Getting around · Cabo San Lucas · Mexico
Getting around Cabo San Lucas
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Downtown Cabo San Lucas, the marina and Médano Beach are walkable from each other. Beyond that, Los Cabos is spread along a 30 km highway, so most visitors use taxis, hotel shuttles, local buses or a hire car to reach the corridor beaches and San José del Cabo. Not for a beach-and-boat stay based downtown or on Médano.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- SJD
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
The marina boardwalk, downtown bars and Médano Beach are within about 20 minutes' walk of each other; distances elsewhere are too long and hot to walk.
Boat
Water taxis and glass-bottom boats from the marina and Médano Beach are the only practical way to reach El Arco and Lover's Beach.
Agree the fare and pickup time before setting off.
Bus
Local buses run frequently along Highway 1 between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, stopping at corridor beaches and hotel entrances for a small fare.
Have small peso coins or notes; drivers rarely change large notes.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful but unmetered and expensive by Mexican standards; fares are set by zone and should be agreed before you get in.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps operate in Los Cabos and are often cheaper than taxis, though availability varies at the airport and some hotel entrances.
Car
A hire car is the easiest way to reach Todos Santos, Cerritos, Cabo Pulmo and the corridor beaches at your own pace; Highway 1 and Highway 19 are well paved.
From the airport
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is just north of San José del Cabo, about 45 km from Cabo San Lucas: allow 40–50 minutes by road. Pre-booked shared shuttles and private transfers are the usual way in; arrival-hall sellers pitch timeshare presentations, so walk straight through to your pre-booked driver outside.
Do you need a car?
Not for a beach-and-boat stay based downtown or on Médano. A car is worth it for two or three days if you want to explore Todos Santos, the Pacific surf beaches or Cabo Pulmo.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| San José del Cabo | About 30–40 minutes by road | Bus, taxi or car along Highway 1 |
| Todos Santos and Cerritos | About 1 hour by car | Car, tour or bus via Highway 19 |
| Cabo Pulmo National Park | About 2–2.5 hours by car | Car or organised tour via the East Cape |
| La Paz and Espíritu Santo | About 2–2.5 hours by car | Car, bus or organised tour via Highway 19 |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Cabo San Lucas?
Not for a beach-and-boat stay based downtown or on Médano. A car is worth it for two or three days if you want to explore Todos Santos, the Pacific surf beaches or Cabo Pulmo.
+How do you get from the airport to Cabo San Lucas?
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is just north of San José del Cabo, about 45 km from Cabo San Lucas: allow 40–50 minutes by road. Pre-booked shared shuttles and private transfers are the usual way in; arrival-hall sellers pitch timeshare presentations, so walk straight through to your pre-booked driver outside.
+What is the best way to get around Cabo San Lucas?
Walking: The marina boardwalk, downtown bars and Médano Beach are within about 20 minutes' walk of each other; distances elsewhere are too long and hot to walk.