Cabo whale watching season: dates, the best months and seeing them by private boat

Whales start arriving in Cabo in November and stay through April, and January and February are the best months. The first ones can already be spotted from the boat in November. The official whale-watching season set by SEMARNAT, Mexico's environment ministry, was December 15 to April 30 for 2025 to 2026, and it publishes the next season's dates each October. The whales you'll see are mostly humpbacks, which come to these warm waters to mate, give birth and raise their calves.

If you're planning a winter trip, here is when to come, what you'll see, and how a private boat day works compared with a shared whale tour.

Are there whales in Cabo San Lucas?

Yes, every winter. Humpback whales migrate from cold northern feeding grounds to the warm water off Los Cabos, on both the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez sides. They come to breed, give birth and nurse calves, which is why you may see a mother and calf together.

Humpbacks are the whales most people come for. They breach, slap the water with their long pectoral fins and lift their tails before a dive. Gray whales also migrate south from Alaska to Baja California, and some show up around Cabo, mostly in February and early March.

Best time to visit Cabo for whale watching

Here is how we rate each month of the season on our trip guide, with average water temperature and mid-month sunset time (Cabo time):

January and February are the peak. The first whales show up in November, and by April the season is winding down. The last official season ran December 15 to April 30, and the 2026 to 2027 dates come out in the DOF, Mexico's federal register, each autumn. Outside November to April, don't plan a trip around whales.

Winter is also comfortable on deck. Our guide rates every month from November to June "best" for a day on deck, and rain falls on 5% of days or fewer from December to June. Highs run about 77 to 80°F (25 to 27°C) from December to April.

Cabo whale watching in January

January is a good bet. Highs average 77°F (25°C), rain falls on about 5% of days, and the water is around 74°F (23°C). Sunset comes early, around 5:56 PM by mid-month, so an afternoon whale charter can run into golden hour.

Bring a light layer. Out on the water, the breeze feels cooler than the beach, especially on the way back.

Private whale charter or shared whale tour?

Both will take you out to look for whales. The difference is who is on board and who sets the plan.

A shared boat makes sense for a couple on a budget who only want to see whales. A private boat starts to make sense once your group is six or more, or when you want to add the Arch, the sea lions or a swim stop to the same outing. Our comparison of private yachts vs shared boat tours goes into the details.

How close do boats get to the whales?

Whales are protected in Mexico, and the whale-watching standard, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010, sets the rules: minimum distances from the whales, slow speeds near them, no more than four boats around one whale or group, and no more than 30 minutes with the same group.

Our captains keep their distance and let the whales move on their own terms. You still get a good look: a breaching humpback is easy to see from far off.

Whales are wild animals, so no one can promise a sighting on a given day. Your best odds are in January and February.

What a whale charter looks like

You board at Marina Cabo San Lucas, and the captain heads out of the bay toward open water. Every route out of the marina passes the Arch at Land's End, so you get that view either on the way out or on the way back, along with the California sea lions on the rocks beside it.

Out past Land's End, the captain looks for blows and slows down well before reaching the whales. Three hours gives you time to watch more than one group if they're around, and to stop for photos at the Arch without rushing.

How to spot whales from the boat

Most sightings start with a blow, the puff of mist a whale breathes out at the surface. On a calm day you can see it from far away. A breach throws up a big white splash, and a raised tail usually means the whale is diving and will be down for a while.

A few things help:

• Get up high. A flybridge gives you a wider view of the water than the main deck.
• Bring binoculars if you have them, and polarized sunglasses to cut the glare.
• Put your phone in burst mode before you need it. Breaches are over in a second or two.
• Keep watching after a dive. The whale has to come back up to breathe, often some distance from where it went down.

If you have kids along, make them the official spotters. Tell us their ages when you book so the right life jacket sizes are on board.

Which yacht for a private whale watching tour?

The typical whale charter is 3 hours. The whale watching experience page has the outline. Prices are per boat, with 16% tax included; the customary 15% crew tip is not included.

For whale season we like the Sea Ray 55. It is a 55 ft flybridge motor yacht with air conditioning, cabins and heads, so anyone who gets chilly or needs a break has somewhere to go. It takes up to 15 guests, and split 15 ways, 3 hours works out to about USD 133 per person before the tip.

The Sea Ray 40 is also a flybridge yacht, so you get the same raised view for spotting blows, for up to 12 guests. The Chaparral 28, a 28 ft sport boat, is the budget pick for up to 10.

Combining whales with a sunset or a snorkel

During whale season, whales can turn up on any route out of the marina, including the 2 hour Arch run and the Pacific sunset route toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse. December through March also rate "best" for sunsets in our guide, thanks to low rain and light wind. Our sunset cruise guide has the timing.

Snorkeling in winter is possible but cool, with water around 72 to 74°F (22 to 23°C). If you want both, plan a longer charter and bring a rash guard.

What to bring on a winter whale charter

If anyone gets seasick, take something before boarding and sit toward the back. The bay is usually calm, and the open water has more swell.

Booking your whale day

Send your date as early as you can. Tell us your group size and whether you want just whales or whales plus the Arch, and we'll suggest the yacht and the hours. Use the planner or text us on WhatsApp at +52 624 300 8029. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

If you're still picking dates, our best time to visit Cabo guide covers the whole year.

Yachts in this guide

Chaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hSea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hSea Ray 55Flybridge motor yacht · up to 15 guestsfrom $2,129 / 3 h

Questions people ask

When is whale watching season in Cabo San Lucas?

Whales start arriving in Cabo in November and stay through April, with January and February as the peak. The official SEMARNAT season, with regulated whale watching, ran December 15 to April 30 in 2025 to 2026, and new dates come out each October. The first whales of November can already be spotted from the boat.

Are there whales in Cabo in January?

Yes. January is one of the two peak months, along with February. The water averages about 74°F (23°C) and sunset is around 5:56 PM Cabo time in mid-January.

What kind of whales are in Cabo?

Mostly humpback whales, which come down from colder northern feeding grounds to mate, give birth and nurse their calves in warm water. Gray whales also migrate down from Alaska to Baja California, and some are seen around February and early March.

How much is a private whale watching tour in Cabo?

A typical whale charter is 3 hours. On our yachts that starts at USD 709 / MXN 13,599 for the Chaparral 28 (up to 10 guests) and USD 2,129 / MXN 40,399 for the Sea Ray 55 (up to 15), per boat, tax included, tip not included.

How close can boats get to whales in Mexico?

Mexico's whale-watching standard, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010, sets minimum distances and slow speeds near whales, allows at most four boats around one whale or group, and limits the time with the same group to 30 minutes. Captains keep their distance.

Plan your day on the water

Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

Check availabilitySee the fleet