7 Best Plus Cheapest Cabo Airport Transfers: The Scoop
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So you’ve booked your vacation to Los Cabos. And you’re already picturing the sun, sea, margaritas and fun activities this Mexican resort area offers!
Now it’s time to figure out your Cabo airport transfers.
What’s the best way to get from the Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) to your hotel or resort? What’s the cheapest?
Most visitors take a taxi, rent a car or book one of the many semi-private or private Los Cabos airport shuttles. If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s also the public bus, Ruta del Desierto.
As frequent travelers to Cabo, we’ve tested nearly every way to get from the airport to our accommodations.
Below, we’ve rounded up the top seven transfer options – plus the cheapest – to help get you to where you need to go.
Featured reader comments
Contents: Cheapest plus best Cabo airport transfers
Can you book airport transportation last-minute?
Shared shuttles vs. private transfers
Quick answer: Cheapest airport transfers in Cabo
Best way to get to your resort
7 Top airport shuttle companies
Where do you meet your driver?
Timeshare vendors at the airport
Pssst! Also see tons of comments and questions from readers at the end of this post.
The prices shown below are in U.S. dollars. The transfer companies may change them at any time, so you’ll want to double-check the rates before making a booking.
Can you book airport transportation in Los Cabos last minute?
We understand that local regulations don’t allow booking “hotel to airport” shuttle service in Cabo within 72 hours of your departure.
You can book an airport transfer from the airport to your hotel the day before you arrive in Cabo.
But you can’t book a one-way return transfer from your hotel back to the airport last minute. You must book 3 days or more in advance.
Tip: You’ll probably want to book return airport transfers (unless you have alternative arrangements for getting back to the airport).
Shared shuttles vs. private transfers
Shared shuttles
Shared shuttle transportation (sometimes called “semi-private transportation”) usually involves a large SUV for 5 or more people or even a 10-person van, shared with another group or a couple of other pairs.
At the airport, you might have to wait around for a while – sometimes up to 40 minutes – until all the passengers organized for your shuttle have arrived and are ready to roll.
The shuttle will stop at a few hotels to drop off its passengers. Depending on where you’re staying, your hotel might be the first stop – or the last.
How you’re charged: Rates are per person.
Private transfers
Larger vehicles are also usually used for private Cabo airport transportation services, something like a sleek Suburban or a roomier Toyota Hiace van. (The SUVs tend to have more comfy seating than the vans.)
For a smaller vehicle, Gray Line Los Cabos (jump to #7 below) – offers private transfers in a Tesla for up to 3 passengers.
As private transfers are just for you (and your traveling companions), you’ll be chauffeured straight to your hotel – no stops – meaning you can be sipping margaritas on the beach within an hour after landing in Mexico!
For the fastest VIP service – or if traveling as a family or group – a private transfer is the way to go. Once you have 3 people, it starts to cost about the same as a shared shuttle. For 4 or more, a private transfer is typically cheaper than a shared one.
How you’re charged: The rate is for your group – whether that’s just you, you and a plus-one, or your whole family or group of friends.
Different zones: Rates depend on the resort area
Most of the Los Cabos airport transportation companies tailor their rates based on your destination, dividing the region into distinct zones.
Here’s a quick breakdown to help you navigate:
- San Jose del Cabo – The zone closest to the airport (so the least expensive to reach), it covers hotels in the charming town of San Jose del Cabo, plus nearby beach resorts like Cabo Azul and Hyatt Ziva.
- Puerto Los Cabos – About a 5- to 10-minute drive east of San Jose del Cabo, this area includes upscale spots like Hotel El Ganzo, Marriott Los Cabos and the Ritz-Carlton.
- Cabo San Lucas – This zone includes hotels in the town of Cabo San Lucas, plus resorts along Medano Beach, such as Pueblo Bonito Rose and Villa del Arco.
- Tourist Corridor – The 20-mile Los Cabos Corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas is sprinkled with luxury beachfront hotels (like The Cape, a Thompson Hotel), all-inclusive digs (like Grand Velas Los Cabos) and adults-only resorts (like Marquis Los Cabos).
