Cabo water temperature by month, and when it's warm enough to snorkel

The water in Cabo San Lucas ranges from about 72°F (22°C) in February, March and April to about 85°F (29°C) from August through October. It's swimmable all year. July, October and November are the best months to snorkel, with water at 80°F (27°C) or warmer and little rain.

The numbers below come from our trip guide, which uses 10-year averages (2015 to 2024) from NOAA Coral Reef Watch for the sea and NASA POWER for the air. They are monthly averages, so any single day can run a degree or two either way.

Cabo water temperature by month

The water runs about two months behind the air. Air highs peak in July and stay there through September, while the sea peaks from August to October. In April the air is already 80°F (27°C), but the water is still at its winter low.

Is the water warm in Cabo?

From June to December, yes, by most people's standards. The rest of the year it's refreshing, and how that feels depends on how long you stay in.

Here is the live forecast for Cabo San Lucas.

Spring: the coolest water

February, March and April average about 72°F (22°C). If you're coming for spring break, don't expect bathwater. A quick swim off the swim platform is fine. Twenty minutes face down over a reef gets chilly, and a rash guard makes a real difference. May averages about 75°F (24°C), climbing from about 73°F (23°C) to 76°F (24°C) over the month.

Summer: the jump in July

July is when the sea changes fastest. Our daily data starts the month around 78°F (26°C) and ends it around 84°F (29°C), so late July feels noticeably warmer than early July. By August the water sits at about 85°F (29°C) and stays there through October.

Late summer is also the rainy stretch. In August and September rain falls on about a third of days, and September to mid-October is when the Port Captain (Capitanía de Puerto, Mexican Navy) most often closes the harbor under a storm threat. If that happens to your charter date, you choose a new date or get a full refund.

Fall: warm water, drier air

October still averages 85°F (29°C) in the water, and rain drops back to about 10% of days. November cools to about 81°F (27°C), easing from about 83°F (28°C) at the start of the month to 80°F (27°C) by the end. For a lot of swimmers, late October and November are the sweet spot. Our Cabo in October guide goes month-specific.

Winter: cooling, with whales

December averages 78°F (26°C) and drops through the month, from about 80°F (27°C) to 76°F (24°C). January is about 74°F (23°C). Humpback whales start arriving in November and peak in January and February. The last official whale-watching season ran December 15 to April 30, and the 2026 to 2027 dates come out in the DOF, Mexico's federal register, each autumn. Many people trade warm water for humpbacks on a whale watching trip.

Sea of Cortez side vs Pacific side

Cabo sits where two bodies of water meet, and they don't feel the same. The Pacific side is cooled by the California Current and coastal upwelling, so it usually runs about 5 to 10°F (3 to 6°C) colder than the Sea of Cortez side. On some days the gap is bigger.

For a boat day this matters less than you'd think, because nobody swims on the Pacific side here. Divorce Beach, which faces the open Pacific, has big surf and a strong undertow and is for photos from the boat. The Pacific sunset route toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse doesn't stop to swim.

Every swim and snorkel stop on our routes is on the calmer side:

• Pelican Rock, inside the bay, 0.8 miles (1.3 km) from the marina
• Lover's Beach, on the bay side of Land's End, 1 mile (1.7 km) out
• Santa María Bay, a horseshoe cove up the coast, 6.7 miles (11 km) out
• Chileno Bay, the next cove over, 7.9 miles (13 km) out

Do you need a wetsuit in Cabo?

Most people don't. A rash guard covers you for most of the year, and it doubles as sun protection, which you'll want anyway. As a rule of thumb, by water temperature:

Kids and slim adults usually feel the cold first, so in spring pack something warm for them to wrap up in between swims. A dry layer for the ride back helps too, since the breeze on a moving boat cools you off fast.

The yachts don't include wetsuits or rash guards, so bring your own. Snorkel gear is included on every yacht in the fleet. Towels are included only on the Sea Ray 36, the Sea Ray 40 and the Azimut 45. On every other yacht, bring a towel from your hotel. Our what to wear and bring on a boat in Cabo checklist has the rest.

Best months to snorkel in Cabo

Our guide rates a month "best" for snorkeling when the water is 80°F (27°C) or warmer and rain falls on 12% of days or fewer. "Good" starts at 76°F (24°C).

August and September have the warmest water but miss "best" because of the rain. January to May still works for snorkeling. You'll just want the rash guard, and maybe the wetsuit.

Our snorkel experience is a typical 4 hour charter: the Arch first, then up the coast to Santa María Bay, with a swim stop on the way back. That route is 15.5 miles round trip. A 5 to 8 hour day adds Chileno Bay, with time to snorkel both and lunch at anchor. If you're trying to choose between them, Santa María vs Chileno Bay compares the two coves, and the best snorkeling in Cabo covers every spot.

On a 2 hour charter there's no time to reach the coves, so Pelican Rock is the snorkel stop. It's minutes from the dock, the water is calm, and reef fish swim close to the surface.

Mornings are usually calmer than afternoons, because the wind tends to build after midday. For snorkeling, a morning start gives you the flattest water at the coves.

Yachts for a swim and snorkel day

For a 4 hour Santa María trip, these are the boats people pick most for swimming. Prices are per boat, not per person, with 16% IVA tax included. The customary 15% crew tip is not included.

The Sea Ray 40 is a flybridge yacht, so non-swimmers can watch from the upper deck while everyone else is in the water. The fleet comparison has all thirteen yachts side by side.

Planning around the water temperature

Pick your month first. If you want warm water above everything else, aim for July, late October or November. If whales matter more, come January or February and pack a rash guard. The trip guide shows water and air temperature, rain and sunset times for every month, plus a short-range forecast.

When you have a date, put it and your group size into the planner. It shows typical conditions for that exact week, and we reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, with the yacht and route that fit.

Yachts in this guide

Sea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hAzimut 45 FlybridgeFlybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $1,249 / 2 hChaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 h

Questions people ask

What is the water temperature in Cabo by month?

The sea off Cabo San Lucas averages about 72°F (22°C) from February to April, 77°F (25°C) in June, 85°F (29°C) from August to October, and 78°F (26°C) in December. These are 10-year averages from NOAA Coral Reef Watch.

Is the water warm in Cabo in winter?

It is cool but swimmable. January averages about 74°F (23°C) and February about 72°F (22°C), so most snorkelers wear a rash guard, and people who get cold easily add a thin wetsuit.

When is the ocean warmest in Cabo?

August, September and October, when the water averages about 85°F (29°C). October is the better month of the three for a boat day, with rain on about 10% of days instead of a third.

Is the Pacific side of Cabo colder than the Sea of Cortez side?

Yes. The Pacific side usually runs about 5 to 10°F (3 to 6°C) cooler because of the cold California Current. The bay and the snorkel coves where charters stop are on the Sea of Cortez side.

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