What To Know About Cabo San Lucas

Note: Timeshare sellers bombard arriving visitors; unless you’re really interested in spending 4 hours enduring an aggressive sales pitch for a new condominium development, the lure of free lunches and drinks or so-called discounted activities is definitely not worth it.

A private taxi from the airport to your hotel will be very expensive; a trip to San José del Cabo can cost up to $60 (U.S.), while fares to Cabo San Lucas can reach $90 and beyond. Returning to the airport via private taxi is slightly cheaper. Rates from San José are in the $30 to $35 (U.S.) range; from Cabo San Lucas prepare to shell out $50 to $60.

Services like Los Cabos Express and SuperShuttle provide round-trip private sedan or SUV and shared-ride van transportation between the airport and hotels; rates vary based on the destination. For additional SuperShuttle information or to make reservations, phone (800) 258-3826.

If you arrive at the airport without a reservation, look for the green-and-white Los Cabos Express bus, which is usually parked outside the terminal; buy your ticket from the driver. One-way rates average $16-$18. Another less expensive option than a cab is an airport transfer, which some hotels offer for a fee; inquire about this service when you make your travel reservations.

Because the Los Cabos area is spread out and expensive taxi fares will quickly add up, renting a car is a viable option if you're staying more than a few days or want to explore the surrounding area. If you only want a car for a day or two, consider renting one in town at the end of your trip and dropping it at the airport on your departure day. The car rental company's one-way drop-off fee will usually be cheaper than a taxi ride back to the airport.

If you've rented a car at the airport upon arrival and want to bypass the stoplights and frequently heavy traffic on Mex. 1, take the Los Cabos Airport-San José del Cabo toll road. This four-lane highway departs the airport (watch for signs) and continues about 20 kilometers (12 miles) to San José del Cabo, where it terminates at Mex. 1, just west of the waterfront hotel zone. The toll booth is at the southern end of the road; the toll is around 65 pesos. To reach Cabo San Lucas, just continue southwest on Mex. 1. There are no gas stations along the toll road.

Note: AAA members enjoy discounts through Hertz for car rentals in Cabo San Lucas booked in the United States. Consult your local AAA club to add a car rental to your travel package or phone Hertz, (800) 654-3080. There is a Hertz counter in the airport terminal.

It's a long drive to Los Cabos from the border at Tijuana—some 1,050 miles via Mex. 1 (also called the Carretera Transpeninsular). From La Paz, the quicker and less winding route to Cabo San Lucas is Mex. 1 south to the junction with Mex. 19, then Mex. 19 south through Todos Santos to Cabo San Lucas.

Except for the four-lane Corridor (the stretch of Mex. 1 between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas) and four-lane Mex. 1-D from Tijuana to Ensenada, Mex. 1 is a two-lane road running through frequent desolate stretches. Gas stations and traveler facilities can be few and far between. A temporary vehicle importation permit is not required anywhere on the peninsula, unless the vehicle is put on a ferry bound for the mainland.

Mex. 1 is narrow compared to highways in the United States and Canada, and road shoulders are nonexistent along many stretches. Road quality is generally good, but watch for potholes along some stretches. Avoid driving at an excessive speed (above 50 mph), and do not drive after dark. This and other roads are not lit at night, and livestock standing on the road poses an ever-present hazard. Streams (called arroyos) are subject to flash floods during infrequent storms. Flooding, although rare, can make vehicle travel impossible when it occurs. Elevated bridges have solved this problem along the Corridor.

Baja's main overland bus line, Autotransportes de Baja California (ABC), travels from Tijuana to La Paz; the trip (including stops en route) takes about 22 hours. The ABC bus station in Tijuana is adjacent to Plaza Viva Tijuana (a 5- to 10-minute walk from the border).

From La Paz, the Aguila/Peninsular bus line provides regular service to Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo and the airport. The fare to Cabo San Lucas or San José del Cabo is around 300 to 360 pesos. The trip takes about 3 hours.

Greyhound buses take passengers from the Greyhound terminal at 120 W. Broadway in downtown San Diego to Tijuana's Central Bus Terminal (Centro de Autobuses) in La Mesa; for fare and schedule information phone (800) 231-2222 (from the United States). You'll need a valid tourist permit in order to cross the border.

Taxis from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo or the Corridor hotels are convenient but expensive, averaging $25-$30 or more depending on destination; the local Suburcabos buses are a much cheaper alternative. The blue-and-red buses run daily between the two Cabos. The main stop in Cabo San Lucas is near the Puerto Paraiso mall, on the same side of the street. In San José del Cabo the main stop is near the turnoff to the airport, in front of the Mega grocery store. The fare for the 45-minute trip is 33 pesos.

The Aguila bus line provides service from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo and also to Todos Santos. The central bus station (Terminal Central Cabo San Lucas Aguila) is near the junction of Avenida Reforma and Boulevard Hidalgo (Mex. 19, the road to Todos Santos).

Currency can be exchanged at banks during normal Mon.-Fri. business hours, but make sure this service is offered before getting in line. Casas de cambio (currency exchange offices) are another option; the exchange rate may not be as favorable, but they're more convenient. ATMs are plentiful, and some dispense dollars in addition to pesos. Avoid using an ATM after dark.

As in other parts of Mexico, making phone calls from your hotel room, calling collect or using a credit card can all end up being prohibitively expensive. If you don't have a cellphone, prepaid Ladatel/Telmex calling cards (available in various denominations at mini markets, pharmacies and other local businesses) offer relatively low per-minute rates and can be used at any public phone marked “Telmex” or “Ladatel.” Avoid phones displaying the message “To call long distance to the USA and Canada, simply dial 0”; the charge will be very high.

If you need to use the internet, stop by the Cabo Coffee Co., at the corner of Avenida Madero and Calle Hidalgo (across the street from Plaza Amelia Wilkes, the main square). It serves coffee made from organically grown Mexican beans.

In case of emergency dial 911 to reach local police, the fire department or the Red Cross. The AmeriMed Cabo San Lucas Hospital, on Boulevard Lázaro Cárdenas near the Bancomer bank branch and a McDonald's, offers a wide range of routine and emergency services and has a 24-hour pharmacy. Insurance is required for medical emergencies; phone (624) 105-8500.

To contact the municipal police, phone (624) 143-3977. The Red Cross (Cruz Roja) is on Boulevard Hidalgo at Calle Constituyentes/Avenida Reforma (Mex. 19 Km marker 221, on the way to Todos Santos); phone (624) 143-3300. An ability to speak fluent Spanish will come in handy.

As for Cabo San Lucas weather, temperatures are warm all year. Daytime highs are around 80 degrees in winter but can soar to over 100 during the summer months; bring plenty of sunscreen. The Gulf of California waters warm well into the 80s in summer and are close to 80 degrees the rest of the year, making conditions for diving and snorkeling ideal. The Pacific Ocean is about 10 degrees cooler. The high tourist season runs from November through April; bring a sweater for occasional cool evenings if visiting in January or February.

Although the climate is arid, the tip of the Baja Peninsula is not immune from tropical storms or hurricanes. In September 2014 Category 3 Hurricane Odile pummeled the Los Cabos area, causing widespread damage to hotels, buildings and beaches along the Mex. 1 Corridor. Recovery was swift, however, and by spring 2015 most hotels and tourism-related services had resumed normal operations.