How to Get Around Cabo? Choosing the Best Transportation Options for You

Planning a trip to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo soon? If so, you may have questions about how to best get to and from the airport and around Cabo San Lucas during your vacation.

Whether you simply need a transfer to your hotel or vacation rental in the heart of Cabo San Lucas, or you’re planning to venture out to explore more of the Baja California Peninsula during your vacation to Los Cabos, read through the top options for getting around Los Cabos below to determine which is the best for you during your upcoming trip to Cabo San Lucas.

Transportation Options in Cabo San Lucas

1. Taxis

Taxis are one of the most popular and plentiful transportation options for getting around Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Taxis operate 24/7 and are readily available, making them a consistent and reliable option for traveling to and from the airport and navigating Downtown Cabo San Lucas.

However, a word of caution about taxis in Cabo — be sure to flag down an official taxi to prevent scams, which will most commonly be a blue or green vehicle in Cabo San Lucas and a red or yellow vehicle in San Jose del Cabo. Since cab drivers do not accept card payments, you’ll need to have cash on hand to pay them (both dollars and pesos are accepted).

Taxi rides are not metered, so be sure to ask for the cost upfront, and feel free to negotiate the price — taxi rides can be expensive! For reference, a one-way trip between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo will cost between $60 and $70 USD.

2. Public Buses

Local buses are one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around in Cabo, especially if you need to travel between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

The Ruta del Desierto Bus is the bus service that travels along the Tourist Corridor. The main bus stop in Cabo San Lucas is located near the Puerto Paraiso Mall, and the main stop in San José del Cabo is situated next to a grocery store, just off the turnoff for the Los Cabos International Airport.

The buses in Los Cabos run from 5 AM to 9 PM, approximately every 20 minutes. And, local bus rides are cheap. One ride costs between 30 and 40 pesos ($2 and $3 USD). However, all that to say, some buses in Cabo are newer than others (for example, some buses do not have air conditioning), so the cheap bus fares are reflective of the unpredictability of the level of service.

3. Rental Cars

Want to have the flexibility to explore Los Cabos on your timeline and the freedom to take day trips to the surrounding towns, like La Paz and Todos Santos, without navigating bus schedules and taxi fares? If so, renting a car might be the best way for you to get around Cabo!

Rental cars are available at the Los Cabos Airport, and the cost varies depending on the season. During the peak season (December to April), expect to pay approximately $100 per day for a rental car in Cabo San Lucas, which includes both the rental cost and a comprehensive car insurance policy. Most hotels charge a parking fee, so be sure to factor this into the cost of renting a car as well.

Regarding driving in Los Cabos, the roads in Cabo San Lucas, as well as those between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, are generally safe and well-marked. We recommend staying off the roads at night or using extreme caution, as wandering livestock tend to be in the Tourist Corridor.

4. Shuttle Service

If you’d rather avoid public transportation in Cabo San Lucas altogether but don’t want to drive yourself, a private transportation option, like private shuttles, might be the ideal choice for airport transportation in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

You can book a private ride to and from the airport in Los Cabos for up to five people for $80 to $100 USD per person, or up to ten people for $170 to $200 USD per person. Though private airport transfers are one of the most expensive transportation options, they are also the quickest and most reliable way to get from the airport to your accommodations in Cabo San Lucas. They are also a safe and spacious option for families traveling to Cabo San Lucas with children (and lots of luggage!).

Shared shuttle services are also an option for Cabo transportation and are generally more affordable than taxis. However, like with a private shuttle, you must book your transfer before arriving in Cabo.

5. Ridesharing Options

Uber is generally considered a reliable and affordable option for getting around Cabo San Lucas and between San José del Cabo, and is typically half the cost of a taxi!

However, it’s still not a dependable option for getting to and from the airport — a taxi or shuttle service is a better option for airport transfers. This is because the local taxi unions have regulations on where Uber drivers can pick up passengers. They have mostly restricted them from picking up passengers at the airport and certain resorts.

6. Walking

If you’re staying in the tourist areas of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, you’ll find that both towns in Los Cabos are extremely walkable. After getting from the airport to your hotel or vacation rental, you might not need another mode of transportation other than your own two feet!

Specifically, in Cabo San Lucas, you’ll find everything you need within a 5–10 minute walk of most beachfront resorts on Medano Beach. You can relax on the sandy shores of Medano Beach while overlooking Lover’s Beach and the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, explore all the shopping malls and local restaurants in town, or head to the grocery stores to pick up groceries.

If you want to venture out of town for an adventure, like snorkeling or scuba diving at Playa del Amor or riding ATVs through the desert, most excursions and tours include round-trip hotel transportation.

Find the Perfect Launching Point for Your Cabo Adventures with Cabo Rentals by Jane

Regardless of how you choose to get around Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, you’re bound to have a fantastic time exploring all that this stunning destination in Baja California Sur has to offer!

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the heart of Cabo San Lucas within walking distance of all the best restaurants, shopping, and nightlife in Downtown Cabo, look no further than our beachfront rentals, luxurious villas, and spacious condos at the Villa La Estancia Resort on Medano Beach. Explore our available properties to find the perfect place to stay for your upcoming vacation to Cabo San Lucas!