- Pacific Side – On the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo San Lucas, this zone is home to large condo-style resorts like Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach and Playa Grande. (As it’s a few minutes’ further away from the airport than Medano Beach and the town, transfers typically cost a tad more).
- Diamante – The furthest area from the airport, Diamante is located north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja California Peninsula. It’s where you find Nobu Hotel and the Hard Rock Hotel, among others. (Generally, the most expensive transfers are to Diamante.)
Note: We use “Cabo” and “Los Cabos” interchangeably here. Both terms (as we use them) refer to the whole resort area of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.
For more information, see our guide on Los Cabos vs. Cabo San Lucas (on our other CaboVisitor blog).
What’s the cheapest Cabo airport transfer?
In this section, several of the “cheapest” transfer options listed below can be booked through Viator, a TripAdvisor company.
Viator offers a lowest price guarantee. They also offer free cancelation up to 24 hours before the transfer – and you can “book now, pay later.”
We use Viator all the time to book tours and transfers, and they’re a great option, especially if you don’t feel comfortable giving your credit card to an unknown company. (But we also share options for booking directly with various transfer companies.)
Cheapest shared shuttles
Round-trip shared shuttles
Round-trip shared shuttle to Cabo San Lucas
The cheapest shared round-trip airport shuttle to resorts in Cabo San Lucas that we’ve found is $43.08 USD p.p. (booked through Viator).
The transportation provider is Epic Los Cabos.
They’ve received a “Badge of Excellence” from Viator – meaning their “experience is highly rated by travelers” and has met “top quality standards.”
You’ll travel in an air-conditioned minivan. Your maximum wait time at the airport will be 30 minutes.
Round-trip shared shuttle to Diamante hotels
Epic Los Cabos also offers the cheapest round-trip shared shuttles to two popular hotels in the Diamante area.
For just $43.08 p.p., you can enjoy round-trip airport transfers to and from the Nobu Hotel or Hard Rock Hotel.
(You can use this company to book airport transfers to other areas in Los Cabos too, for example, resorts along the Tourist Corridor.)
Round-trip shared shuttle to San Jose del Cabo
If you’re going to San Jose del Cabo, you can snag a round-trip shared airport transfer to and from your resort for $36 p.p., traveling in a minivan or SUV.
The service is provided by Gray Line Los Cabos, a trusted international transportation and tour provider. They’ve been operating in Cabo since 2002 and have hundreds of 5-star reviews on Viator.
We’ve used them too – you can read our full review under #7 Gray Line Los Cabos below.
One-way shared shuttles
At certain hotels (like Club Cascadas de Baja), you can only arrange a one-way ride from the airport to your hotel. (You can’t book a transfer back to the airport.)
And sometimes, a one-way shared transfer from the airport is all you want. (Maybe you plan to squeeze the most out of your last day and would prefer a private transfer back to the airport?)
One of the cheapest one-way shared shuttles to Cabo San Lucas
It costs $25 USD a person for a one-way shared shuttle from the airport to Cabo San Lucas with Gray Line Los Cabos (booked through Viator).
We used Gray Line for a one-way transfer on a recent trip to Cabo. While no-frills, our transfer went smoothly and our wait time before the shuttle left the airport was relatively short (see our review under #7 Gray Line Los Cabos below).
One of our readers has also commented that he takes Gray Line and is happy with them. (See the Comments section at the end of our post.)
More inexpensive shared shuttles
Cabo Transfers (see #1 below) also offers inexpensive airport transfers for a single person or a couple in a shared shuttle.
Their cost is $22 a person (one-way) to Cabo San Lucas or $44 (round-trip). You book through their website, not with Viator.
You can save even more if you’re okay booking with Cabo San Lucas Tours (a third-party discount tour operator). Their cost is $18 per person for a one-way transfer to Cabo San Lucas, and you’ll go with TransCabo (see #2 below).
Cheapest private airport transfers
Round-trip private transfers
Round-trip private transfers to Cabo San Lucas
You can book private round-trip transfers for a group of up to 5 people to hotels in Cabo San Lucas for $180 through Viator.
If you book directly through the transfer company’s website (see #6 Cabo Airport Shuttle below), the round-trip rate is $155.
