As
you fly into Los Cabos International Airport, you'll be surprised to
see the Sierra Madre mountain range encompassing the skyline.
The cactus-covered flatlands paint a stark contrast to the green
mountainsides, as the single-runway airport comes into view.
The
Arrival
There are no arrival gates in Los Cabos, so you'll be let off on the
tarmack, where you'll go down the stairs and walk a very short
distance to the arrivals area. As you enter the arrivals area,
you'll almost immediately be in line to show your passport to the
immigration officials. This area is very similar to the
international arrivals hall at any American airport - there are about
11 gates, all but one for foreigners. It's all very
straightforward and easy - you won't have any trouble here - just get
in line, show your passport and your immigration form you filled out
on the airplane, tell him/her how long you'll be in Cabo, and you're
on your way to baggage claim.
Baggage Claim
The
Baggage claim area is small, only two carousels. Inside the
baggage claim areas are a money exchange booth (with a poor exchange
rate - you'll want to wait), rental car booths, and a passport place.
You'll pick up your bags from the baggage carousel, and walk just a
few steps over to the customs line.
Customs
Located just a couple of steps from the baggage carousel is the X-Ray
machine. Toss your bags on the carousel, and pick them up on the
other side. Right on the other side, when you've gathered your
bags, just press the button right in front of you. Green and you
get to go right through, red means you've been selected for random
inspection. The red light seems to be exceedingly rare, so don't
worry too much here.
"The
Pit"
Right as you exit customs, you'll see a host of booths, all manned by
representatives in white shirts. All of these people in this
area are timeshare sharks. Do not go to any of these booths, or
go where any of the representatives tell you to go "for your
transportation" unless you fully intend to spend a day of your
vacation in a high-pressure timeshare pitch. If ANYONE
approaches you in this area, they are NOT your transportation
representative - they are a timeshare shark. Simply walk right
through all of the booths, not stopping for anyone (unless your
transportation instructions specifically say to look for your
representative here), and walk outside where the transportation
representatives are waiting for you.
Ground Transportation
Most
people arriving to Cabo San Lucas use pre-reserved airport transfers
for transportation to their hotels. Cost for this service to San
Jose del Cabo runs approximately $$ for a shared shuttle of up to 13
people, or $$ for a private transfer. To Cabo San Lucas,
approximately $$ minutes from the airport, the cost is approximately
$$ for a shared shuttle or $$ for a private transfer. You will
normally need to reserve this service at least 72 hours in advance,
though some agencies are more flexible, so make sure to plan ahead.
As
you arrive outside the airport, you'll find all the airport transfer
services lined up on the curb. Look for your representative
holding a sign with their logo and/or your name on it (refer to your
transfer confirmation for exact instructions), or ask a representative
where your company is located. Then you'll just hop in the van,
your driver will assist you with your luggage, and you're off to begin
your vacation. Piece of cake!
