Best Time to Visit Baja California Sur (Weather & Wildlife)

LAST UPDATED: DECEMBER 8, 2023

In this post, we’ll break down each season in Baja, including average weather and wildlife in season, to answer when is the best time to visit Baja California Sur.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links, that may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For full information, please see our disclaimer here. While all efforts have been taken to ensure the information included in this post is correct and current, travel information such as opening hours, business operations and prices change frequently. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.

When is the best time to visit Baja California Sur?

Baja California Sur is one of those places that you can visit at any time of the year.

Being a desert climate, it is generally warm and dry year-round.

Overall, the cooler months of November – April are the best time to visit Baja California Sur.

It is dry all over the state, with blue skies and sunshine most days. Mornings and evenings can be cool, and water temperatures are chilly. But this is the peak season for whales and other marine life, and avoids the scorching temperatures of summer, hurricanes and rain.

There is a significant variation in the weather between the south of the state (Los Cabos, Todos Santos), the centre of the state (La Paz), and the northern areas (Loreto).

🌞 Check out weather averages for Los Cabos, La Paz or Loreto

The west coast, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, tends to be cooler with stronger sea breezes. The east coast, which is sheltered on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, can be much hotter.

The below sections break down each season in Baja California Sur, taking into account the average weather across the three main areas of the state, as well as wildlife.

Whale watching in Baja California Sur is some of the best in the world, so you want to be sure you plan your trip accordingly!

🗓️ If you want to experience Baja California Sur without high temperatures, rain or hurricanes, and to see as many whales as possible, the month of February is the best time to go to Baja California Sur.

Visiting Baja California Sur in Winter

DECEMBER – FEBRUARY

🧭 Southern Areas (Los Cabos, Todos Santos): Dry all over. Los Cabos is warm, and perfect for the beach with mild evenings. Todos Santos gets colder with the Pacific breezes.

🧭 Central Areas (La Paz): Sunny, warm and dry. Temperatures are great for outdoor activities, but strong northerly winds can add a chill factor and make lying on the sand not so pleasant.

🧭 Northern Areas (Loreto): Temperatures are much cooler in the north. The sun is shining, and it is quite mild away from the coast without the winds. But you’d be brave to be swimming with low water temperatures and wind adding a chill factor.

❄️ Factors to consider when visiting Baja California Sur in winter:

• January is BUSY. With tourists staying on over the new year period, prices are inflated for the first half of the month, and availability for accommodation and car rental is low.
• February is the best time to go to Baja California Sur for whale watching, with grey whales, humpback whales and blue whales all hanging out in the waters around the state.
• Early winter is one of two times to spot Mobula Rays throughout the year. They congregate by the hundreds in the waters of the Sea of Cortez. These rays are known for their acrobatic leaps out of the water, and you can spot them jumping from beaches around the south and eastern areas of the state.
• Whale sharks are present in the waters off the coast of La Paz all winter.
• This is also prime time to release freshly hatched sea turtles in Todos Santos, with daily releases usually running until around mid-February, when they tend to slow down.
• The northerly winds blow strong and kitesurfing season is in full swing in La Ventana and Los Barriles. Take the winds into account if you’re in Loreto and La Paz. They can impact boat tours, so allow enough flexibility in your itinerary for cancelled or delayed activities.

Visiting Baja California Sur in Spring

MARCH – MAY

🧭 Southern Areas (Los Cabos, Todos Santos): Dry all over with temperatures increasing. They are still not unbearable, and beaches and water activities are appealing.

🧭 Central Areas (La Paz): Temperatures are increasing, and by May they are becoming unbearable. Dry for most of the season.

🧭 Northern Areas (Loreto): Temperatures are increasing, and the islands and beaches are very attractive at this time of the year. By the end of the season, temperatures are reaching unbearably hot.

💐 Factors to consider when visiting Baja California Sur in spring:

• March/April is usually Spring Break and Los Cabos can fill up with young partiers, hiking up prices.
• You can catch the last of the blue whales in March, and grey whales and humpback whales usually hang around until April.
• This is the best time to visit Baja California Sur for beach and water activities. The days are a little bit hotter, and being on the beach and in the water is more pleasant than during winter, and not unbearable like summer.
• The whale sharks in La Paz are around until May.

Visiting Baja California Sur in Summer

JUNE – AUGUST

🧭 Southern Areas (Los Cabos, Todos Santos): Hot and possible rain for most of the summer. Temperatures are less likely to become unbearable like in the north, but expect hot and humid. Rain is not guaranteed, but can come anytime from June.

🧭 Central Areas (La Paz): Temperatures in La Paz soar over 35°C / 95°F. Rain is less likely and generally comes later in the summer and into fall.

🧭 Northern Areas (Loreto): Just as hot, if not hotter than La Paz. Rains are more likely to come in the proceeding fall months.

☀️ Factors to consider when visiting Baja California Sur in summer:

• Hot, hot hot. Unbearable in northern parts of the state. You would possibly melt or sizzle if you tried to lay on the beach around Loreto or La Paz.
• However, the hot weather drives down prices and you can enjoy the state without many other tourists. If avoiding crowds is important to you, summer can be the best time to visit Baja California Sur.
• Todos Santos is considered the best place to be, with cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean.
• Water temperatures are at their warmest and visibility is great, making this a perfect time to scuba dive.
• June, July and August is breeding season for sea lions and visitors are banned from being in the water at these times. 
• Sea turtles start their nesting season. Mumma turtles can be seen coming ashore to lay their eggs. Be very careful about driving on beaches.
• Mobula Rays are back again for their second congregation of the year, from May – July. The water temperatures are warmer at this time of the year making diving and snorkelling with them more pleasant.

Visiting Baja California Sur in Fall

SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER

🧭 Southern Areas (Los Cabos, Todos Santos): September is hot and possibly wet with the highest chance of hurricanes. But by November, the temperatures have dropped and the peak season begins.

🧭 Central Areas (La Paz): The hot temperatures stick around for most of the fall, and rain and hurricanes are possible into October. By November, temperatures drop becoming more bearable.

🧭 Northern Areas (Loreto): Temperatures remain high at the start of the season, but drop each month until they reach a pleasant level in November. Rain and hurricanes are most common in September and October.

🍁 Factors to consider when visiting Baja California Sur in the fall:

• Baja California Sur is not overly prone to hurricanes, but September and October are the most likely months.
• The whale sharks are back in La Paz from October.
• Humpback whales arrive on the coast of Los Cabos from December onwards. Sometimes there are sightings in late November.
• Sea turtles begin to hatch by the end of fall, with fresh hatchlings making their way into the ocean. Releases in Todos Santos start around November.
• By November, the best time to visit Baja California Sur is in full swing and peak tourist season is up and running again, with perfect temperatures.
• Come December, the crowds have arrived en masse for the holidays, and you definitely need to book ahead if you are visiting in the Christmas/New Year period.

Baja climate FAQs

Final thoughts: Best time to go to Baja California Sur

I can guarantee that whatever time of year you visit Baja California Sur, you will absolutely love it!

But the best time to visit Baja California Sur depends on you – on your temperature preferences, your desire to see different wildlife, and whether you are happy to deal with crowds.

I hope this post has helped plan your Baja Sur trip!

OUR BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR TRAVEL GUIDES