One-way private transfers
One-way private transfers (up to 5 people)
You can book a private one-way airport transfer in Cabo for just under $75.00. The cost is the same for one person, two people or up to 5 passengers (through Viator). You’ll travel in a mini-van with Legacy Transportation Los Cabos.
Note: This price doesn’t apply to resorts on the Pacific Ocean side or in the Diamante area.
One-way private transfers (up to 2 people) to Pacific Side hotels
For a private transfer in a mini-van (Toyota Hiace or similar), Cielito Lindo offers a good rate of $90 for solo travelers or a couple heading to Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach or other Pacific Side hotels. See our review of #3 Cielito Lindo below.
One-way private transfers (up to 10 people)
If you have a group of 9 or 10 people – and you’re staying in one of the areas furthest away from the airport (say, on the Pacific side or in Diamante) – your best bet is Ballard Tour Services. Their cost for a private one-way transfer from the airport to any resort in Los Cabos is $162.
You’ll ride in a Suburban or Toyota Hiace, and you’ll be treated to complimentary drinks.
Taxi from the airport to Cabo San Lucas
Taxis in Los Cabos are large blue or turquoise (occasionally white) vans that seat 8 to 10 people. But, gulp, Cabo taxi fares are comparatively steep.
A taxi from the international or SJD airport to Cabo San Lucas will cost you a minimum of $80 USD. This cost covers up to 4 people. Each extra person is $20 p.p.
If you’re traveling as a couple, that cost is about double the price of a shared airport shuttle.
Frankly, we don’t think a taxi ride is the best Cabo airport transportation option.
Cabo airport bus: Ruta del Desierto
Is there a public bus that goes from the airport to Cabo San Lucas?
And does the bus also do the return trip and go from Cabo San Lucas back to the airport?
The short answer is “Yes.”
We’ve ridden the regular public bus in Cabo many times – for example, to go snorkeling at Santa Maria Beach and to travel between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
It’s cheap and perfectly safe.
(We’ve also taken the bus between several colonial Mexican cities – and that service was like flying business class. Really!)
Traveling within Mexico? Check out our post on the excellent long-distance Mexico buses
About the Ruta del Desierto bus
The Ruta del Desierto bus is the inexpensive public bus in Cabo, and it runs every day to and from the Cabo airport.
You can hop on it at either Terminal 1 (domestic terminal) or Terminal 2 (international terminal) and ride it all the way into Cabo San Lucas.
The bus isn’t fancy. But it’s air-conditioned, reasonably comfortable and very easy on the wallet :-).
It makes several stops.
Depending on traffic, the travel time on the bus to get from the airport to the town of Cabo San Lucas is about an hour to 75 minutes.
If you’re going to the airport from Cabo, budget about 90 minutes to be safe.
Bus from Cabo airport
If coming in on an international flight (arriving in Terminal 2), you need to go up one floor to the Departures Level.
There’s an escalator that goes upstairs. Look to the left after passing the timeshare sales vendors.
Up top, exit the doors and go outside, and you’ll see the bus stop by the curb to the right, at the far end of the terminal.
If flying into the domestic terminal (Terminal 1), there’s a Ruta del Desierto bus stop right outside.
Bus to Cabo airport
When returning home and going back to the Cabo airport, you can catch the bus at the stop in front of the Puerto Paraiso Mall.
Cost of the airport bus?
The cost is 90 pesos (about $4.50 USD) per person.
If you need Mexican pesos, there’s a Banamex ATM machine on the Arrivals Level of Terminal 2, just after customs.
For more information on Ruta del Desierto, check this thread on TripAdvisor.
If you understand Spanish, here’s the bus line’s Facebook page. (Facebook also does a credible job at translating into English.)
We haven’t personally taken the bus to or from the airport. So we’ve relied on reader input and comments, combined with other research, to give you the scoop on taking the bus.
Best way to get from the Cabo airport to your hotel?
When planning your trip to Cabo, we think it’s smart to reserve one of the Los Cabos or Cabo San Lucas airport shuttle services (covered above or below) in advance.
Taxis are expensive (so we don’t recommend them) and the bus is slow and inconvenient.
A semi-private or private transfer with a reputable company is the fastest and most hassle-free option, offering great value for money. Plus, you’ll enjoy the best customer service available.
