Getting to baja
Transportation
Flight
Fly from your home base to Los Cabos International Airport (airport code: SJD). You can also check airfare to La Paz (airport code: LAP)--both Los Cabos and La Paz are about equidistant from where we'll be having the wedding. You will likely find more affordable fares to Los Cabos. Ideally you will want to fly into Los Cabos.
We have found that if you are able to fly to a Southwest hub you can find the best flights, however, flights fluctuate like crazy. Getting a flight early does not necessarily mean you will get a good deal. We have found that we can usually get round trip tickets from Baltimore for about $400. If you can get them any cheaper than that, JUMP ON IT! Just be aware of the layover times and try to avoid a layover in Mexico City. We know flights can be expensive for folks but just keep your eye on the flight costs and jump on an opportunity when you can.
Airport to Baja
Once you're here, your options are to rent a car, arrange a shuttle, or take a taxi. We recommend renting a car to give you the opportunity to explore.
If you aren't comfortable renting a car there are some shuttle options:
– Eco Baja Tours provides a shuttle service from Los Cabos International Airport to Todos Santos. Be sure to reserve a spot online and please note that the shuttle drops you off in town. If you are not staying within walking distance of the town of Todos Santos you will need to arrange additional transport.
– Todos Santos Private Transportations
Your last option is to take a taxi from the SJD airport to wherever you're staying. There is no Uber or Lyft in this area of Baja, so you will be taking a normal taxi. The ride will be about an hour and likely cost around $150-$200.
Mexico Driving Tips and Directions
Rental cars
There are quite a few rental car companies at the airport – Cactus Rent a Car, Enterprise, Budget, Avis, etc. We always have a great experience with Cactus Rent a Car. Be sure to use coupon code TKA for 5% off your rental at Cactus Rent a Car. Before booking your rental car be sure to check with the company that they offer transportation from the airport to their office. Also keep in mind that Mexico requires rental cars to come with Mexican insurance so be sure to read the fine print or call to find out the cost per day before booking.
The car rental offices are a short drive from the airport terminal. Once you are through immigration and customs and about to exit the airport, many people will try to “help you” or interest you in excursions from inside the airport - just confidently walk past them and exit the building. Once you are outside you will be able to locate an employee from the rental car company typically holding a sign who will shuttle you to the rental car office (First, be sure grab a celebratory welcome drink at the airport bar because you MADE IT and you are officially on vacation!).
Getting to todos santos
The drive from the airport to Todos Santos is about an hour or hour and a half. There are two main routes to get to Todos Santos from Cabo, the shorter route is a toll road which requires CASH PAYMENT of approximately $5 USD (USD or pesos are accepted) remember to save some cash for the end of your trip back to the airport as credit cards are not accepted at the toll.
From the airport you will head North to take Mexico 1D. This will take you North around the airport and then west where you will pick up a ticket to enter the toll road. Stay on 1D for approximately 44km until Mexico 19 where you will take the exit ramp northbound towards Todos Santos/La Paz. Stay on Mexico 19 about 50km and you’ll reach Cerritos Beach/El Pescadero. To continue to Todos Santos continue on Mexico 19 approximately 10km until you get to the interchange where you will take the ramp to the right to go up over the bridge to continue on Mexico 19.
Driving tips
Driving in the area is relatively simple, but we have few tips for driving here:
– Your speedometers will be in kilometers! 1 kilometer is 0.62 miles, so if you're going 120 kmph, you are driving 75 mph. The speed limit is typically 80-110 kmph (50-60mph).
– Please watch for livestock on the road (we know this sounds like a joke). People tend to drive about 120-130 km/hour on the highway between the airport and Pescadero, which cuts through a lot of ranch land. Drivers and passengers should be on the look-out for cows/goats/horses/dogs as you're making your way here.
– Some parts of the highway are single lane, so you'll deal with needing to pass people or having people pass you. If someone is attempting to pass you, just move on to the shoulder a bit and let them pass. If you need to pass someone, wait for a clear section of road and then put on your blinker. The car in front of you should move to the shoulder and you can pass them.
– If you are driving in the dark, please use your brights and drive slower than you would in daylight. The roads are well-paved and taken care of, but curvy and mountainous.
– The roads in Cerritos and Pescadero are not paved so beware of potholes, speed bumps and dust
Gas stations
In Mexico you can’t pump your own gas. We have definitely been scammed at some gas stations before and have heard of a few other scams. Some gas stations only accept cash so be sure to ask before they start pumping. If you do pay with a card and the attendant tells you your card did not work, be sure to ask for the declined receipt. We also recommend checking your credit card app or setting up instant text alerts to verify the transaction was declined before paying cash. Before they start pumping be sure to confirm that the meter is set to zero. Lastly, this just happened to us near the airport on our last trip, the attendant overrode the meter cost and charged us a random amount. Make sure someone is paying attention to the dollar amount and liter total on the screen so when you go to grab your wallet they do not change the dollar amount.