Los Cabos Gateway
Southern Baja starts at Los Cabos International (SJD), with La Paz (LAP) as the quieter door. This is the logistics page for the arrival: where to sleep near the airport or in San José del Cabo, where to eat, who drives and who rents, and where to find a surf shop.
Getting There
Los Cabos International (SJD) is the main gateway for the Southern Baja zone, about 2.5 hours from Southern California. Nonstops from the US West Coast include Alaska (from LAX, SAN, SFO and more), Southwest (SAN daily plus other California cities), United (SFO), American and Delta, and fares swing hard by season, so shoulder-season midweek is the play (reported on the zone page).
US and EU passports need no visa for tourism. You need a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) tourist permit, valid for up to 180 days and for one entry only, and the officer sets the actual number of days. Flying in, the airline collects the MXN 983 fee inside your ticket and you fill in a paper FMM in flight or at a counter before immigration. Keep the stapled exit half of the form to hand back when you leave. Driving in, you apply and pay on the government's inm.gob.mx/fmme site before you cross, print the form and have it stamped at the crossing; the fee is waived for stays of seven days or less and otherwise paid on the way out. Mexican liability auto insurance is legally required, and a US or Canadian policy does not count (all reported on the Mexico entry page and the zone pages). Rules change, so check the official source before you go. The full list is in Getting Into Mexico.
Getting Out of the Airport
- La Paz (LAP), the quieter door: Alaska Airlines is the only US nonstop carrier, LAX to LAP year-round up to three times a week, about 2.5 hours, with one-ways commonly USD 175-250. Domestic connections run via Volaris and VivaAerobus through Tijuana, Guadalajara or Mexico City. Flying into LAP puts you an hour and a half from Todos Santos and skips the Cabo corridor entirely (reported).
- Drive down: cross at Tijuana, Tecate or Mexicali and take Mex 1 south. Get your FMM stamped at the border, since you can no longer sort it out down the peninsula, and everyone in the vehicle needs one. No TIP (vehicle import permit) is needed for Baja-only travel (reported).
- Checkpoints: expect roughly a half-dozen military checkpoints between Tijuana and Cabo. Be polite and keep your license, registration, insurance and FMM handy (reported).
- Timing: two long days minimum from Tijuana to Baja California Sur, with Guerrero Negro the natural halfway sleep and three days the civilized version. Drive in daylight only: livestock, no shoulders and unlit trucks (reported).
Other Gateways for Baja
- Los Cabos (SJD): the main fly-in gateway for Southern Baja (this page), with La Paz (LAP) the quieter alternative.
- Tijuana and the border: the drive-down gateway for Baja Norte and the start of the road south. See the Tijuana Gateway.
- Loreto: the fly-in gateway for the Baja Sur Remote Coast zone (reported on the zone page).
For the full route notes, see the Southern Baja Getting There section.
Stays
Near the Airport
- Hotel AeropuertoSan José del Cabo Hotel near the airport with a solid rating from nearly 1,000 reviews. About 1 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.1 from about 990 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hotel Cactus Inn Los CabosSan José del Cabo Hotel near the airport with a high rating from over 400 reviews. About 2 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 440 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Suites Lomboy & PlazaSan José del Cabo Suites near the airport with a high rating from over 100 reviews. About 2 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 120 reviews. Google Maps listing
San José del Cabo
- Casa Natalia Boutique HotelSan José del Cabo Boutique hotel with a high rating from over 200 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 230 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Marisol Hotel BoutiqueSan José del Cabo Boutique hotel with a high rating from over 250 reviews. About 2 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 280 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Desert Heart HostelSan José del Cabo Hostel with a top rating from over 100 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 120 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Whale Tales HostelSan José del Cabo Hostel with a top rating, though from about 30 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 32 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Surf Hostel CaboSan José del Cabo Surf hostel with a high rating from nearly 80 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from 77 reviews. Google Maps listing
Cabo San Lucas
- Sofia Hostel CaboCabo San Lucas Hostel with a solid rating from over 350 reviews. About 1 km from central Cabo San Lucas in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 350 reviews. Google Maps listing
The Cabo San Lucas resort corridor is dominated by large resort brands, which we leave out.