Los Cabos airport shuttle reviews: 7 good companies
We’ve personally tried all but one of the seven different Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas airport transfers recommended below.
The only exception is All Ways Cabo Transportation (#4). While we haven’t used their service yet, they consistently earn glowing reviews on TripAdvisor, so we’ve included them in this round-up, alongside our other top picks.
1) Cabo Transfers
Kick off your travel sandals, sit back and enjoy the ride! Cabo Transfers offers a professional, quality transfer service within Los Cabos.
We’ve used them several times on our many visits to this desert-meets-the-sea resort destination.
Their website is easy to use. Simply click on their “Book Now” button, plug in your transfer type (“Private airport transfer” or “Airport shuttle transfer”), indicate whether you want a one-way or round-trip service and your hotel, and you’ll be given a quote.
You’ll be asked for your flight arrival and departure information, and they’ll email you confirmation of your transfer(s) with pick-up times and details noted.
When traveling as a couple (without other family members or companions), we’ve usually booked the shared shuttle and never had to wait very long – most recently, it was just a 10-minute wait. (Their website mentions the wait time could be 30 to 40 minutes, however.)
Sometimes we’ve been the only clients and enjoyed private airport transportation for a shared shuttle price!
For their private transfers, vehicle choices include a Suburban or Expedition (up to 6 passengers), Toyota Hiace (up to 10 passengers) or Ford Transit (up to 16 passengers). They come with free WiFi and TV screens in the seat backs if you want to watch a video.
All vehicles are air-conditioned and have working seatbelts. They’re clean, comfortable and stocked with ice-cold bottled water, beer and soft drinks (extra cost, depending on the service).
Drivers are courteous and polite (and enjoy practising their English on you).
As well as airport transfers, the company offers other driving services; we once used them to transfer from the Grand Velas Los Cabos to another resort.
Services
They offer both shared (semi-private) and private transfers.
Sample rates
One-way shared shuttle
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $18 p.p.
- Puerto Los Cabos hotels = $20 p.p.
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $20 p.p.
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $22 p.p.
- Pacific Side hotels = $25 p.p.
- Diamante hotels = $28 p.p.
Round-trip shared shuttle
Cabo Transfers’ round-trip shuttle fares are double the one-way cost, except for Diamante area hotels, where the round-trip cost (at $50 p.p.) is a few dollars less than double.
One-way private transfers
The rates below are per vehicle for up to 5 passengers in an Escalade/Navigator:
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $110
- Puerto Los Cabos hotels = $124
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $124
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $130
- Pacific Side hotels = $143
- Diamante hotels = $181
Round-trip private transfers
Round-trip rates (per vehicle) for up to 5 passengers in an Escalade/Navigator are:
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $207
- Puerto Los Cabos hotels = $234
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $234
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $239
- Pacific Side hotels = $259
- Diamante hotels = $337
A grocery stop (available for private transfers) costs $40 for one hour of shopping at a supermarket close to your resort.
Costco and Walmart are on the way if you’re staying in Cabo San Lucas. (Stock up on your favorite Mexican fruit – limes! – for mixing those all-important tequila drinks.)
Bottom line?
Cabo Transfers offers great rates and excellent service for shared transfers. (They might stop at up to three hotels, but never more than four.)
It’s $22 p.p. ($44 a couple) for a one-way shared transfer from the airport to a Cabo San Lucas hotel.
2) TransCabo
One of the first companies to get into the business of driving guests around in the area, TransCabo offers a premium service for airport transportation in Cabo.
They have a fleet of over 50 recent models in different sizes (all clean and air-conditioned).
TransCabo representatives are easy to spot. When you leave the airport, just look for their bright orange shirts. Their professional drivers help you with your luggage and offer you bottled water.
For the shared airport shuttle, no more than 10 people per van are booked, with no more than three stops. And, again, you could luck out and end up having the vehicle to yourself (in effect a private transfer for the shared shuttle cost)!
Services
TransCabo offers both shared and private shuttle services.
Sample rates
One-way shared shuttle
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $20 p.p.
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $22 p.p.
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $26 p.p.
