How to Stock Your Cabo Villa for Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's

The Holidays in Cabo Are Wonderful — If You Plan the Kitchen Ahead

Late November through the first week of January is the busiest travel window in Los Cabos. Villas book out, restaurants run holiday-only prix-fixe menus that sell weeks in advance, and the grocery stores are genuinely packed. If your plan is a home-cooked holiday meal in your rental, the single best thing you can do is order your groceries before you land.

This guide walks through what to order for each holiday, and — just as important — when to order it.

Why Holiday Weeks Need Advance Ordering

• Specialty items sell out. Whole turkeys, fresh cranberries, pie shells, eggnog, prime rib, and good sparkling wine disappear from Cabo shelves in the days before each holiday.
• Delivery slots fill up. December is our highest-volume month. The earlier you reserve a delivery window, the more likely you get the day and time you want.
• Store trips eat a vacation day. Costco and La Comer on December 23rd are not where you want to spend your afternoon.
• Prices spike on the last-minute stuff. Planning ahead means you're not paying a premium for whatever's left.

Thanksgiving in Your Villa

Thanksgiving isn't a Mexican holiday, so stores don't stock up for it the way US markets do. Order early.

The centerpiece:

• Whole turkey (fresh or frozen — tell us the headcount and we'll size it) or a turkey breast for smaller groups
• Prime rib or a spiral ham as an alternative

Classic sides:

• Potatoes (russet and sweet), butter, heavy cream, chicken or vegetable stock
• Fresh green beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots
• Bread or rolls for stuffing, plus onion, celery, fresh herbs (sage, thyme, rosemary)
• Cranberries (fresh or canned) and oranges
• Canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, pie crust — or a ready-made pie

Table and extras:

• Wine, sparkling water, sodas, coffee and filters
• Foil, parchment, food storage bags, a meat thermometer if your rental doesn't have one

Order by: at least 5–7 days before Thanksgiving for the turkey and specialty baking items.

Christmas Dinner

You have room to make this traditional or local — both work well with what's available in Los Cabos.

Main options:

• Spiral ham, prime rib roast, beef tenderloin, or a seafood feast (fresh local snapper, shrimp, scallops)
• For a Mexican Christmas: ingredients for pozole, tamales, or bacalao

Sides and baking:

• Potatoes, root vegetables, salad greens, dinner rolls
• Butter, cream, cheese, eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla, chocolate
• Cookie decorating supplies if you're traveling with kids

Breakfast matters too. Christmas morning in a villa means you want the fridge already stocked: cinnamon rolls, bacon, eggs, fruit, juice, coffee, and something sparkling for mimosas.

Order by: December 18–20 at the latest. Earlier is better — the 23rd and 24th are our peak delivery days.

New Year's Eve Party Pack

NYE in Cabo is a big night. Whether you're pre-gaming before going out or hosting the whole celebration at the villa:

• Champagne and sparkling wine (buy more than you think), plus prosecco for mimosas the next morning
• Mixers: tonic, club soda, ginger beer, fresh limes, orange juice, cranberry juice
• Spirits: tequila, mezcal, vodka, rum
• Lots of ice — reserve this with your order; it's the thing everyone forgets
• Appetizers and grazing food: cheese, charcuterie, chips, guacamole and salsa, shrimp cocktail, nuts, olives
• Late-night bites: frozen pizzas, taquitos, or the makings for quesadillas
• Disposable cups, napkins, and trash bags
• Hangover kit for January 1: electrolyte drinks, pain reliever, eggs, bread, avocados, coffee

Order by: December 28–29. Same-week delivery around New Year's is limited.

Feeding a Big Family Group

Holiday trips often mean multiple generations and a range of diets under one roof. A few tips:

• Send us one consolidated list rather than several separate orders — it's cheaper on delivery and easier to coordinate.
• Flag allergies and diets (gluten-free, keto, vegetarian, kid-friendly) and we'll build around them.
• Stock a solid breakfast and snack base so nobody's hungry between the big meals: cereal, yogurt, fruit, eggs, bread, deli meat, cheese, crackers, chips.
• Plan one "no-cook" night — rotisserie chicken, salad, bread, and dessert — so whoever's cooking gets a break.

A Simple Holiday Ordering Timeline

• 2–3 weeks out: Decide your menus and headcount. Place your order for turkey, ham, prime rib, and specialty baking items.
• 1 week out: Confirm your delivery window. Add fresh produce, dairy, and bread to the order.
• 2–3 days out: Final top-up — ice, flowers, last-minute requests.
• On arrival: Walk into a stocked kitchen and start your vacation.

Let Us Handle the Holiday Grocery Run

Sunny Cabo Groceries delivers to vacation rentals, villas, and hotels across Los Cabos — Cabo San Lucas, the Corridor, and San José del Cabo. During the holidays we recommend ordering as far ahead as you can so we can lock in your delivery time and track down the specialty items before they sell out. Minimum order is $100 USD.

Planning a holiday trip? Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, your villa, and your menu ideas, and we'll build your holiday order.