Mexico · SJD
Flights to Los Cabos
Two towns thirty kilometres apart, and an hour between the airport and one of them
Los Cabos is not one place. San José del Cabo is the quieter colonial town near the airport; Cabo San Lucas is the busier resort at the tip of the peninsula, the better part of an hour further on. A corridor of hotels runs between them. Which one your hotel is in changes the trip and the transfer.
The setting is desert meeting ocean, which is unlike anywhere else in Mexico — cactus-covered hills running down to the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. It is dry, sunny almost year-round, and priced accordingly during the North American winter.
Getting to Los Cabos
Airports
Los Cabos International (SJD) has two terminals, connected by shuttle rather than a walkway. Most US and Canadian flights use Terminal 2.
Flight time
Roughly 2h 30m non-stop from Los Angeles, about 3h from Dallas, near 4h from Chicago and around 4h 15m from Seattle.
Into the city
San José del Cabo is 20 to 30 minutes. Cabo San Lucas is 45 to 70 minutes. Pre-booked transfers and fixed-price authorised taxis both operate; shared shuttles are cheaper and slower.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Peak season
November to April
Warm, dry and almost cloudless, with cool evenings. This is the high season for North American visitors and prices are at their highest. Grey whales are off the coast roughly January to March.
Hot and humid
July to October
Genuinely hot, with humidity that surprises people expecting dry desert. This is also the Pacific hurricane season, peaking around September, which is when rates are lowest and disruption risk is highest.
Shoulder
May to June
Warm, dry and much cheaper than the winter peak, before the humidity arrives. Often the best value window of the year.
Good to know
- Currency
- Mexican peso (MXN); US dollars widely accepted
- Airport to San José del Cabo
- 20–30 minutes
- Airport to Cabo San Lucas
- 45–70 minutes
- Time zone
- Mountain Time
- Power
- Type A and B plugs, 127V
- Whale season
- Roughly January to March
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Check which town your hotel is in
San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas are around thirty kilometres apart with different characters and very different transfer times. This is the decision that shapes the trip, and it is easy to get wrong when booking from a map.
Budget for Mexican car insurance
If you rent, Mexican law requires liability insurance issued in Mexico. Most foreign policies and credit card benefits do not satisfy it, so the final price at the counter is routinely much higher than the online quote. This is not a scam, but it is a surprise if you have not planned for it.
The Pacific side is not for swimming
Many of the beaches on the Pacific side have strong currents and are not safe to swim, whatever the weather looks like. The Sea of Cortez side, including Medano Beach, is the swimmable one. Pay attention to the flags.
Walk past the timeshare desks
As at other Mexican resort airports, the arrivals walkway is lined with counters presenting themselves as transport or information. Your pre-booked driver is outside.
Other destinations
FAQ
Los Cabos — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
How far is Los Cabos airport from Cabo San Lucas?
Forty-five to seventy minutes by road. San José del Cabo is much closer at twenty to thirty minutes, so the choice of town has a real effect on transfer time and cost.
Why is car rental in Los Cabos more expensive than quoted?
Mexican law requires liability insurance issued in Mexico, which most foreign policies and credit cards do not provide. It is added at the counter and is frequently more than the base rate. Factor it in when comparing against taxis for the week.
When is the best time to visit Los Cabos?
November to April is dry, warm and reliably sunny, and correspondingly expensive. May and June offer similar weather at lower prices. July to October is hot and humid with hurricane risk peaking in September.
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