- Diamante hotels = $34 p.p.
Round-trip shared shuttle
Round-trip rates are double the one-way rates.
One-way private transfers (per vehicle)
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $130 (for up to 6 people in a Suburban)
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $125 (for up to 10 people in a mini-van)
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $140 (for up to 6 people in a Suburban)
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $135 (for up to 10 people in a mini-van)
- Diamante hotels = $170 (for up to 6 people in a Suburban)
- Diamante hotels = $165 (for up to 10 people in a mini-van)
If you need an infant or baby car seat, it should be reserved in advance. (Ask TransCabo for the cost of this.)
Note: If you book your transfer through Cabo San Lucas Tours – a third-party tour operator which uses TransCabo – you’ll save about 30%. Here’s the Cabo San Lucas Tours’ webpage for airport shuttles.
Bottom line?
TransCabo are trusted and reliable (receiving a 2024 Traveler’s Choice award from TripAdvisor).
They also offer good rates for private transfers in a van for large groups of 10 people. (The one-way cost from the airport to Cabo San Lucas works out to $13.50 p.p. if you have 10 people in a van.)
3) Cielito Lindo
Cielito Lindo is a great option if you’re traveling as a single person or a couple and you want private car services from the airport to Cabo.
As with all agencies and companies here, reservations must be booked in advance.
Cielito Lindo requires 3 days’ notice for individuals and 7 days’ notice for groups. You’ll receive email notification about how to meet the driver, who’ll be waiting for you outside the airport terminal.
Your vehicle will be meticulously clean – and a welcome bottle of cold water will be waiting for you.
As Cielito Lindo is a travel agency, they also offer other services. For instance, they can stock your villa with groceries before you arrive. (Maybe you need avocados to make guac and your other favorite Mexican food dishes!)
Cielito Lindo can also take you on private sightseeing trips to Todos Santos and La Paz.
Services
Only private SUV or van services are offered. (You can’t book a shared airport shuttle.)
Sample per-vehicle rates
One-way private transfers
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $79.50 (for up to 2 passengers in a mini-van)
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $110 (for up to 4 passengers)
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $140 (for up to 6 passenger)
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $115 (for up to 10 passengers in a min-van)
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $84.50 (for up to 2 passengers in a mini-van)
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $125 (for up to 4 passengers)
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $130 (for up to 10 passengers in a mini-van)
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $190 (for up to 16 passengers in a Sprinter)
- Pacific Side hotels = $90 (for up to 2 passengers in a mini-van)
- Pacific Side hotels = $135 (for up to 4 passengers)
- Pacific Side hotels = $140 (for up to 10 passengers)
Round-trip private transfers
Round-trip rates are double the one-way rates.
A half-hour grocery shopping stop arranged in advance costs $45 (one hour for $60).
Bottom line?
Cielito Lindo offers one of the cheapest private one-way Los Cabos airport transfers for a single person or a couple.
4) All Ways Cabo Transportation
All Ways Cabo Transportation has more than 10 years of experience in the business, getting excellent reviews on TripAdvisor.
Their fleet of vehicles includes Suburbans (least expensive – up to 5 passengers), premium Cadillac Escalades (up to 5 passengers), vans (9 passengers), limousines (10 passengers) and Sprinters (16 passengers).
Drivers are on-time and courteous, and you’re welcomed with beer, water and often bubbly too!
All Ways offers other driver services in Cabo as well.
Perhaps you want to do a day trip from Cabo San Lucas? Maybe to explore Los Barriles or Todos Santos? Booking this kind of service means you can have a hassle-free time, without the bother of renting a car.
Services
All Ways only offers private transfers (no shared shuttles).
Sample per-vehicle rates
One-way private transfers
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $100 (for up to 4 passengers in a Suburban)
- Pacific Side hotels = $100 (for 2 passengers in a Suburban) or $120 (for 4 passengers)
Round-trip private transfers
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $180 (for 2 passengers in a Suburban) or $208 (for 4 passengers)
- Pacific Side hotels = $190 (for up to 4 passengers in a Suburban)
Bottom line?
This company offers a break on the cost for round-trip Cabo airport transfers.
