Holiday Peak in Los Cabos: Thanksgiving to New Year's by Private Jet
Pegasus Flight Support · Updated September 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Holiday Peak Season · Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · Los Cabos
Key Points
- The holiday peak runs from Thanksgiving week through the first days of January, with the tightest days between Christmas and New Year's.
- Parking is the constraint. Expect to drop off passengers and reposition the aircraft on the busiest days.
- Los Cabos International (MMSD) operates 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM local with limited nighttime operations, so a late arrival can become a next-day arrival.
- Crew hotel rooms and ground transportation sell out before aircraft parking does.
- Plan the return to the United States as carefully as the arrival, including where you will clear customs.
The busiest weeks of the year
Peak season in Los Cabos runs roughly November through April, and within it nothing compares to the holidays. Demand builds from Thanksgiving, which falls on November 26 in 2026, eases briefly in early December, and then climbs to its highest point in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Many aircraft arrive within the same few days and leave within the same few days.
Parking is the constraint
Runways are not the problem in Los Cabos during the holidays. Ramp space is. On the busiest days, plan on a drop-and-go: passengers and bags off, and the aircraft repositions to another airport for the stay, such as La Paz, then returns for the pickup. Settle this when you book the trip, because it changes crew planning, fuel, and cost.
Watch the clock at MMSD
Los Cabos International operates from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM local time, and nighttime operations are limited. A departure delay in the United States on a winter afternoon can push an arrival past closing. Schedule arrivals with margin, and know your alternate before you depart. Los Cabos is on UTC-7 year-round with no daylight saving time.
Cabo San Lucas International (MMSL) is closer to Cabo San Lucas itself, with a 6,998 ft runway. Confirm its operating hours and customs availability before filing, particularly on the holidays themselves.
Crew and ground arrangements
Crew hotel rooms in Los Cabos at Christmas are scarce and expensive, and they sell out before aircraft parking does. Ground transportation and catering also need more notice than usual. If the aircraft is repositioning, the crew's accommodation is at the repositioning airport, which is often easier.
The return to the United States
Departures bunch up on the weekend after New Year's Day. Request your departure time early. File your eAPIS for the return, and confirm where you will clear US customs: aircraft arriving from Mexico are generally required to land at a designated airport near the southern border unless the operator holds an overflight exemption. Arrange customs at your arrival airport in advance, since holiday staffing can limit hours.
Permits and documents
Charter operators need a valid AFAC Blanket Permit with the aircraft listed on it. Private flights enter on a Single Entry Authorization, valid for 180 days, which can cover both a Thanksgiving trip and a Christmas trip if the crew declared on it stays the same. Both need Mexican liability insurance that matches the aircraft registration exactly.
Other resort airports
The same pressures apply at Mexico's other winter destinations, including Puerto Vallarta and Cancún: early parking requests, realistic arrival times, and crew rooms booked well ahead.
How Pegasus helps
Pegasus Flight Support coordinates parking, repositioning, ground handling, fuel, customs and immigration, catering, and crew arrangements across Los Cabos and the rest of Mexico. For holiday trips, contact us as soon as dates are known.
FAQ
When is peak season for private jets in Los Cabos?
Peak season runs roughly November through April. The busiest period is from Thanksgiving through the first days of January, with the tightest days between Christmas and New Year's Day.
Can I park my jet in Los Cabos over Christmas?
Parking is limited during the holidays. On the busiest days operators should expect to drop off passengers and reposition the aircraft to another airport, then return for the pickup. Request parking as early as possible.
What are the operating hours at Los Cabos International Airport?
Los Cabos International (MMSD) operates from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM local time, and nighttime operations are limited.
Last reviewed September 2026. Mexican aviation regulations change frequently. Confirm current requirements with Pegasus before every trip.