Where to Eat
San José del Cabo
- Las GuacamayasSan José del Cabo Mexican restaurant with a solid rating from over 2,000 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 2,100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Sage BajaSan José del Cabo Restaurant with a top rating from over 800 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 840 reviews. Google Maps listing
Seafood in Cabo San Lucas
- Mariscos Las Tres IslasCabo San Lucas Seafood restaurant with a high rating from over 3,400 reviews. About 1 km from central Cabo San Lucas in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 3,400 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Las MariscadasCabo San Lucas Seafood restaurant with a top rating from nearly 1,000 reviews. About 1 km from central Cabo San Lucas in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 970 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Mariscos La PalmitaCabo San Lucas Seafood restaurant with a top rating from nearly 1,000 reviews. About 1 km from central Cabo San Lucas in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 1,000 reviews. Google Maps listing
Bakeries
- Ruba's Bakery & BistroSan José del Cabo Bakery and bistro with a high rating from over 1,100 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 1,100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Crust Baja Baking CenterSan José del Cabo Bakery with a top rating from nearly 150 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 150 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Es Por Ti PanaderíaSan José del Cabo Bakery with a high rating from nearly 300 reviews. About 1 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 290 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Airport Shuttles and Taxis
- Cabo Airport ShuttleCabo San Lucas Airport shuttle with a top rating from nearly 2,000 reviews. About 34 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 1,900 reviews. Google Maps listing
- All Ways Cabo TransportationSan José del Cabo Airport shuttle with a top rating from nearly 1,500 reviews. About 1 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 1,400 reviews. Google Maps listing
- SJD TaxiCabo San Lucas Airport taxi service with a high rating from over 400 reviews. About 36 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 420 reviews. Google Maps listing
- TranscaboSan José del Cabo Transport service with a solid rating from over 250 reviews. About 1 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.1 from about 250 reviews. Google Maps listing
Agree a price and the drop-off point before you get in.
Local Car Rental
- Cactus Car RentalSan José del Cabo Local car rental near the airport with a high rating from over 800 reviews. About 1 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 800 reviews. Google Maps listing
- BBB Rent a CarSan José del Cabo Local car rental near the airport with a high rating from nearly 700 reviews. About 1 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 670 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Ventur AMC Car RentalSan José del Cabo Local car rental near the airport with a high rating from over 200 reviews. About 1 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 210 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Los Cabos FamilySan José del Cabo Local car rental with a top rating from nearly 70 reviews. About 1 km from Los Cabos Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from 69 reviews. Google Maps listing
International rental brands are left out. Mexican liability insurance is legally required on any vehicle on federal roads, and a US or Canadian policy does not count (reported).
Board & Luggage Storage
Every luggage-storage listing we found in Los Cabos belongs to a network, which we leave out. Ask your hotel to hold board bags.
Surf Shops and Board Repair
- Del Cabo SurfSan José del Cabo Surf shop with a solid rating from about 75 reviews. About 2 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.2 from 74 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Cabo Surf SupplySan José del Cabo Surf shop with a top rating from over 50 reviews. About 4 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from 53 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Surf in CaboSan José del Cabo Surf school and board rentals with a top rating from over 200 reviews. About 4 km from central San José del Cabo in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 200 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Cabo Surf School Line UpCabo San Lucas Surf school with a high rating from over 130 reviews. About 7 km from central Cabo San Lucas in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 140 reviews. Google Maps listing
Board repair listings in Los Cabos were thin and tiny, so ask the shops above who they send dings to.
Getting Out to the Zones
Southern Baja: see Getting There. For the drive-down route from the border, see the Tijuana Gateway.
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for Southern Baja?
Los Cabos International (SJD) is the main gateway, about 2.5 hours from Southern California, with nonstops from several US West Coast cities. La Paz (LAP) is the quieter door, with Alaska as the only US nonstop carrier (reported on the zone page).
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
US and EU passports need no visa for tourism, but you need an FMM tourist permit of up to 180 days. The fee is built into an air ticket (reported on the Mexico entry page). Check the official source before you go.
Can I drive down from the border instead?
Yes. Cross at Tijuana, Tecate or Mexicali and take Mex 1 south, with two long days minimum and daylight driving only. Mexican liability insurance is legally required (reported on the zone page).
Is there a surf shop near the airport?
Several shops sit around San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, listed on this page. Board repair listings in the area were thin.
Disclosure & How This Page Works.
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