocina del Mar’s open kitchen, learning to make dishes inspired by the resort’s restaurants, often with drinks included.
Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort also offers private cooking experiences with its chefs, while Cuvée can arrange a private Mexican cooking class in your villa.
It’s a particularly nice addition to Christmas in Cabo if you want to do something beyond the usual beach, pool and margarita rotation.
Visit the Downtown Marina in Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas Marina gets particularly lively over Christmas, with festive lights, decorations and plenty going on around the waterfront. It’s a nice place to wander in the early evening, grab a drink and watch the boats coming and going.
You’ll find restaurants, bars, shops and stalls around the marina, along with seasonal events and live music throughout December. It’s also the departure point for many of Cabo’s sunset cruises, sailing trips and dinner cruises.
If you’re spending Christmas in Cabo San Lucas, come down around sunset, have a wander and stay for dinner or drinks. It’s touristy, but at Christmas that’s half the fun.
Visit the San Jose del Cabo Art Walk
If you’re in Cabo on a Thursday evening, head into San José del Cabo for its weekly Art Walk. Running from November through June, it sees the streets of the historic Gallery District close to traffic while galleries and studios stay open later.
December is an especially nice time to go, with Christmas lights and a little more buzz around town. Spend a couple of hours wandering between galleries, browsing local art and stopping for drinks along the way.
There’s usually live music and plenty happening in the surrounding restaurants and bars too. I’d make an evening of it and book dinner in San José del Cabo afterwards.
Feast on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
Indulging in exquisite culinary experiences is a hallmark of the holiday season in Los Cabos. Most luxury resorts offer special dining events to make your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day memorable, so it’s wise choosing your holiday resort well:
- Montage Los Cabos: Known for its exceptional dining, Montage hosts a lavish Christmas Day brunch featuring regional fare and festive cocktails, accompanied by live music.
- Hilton Los Cabos: Celebrate with an unforgettable Christmas Eve dinner, embracing the charm of Mexican Christmas traditions in the serene beauty of Los Cabos.
- Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort: From December 16 to January 2, immerse yourself in the magic of Los Cabos with enchanting experiences and celebrations crafted to create lasting memories.
- Four Seasons Resort at Cabo Del Sol – Head to Palmerio for a family-style Christmas Eve dinner in true Mediterranean fashion.
- Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal – Has a festive lineup of events, featuring a tree lighting ceremony, Santa’s grand arrival, indulgent Christmas feasts, and an elegant New Year’s Eve gala.
These venues and more provide a blend of festive ambiance and gourmet cuisine, ensuring a delightful holiday dining experience in Los Cabos.
Watch the New Year’s Eve Fireworks
If you’re staying through New Year’s Eve, Cabo San Lucas puts on a big celebration. At midnight, fireworks light up the bay around Medano Beach and the marina, with plenty of people heading down to the waterfront to watch.
Most of the beachfront hotels, restaurants and bars host their own New Year’s Eve dinners and parties, usually with live music and a midnight toast. You can also book a boat or private yacht and watch the fireworks from the water.
Whatever you choose, book early. New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year in Cabo, and the best dinners and parties fill up well in advance.
Go on a Sunset Sail to Los Arcos
A sunset sail to Los Arcos is one of those Cabo experiences that’s absolutely worth doing, Christmas or not. You’ll cruise out towards the famous rock formations at the tip of Baja California as the sun drops over the Pacific.
For something a little more special, book a private catamaran cruise. It’s a great option for families or groups, with drinks, snacks and plenty of space to settle in for the evening. If you’re spending Christmas in Cabo, this is a very good way to do sunset.
Stick Around for Día de los Reyes/Epiphany
If you’re staying into January, Christmas isn’t quite over yet. Día de los Reyes, or Three Kings’ Day, falls on January 6 and traditionally marks the end of the festive season in Mexico.
The big tradition is sharing a Rosca de Reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread topped with candied fruit and hiding tiny baby Jesus figurines inside. You’ll see roscas filling bakeries across Los Cabos in the days leading up to January 6.
If you find the figurine in your slice, congratulations, you’re on tamale duty for Día de la Candelaria in February.
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