Cabo San Lucas Travel Guide

Getting There

By Air: The Los Cabos International Airport (+52 624 146 5111) averages over 200 flights a week. Renovations to its main terminal and the opening of a second terminal lend it a look and feel of the fastest growing vacation area in Mexico. The airport's lone hitch is its 29 mile gap with Cabo San Lucas to the south. Its two terminals service the following major airlines:

Aeromexico (+52 624 146 5097 / http://www.aeromexico.com)

Alaskan Airlines (+52 624 142 3324 / http://www.alaskaair.com)

American Airlines (+52 624 146 5302 / http://www.aa.com)

Continental (+52 624 146 5040 / http://www.continental.com)

Delta Airlines (+52 624 146 5005 /http://www.delta.com)

Frontier Airlines (+1 800 432 1359 / http://www.frontierairlines.com)

Mexicana (+52 624 43 5353 / http://www.mexicana.com)

US Airways (+1 800 428 4322 / http://www.usairways.com)

All ground transportation can be found just outside the doors from the baggage claim areas. Aeroterrestre Taxis, bright yellow government operated mini-vans, are a good option. They are reliable and charge a controlled rate of MXN200 (around USD20) sparing travelers the annoyance of having to haggle. Regular taxis approximately cost USD60. Hidalgo y L. Cardenas (+52 624 143 0090), L. Cardenas y Zaragoza (+52 624 143 0104) and Camino al Cerro y Boulevard Marina (+52 624 143 0105) are the area's most prominent taxi companies.

Astur Baja Services (+1 800 352 4990) provides passengers the option of a private vehicle (USD120 round trip) or a shared van (USD20). The hitch is that advanced reservations are mandatory.

Bus service is a cheap alternative (USD1.50), but woefully inconvenient. Passengers need to take a 10 minute taxi ride from the airport to San Jose del Cabo (usually costs about USD5) and then from there grab a bus into Cabo San Lucas. But even then the bus deposits passengers about a mile outside of town, at the junction of Mexico 19 and the Cabo Bypass, necessitating a 20 minute walk, or another cab ride.

Rental car agencies include:

Advantage (+52 624 143 0909 / http://www.arac.com)

Avis (+52 624 143 4607 / http://www.avis.com)

Budget (+1 800 527 0700 / http://www.budget.com)

National (+52 624 143 1414 / http://www.nationalcar.com)

Payless (+1 800 729 5377 / http://www.paylesscarrental.com)

Thrifty (+52 624 143 1666 / http://www.thrifty.com)

By Bus

Buses starting in Tijauna, about 1,000 miles to the north, can take 22-30 hours to chug into Cabo San Lucas. Autotransportes de Baja California (ABC) (+52 664 683 5681) and Tres Estrellas de Oro (+52 5549 8520) both service Baja's southern tip.

By Car

The Transpeninsular Highway, or better known as Highway 1, is the only thoroughfare leading into Cabo. It's huge on scenery, but limited on roadside services. Potholes, wandering cattle, and locals who find turning on their car lights to be too much of an inconvenience make driving at night a dangerous gamble. If possible only drive during the day and try to keep your gas tank as close to full at all times.

Getting Around Town

Walking is the fastest and most efficient way to negotiate Cabo's streets. The center of town is small and compact.

Driving in Cabo can be a challenge depending on the time of year. The streets, especially during the college spring break months of March and April, are clogged with vehicles all in search of parking. Free public parking can be found at the south end of Blvd Marina, but it generally fills quickly. Adding to the driving mayhem is that there are no street numbers, causing first time visitors to crawl along in their cars squinting out their windows for addresses that cannot be found.

Taxis are numerous and can be found at most hotels. Marina in Front of Plaza Las Glorias (+52 624 143 3290) and Cardenas y Zaragoza (+52 624 143 0104) Sitio Nuevo Atardecer and Transcabo are the more prominent companies in town. Rides around town cost USD3-USD5, while journeys north into the Corridor area average USD20.

Buses service all of Cabo and the surrounding area. Most bus drivers when asked will stop at specific beaches and hotels.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 623