Traveler Information

Location

Los Cabos is located 1,000 miles south of San Diego in the state of Baja California Sur, south of the Tropic of Cancer. Los Cabos refers to the two towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, stretching east toward La Paz and north to Todos Santos.

Population

204,000

Climate

Subtropical desert. During the summer, highs can be in the 90s F with occasional showers. Winter evenings may drop to the 60s, with daytime highs near 80.

Time Zone

Los Cabos is on Mountain Standard Time, which is one hour later than Pacific Standard Time.

Language

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken by those employed in tourism.

Electricity

120 cycles/60 volts, the same as in the United States.

Banks and Currency

All major Mexican national banks are represented. For convenience, many locations have ATM machines that accept U.S. bank cards in the same manner as they do in the U.S., although transaction fees may be higher (around $3). ATMs dispense Mexican pesos, the official unit of currency. Although recommended, it is not necessary to exchange your dollars since the dollar (not coins) and traveler’s checks are widely accepted.

When using credit cards, the total on your statement will be reflected in pesos at the exchange rate posted that day. Credit cards are welcome at most major restaurants and hotels. Banks are usually open weekdays from 8am to 7pm. The Baja California Peninsula has a 10 percent federal tax.

Drinking Water

Major hotels and restaurants have purified water. Water comes from surrounding mountains, filtered through natural sand beds. Many resorts desalinate and purify their own water on property.

Communications

International communication is easy, but costly. Hotels impose a surcharge on calls made from the room. Your best bet may be to call collect or use a calling card. Local phone cards can save you money. The area is compatible for cellular phone usage as well. Major hotels are equipped with fax machines, though not all have hookups for personal computers/modems.

Many hotels have broadband Internet or Wi-Fi in guest rooms or public areas. You’ll also find a growing number of Internet cafés in the area. Ondanet Internet Café in Cabo San Lucas (across from Pemex gas station) has state –of-the-art computers and charges an inexpensive $4 an hour (plus you can sip refreshing margaritas while e-mailing). In San Jose, look for the office supply store across from the town plaza.

• To call the U.S. from your U.S. cell phone, dial 00 + 1 + area code + telephone number.
• To call locally to land lines, just dial the seven-digit number.
• To call locally to local cell phones (within the same area code), dial 044 + area code + telephone number.
• To call Mexico outside of Los Cabos, dial 01 + area code + phone number.

Public Holidays

Mexico celebrates several public holidays annually. Except for banks and government offices being closed, you vacation plans should not be disrupted.

Tourism Office

Plaza Puerto Paraíso, 3er nivel, Local 290-J
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23410
Tel: (624) 105-1666 / 143-0993

Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau

La Paz and Baja California Sur

For tourist information in the La Paz area, or any other city in Baja California Sur, call toll-free 1-877-MY BAJA SUR or visit www.mybajasur.com.

Getting Around Los Cabos

Some will tell you the best way to see the sights of Los Cabos is by foot, but no matter where you choose to stay, a car is a must if you want to experience both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo or take a side trip. Car rental agencies can be found at most hotels, in the airport and downtown. The smooth four-lane Corridor highway connecting San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas has been improved, now with more safety features. The drive is a breeze from the airport to either town, but surrounding areas are still under development. A government-funded highway patrol — the Green Angels — patrols the Corridor, providing emergency service for people encountering car trouble.

Car Rental Tips

• Minimum age to rent is 24
• Valid driver’s license and major credit card are required
• Mileage is free
• Rent from an agency with multiple locations so help is close by if you need it
• Gas prices are about the same as in the United States
• Bring back the car with the same amount of gas
• Your own insurance company may not cover you in Mexico, so expect to pay $16-18 per day for local insurance coverage

Car Rental Agencies at the Airport

Taxis

To get from one town to the other, you can expect to pay about $36. Red and yellow taxi vans operate in San José; blue and green vans cruise Cabo San Lucas. These vans are available 24 hours a day and are never far away. For those who like to do as the locals do, live the adventure of public buses, which run as shuttles between the two towns. The ride takes about an hour with highway stops at major hotels along the Corridor. The cost is less than $2 one way.

Airport Details

The San José del Cabo International Airport (SJD) has recently enjoyed a number of upgrades and expansions that ensure travelers’ added comfort and safety. It is located just 20 minutes north of San José and welcomes domestic, international and private or charter flights year-round.

When traveling abroad, all passengers must pass through customs and immigration. You need a valid passport to be allowed in Mexico. Once you have passed through immigration, collect your luggage and proceed to customs. Here, passengers push a button on a traffic light of sorts; if the light turns red, your luggage has been chosen for inspection. After passing through the customs and immigration area, you might be greeted by time-share salespeople eager to get your attention.

Unless you’ve arranged pickup by your hotel, yellow and white mini shuttles are the best way to reach your destination. They won’t depart unless they’re full, so you might have to wait a few minutes. Fares range from $8 to $15 per person, depending on your hotel destination.

This Airport welcomes more than 200 flights each week. At press time, the following airlines offered flights to Los Cabos: Alaska Airlines, Aeroméxico, American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Mexicana, Northwest, United Airlines, US Airways and WestJet. In addition, there are nonstop flights or convenient connections to Los Cabos available from Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento, California; Houston and Dallas, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Kansas City, Missouri; Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New York/Newark, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle; Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, Canada; and more.

Airline Telephone Numbers

Important Telephone Numbers

To call the police, it’s NOT 911. If you are calling from either a cell phone or landline, dial 060.

Medical Assistance