Rather than competing on price, All Ways Cabo Transportation aims for the sweet spot – great service at a fair cost. Beer and cold water is included, always… (Oh, bad pun!)
5) Blue Dreams
Blue Dreams is a private transfer company that started in Cancun in 2005.
They now also operate in Los Cabos.
It’s used by select luxury resorts like Grand Velas Los Cabos to transfer their guests. (The Grand Velas used Blue Dreams to pick us up from the airport for our stay at the all-inclusive resort.)
Expect to be welcomed with a chilled facecloth and cold bottle of water, followed by a very comfortable ride.
Services
Only private shuttles services are offered.
Sample rates
Below are per-vehicle sample rates for up to 5 passengers:
One-way private transfers
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $80
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $150
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $125
- Pacific Side hotels = $130
- Diamante hotels = $170
Round-trip private transfers
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $160
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $245
- Diamante hotels = $340
Bottom line?
Blue Dreams is a good choice when only the best service will do (and price is no barrier).
6) Cabo Airport Shuttle
This company is another excellent low-cost transportation service that we’ve used for private transfers from the airport.
They aim to offer the fastest airport transfers in Cabo by investing in radios.
This means the greeter at the airport with the Cabo Airport Shuttle sign can radio the driver to pick you up immediately, without relying on WiFi for What’s App (which sometimes goes down at the airport) or spotty cell service.
We certainly found our ride easy and seamless, with no hanging around at the airport, waiting for a pick-up.
They’ve been in business for several years now and are expanding, counting some 30+ vehicles in their fleet – Escalades, Suburbans, Ford Transit vehicles and so on.
Their drivers wear dark green shirts and black pants (the greeter with the company sign wears the same uniform).
They’re courteous (our driver was very pleasant), and the vehicles are clean. In fact, the black Escalade we rode in recently looked brand new.
When settled in your vehicle, you’ll find complimentary chilled beer and water bottles waiting for you in a cooler.
Oh, and the drivers are super helpful too. One customer reports that after he accidentally left his phone in the vehicle, the driver quickly brought it to him at his hotel.
You can book online through their easy-to-use website, over the phone or via email. The company is extremely prompt in responding.
Services
The company only offers private airport transfers.
Sample rates
Below are some examples of their per-vehicle rates for up to 5 passengers in a Suburban.
Prices are, of course, higher if you want a larger vehicle for a bigger group (for example, a Ford Transit for up to 11 passengers or a mid-size Sprinter for up to 16 passengers).
One-way private transfers
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $65
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $75
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $85
Round-trip private transfers
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $115
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $145
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $155
Bottom line?
Cabo Airport Shuttle offers excellent, fast and reliable private airport transportation services for solo travelers, couples, families and small groups.
7) Gray Line Los Cabos
Gray Line Los Cabos is part of the international transportation and tour provider, Gray Line, which has been in business since 1910.
We booked a shared airport transfer recently with them through Viator (receiving our tickets and confirmation online).
As instructed, upon exiting the airport terminal, we looked for the Gray Line Los Cabos agents. We couldn’t find them in the sea of people all waiting for transfers. So we asked another transfer company greeter for help and he pointed out the Gray Line greeters wearing their company’s lime green, blue and white shirts.
After checking in with them, we waited for about 20 minutes before setting off on our transfer. We were accompanied by three other couples in a clean white newish van (with air conditioning and functioning seatbelts).
Ours was the last hotel stop (so there were four hotel stops in total) – and this added another 20 minutes of additional driving time to our transfer.
We’d call this shuttle ride more of a no-frills transfer. We weren’t offered a complimentary bottle of water or beer. But the driver was friendly and drove safely within the speed limit.
Services
Gray Line offers both shared shuttle and private transfer services.
Sample rates
One-way shared shuttle
The following are their rates for booking a one-way shared shuttle from the airport:
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $18 p.p.
- Puerto Los Cabos hotels = $22 p.p.
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $22 p.p.
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $25 p.p.
- Pacific Side hotels = $29 p.p.
Round-trip shared shuttle
The following are Gray Line’s rates for booking a round-trip shared airport transfer:
- San Jose del Cabo hotels = $36 p.p.
- Puerto Los Cabos hotels = $44 p.p.
