Guide to the Cabo San Lucas Airport
SJD Airport in San Jose del Cabo
The Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico airport is actually located 6 miles north of San Jose del Cabo and has the three letter airport identifier, SJD for this reason. This actually makes the Los Cabos airport about a 30-40 minute drive from Cabo San Lucas proper which is on the western end of “ the Corridor” (see map)
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For those of you who are interested in some of the airport details the runway elevation is 358’, runs 160 or 340 degrees depending on wind direction and is over 7000’ paved accommodating medium sized commercial jets. It is a full service international airport with Aduana (Mexican Customs) and Migracion (Mexican Immigration) offices open during all flight operations. It is a major port of entry into Baja with many direct flights from the U.S.A. and Canada.
If you want to get around town during your visit or might like to explore the Baja Sur Loop, car rental can be very economical compared to taxis and shuttles!
One major thing to know about the Los Cabos Airport is that they now have three terminals which are placed at a fair distance from one another. This has created an added confusion for many of those that are being picked up by friends or are flying out of San Jose del Cabo airport.
World-airport-codes.com
has airport information and a satellite maps
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Terminal 1 is for American, Aeromexico, Mexicana, Aerocalifornia,
America West and Continental. Terminal 3 is used by Alaska, Frontier
and Delta (the furthest from the entrance of the airport). Between
terminals 1 and 3 is terminal 2 (imagine that) it handles general
aviation, some charter flights and cargo.
The reason it is important to know this, is that walking from terminal 3 to terminal 1 or vice versus, because your friends picking you up are at "the other terminal" is really unpleasant when it is hot. I have seen many
a people cruising from one terminal to the other in hopes of spotting their guests. I have myself waited in the wrong terminal for a flight because that is where security told me the flight would leaving from only to find out I had to hurry to the other terminal just in time to catch my flight.
This confusion is especially common from charter flights for example like Sun Trips where people don’t know the actual airline their guest are using. Be sure to ask anyone you are picking up for the actual airline name and flight number.
Unfortunately, between flights there can be reduced personnel to help you find out when and where planes are departing and arriving. In the main terminal (1) of Los Cabos Airport they have the usual screens that give you the gate and information. Unfortunately in the Alaska Airlines terminal (3) the last few times I have been there the screens have not been working.
For airport transportation we recommend using shuttles or renting a car for your stay. Cabo taxis are amongst the most expensive in all of Mexico. You can expect to pay around $75USD for a cab into central Cabo, 45 minutes away and there seems to be little break for those closer destinations. It's quite a walk to Hwy 1, about 1 mile, where you can catch a bus.
There are five car rental facilities very close to the airport and several more just a shuttle ride away. Advantage, Thrifty and Budget are located across from T1, Dollar and National are on the entrance road less than a mile away and Alamo, Hertz and Avis are located on Hwy 1
We have created a map so that you can see where you are arriving in relation to the other terminals as well as services such as car rentals. We hope this helps. Tienes un buen viaje (have a good trip)!
BajaInsider Travel Tip
Terminal 1 has a Dunkin Donuts, a pizza place and a McDonalds along with two bars and several little stores for those last minute items. There is a cafeteria where you can overlook the tarmac while you wait..
Terminal 3 has one bar, a taxi stand, two timeshare sales and a beverage cart. Brace yourself for the best soda or beer you've ever had. They must be the best because a Coke is $50 pesos and a beer is $60 pesos! A bag of chips was the best nutrition I could find while waiting. There is limited seating and no departure lounge.