- Tourist Corridor hotels = $44 p.p.
- Cabo San Lucas hotels = $50 p.p.
- Pacific Side hotels = $58 p.p.
Bottom line?
Gray Line Los Cabos offers great rates if you’re a solo traveler or couple looking for an inexpensive shared shuttle service.
You can book through Viator using the above links or through their website.
Cabo airport location
Where’s the airport?
There are two airports serving Los Cabos.
The Los Cabos International Airport is Cabo’s main airport and the airport you’re likely to fly into; the Los Cabos airport code is SJD.
This international airport is about 28 miles from Cabo San Lucas (a 40- to 45-minute drive) and eight miles from San Jose del Cabo (20-minute drive).
(There’s also a much smaller airport closer to Cabo San Lucas for very small aircraft; the Cabo San Lucas International Airport code is CSL. Below, we only talk about SJD.)
Where do you meet your driver?
You’ll meet your driver outside the airport.
Exit Terminal 2 at the airport, cross the road and you’ll see two outdoor bars to your left and a row of numbered awnings on the right for the airport shuttles.
Find the number of the awning your transfer company gave you.
Typically, you’ll see a greeter or attendant holding up their company’s sign. Go to them, and they’ll phone or radio the shuttle driver to pick you up.
Beware the sales people selling timeshares!
After you’ve collected your baggage at the Los Cabos airport, you must pass by a slew of timeshare vendors before you exit.
Don’t get waylaid by them – unless you want a free taxi ride (and a tour or other incentive) in exchange for giving up a half-day of your precious vacation time to attend a timeshare presentation in Cabo.
The transfer company greeters are all outside the terminal doors. Locate your greeter and/or driver, and soon you’ll be on your way to a sunny Cabo holiday!
Note: The timeshare vendors are clever!
As you glance around, unsure about how exactly to exit the airport, they will approach you and ask if you need help finding your driver. Following them is an invitation to getting ensnared in discussions with them.
If you’re not interested in talking about timeshares, simply say “no thank-you” and continue walking straight through and out of the airport.
Recommended reading: Want to know how to bargain in Mexico the right way?
Uber in Cabo San Lucas
What about Uber in Los Cabos?
Can you get Uber in Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo?
In October, 2018, the company started to operate in the two towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo – yeah!
Apparently, more than 1,500 drivers have registered to offer Uber services.
The situation with Uber is complicated, however.
If you Google, you’ll find sites saying it’s “illegal” and not authorized to operate.
The taxi union is very strong in Los Cabos. They are unhappy about Uber coming to Cabo and they’re still doing all they can (unsuccessfully) to prevent Uber from gaining a foothold in Los Cabos.
But the fact is it exists in Cabo – and lots of visitors use Uber (including us).
For the most part, Uber works well within Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
We use it to go from our Medano Beach resort in Cabo to restaurants.
We also use Uber (no problem) to help transport our groceries from the Selecto Chedraui grocery store in the Puerto Paraiso Mall in Cabo San Lucas to our Medano Beach resort. The Uber driver typically arrives within 4 minutes. And the cost is about $7 USD (plus tip).
Note: There’s no Uber at the Cabo airport
Unfortunately, you can’t currently use Uber from the airport.
It can also be difficult to use Uber to get to the airport.
That said, we do know of people who’ve successfully taken Uber to the airport (at a cost of about $48 USD from resorts on Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas).
That’s it for our guide on Cabo’s airport shuttles and rides
Hopefully you’ve found this helpful…
Have you used any of them? What company do you think offers the best Cabo San Lucas airport transportation service?
Let us know! You can share your thoughts and read others’ views in the Comments section below.
See more of our guides on Cabo
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Our top travel tips and resources
General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, offering loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy! (You may prefer Expedia for booking hotels in the U.S. or Mexico.)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: For the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets are often non-refundable. If you want more flexibility, it’s usually worth booking directly with the airline, even if it costs a bit more.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.
eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!
Photo credits: 5 to 7, 10, 14, 23, 25 to 28 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 2 Cabo Airport Shuttle | 8, 9 Ruta del Desierto | Other Cabo airport shuttle photos courtesy the respective shuttle companies
About the authors
