If you’re headed to Cabo San Lucas, here’s the quick truth: the closest public airport most
travelers use is San José del Cabo. That airport is Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), and it’s the main commercial airport for the entire Los Cabos area. There’s also a smaller private/general aviation airport in Cabo San Lucas, but for most people flying commercial, SJD is the one.
Now let’s talk about what it’s actually like to land there, and a couple of things that make the whole process way easier.
First things first: The Form (and why you want a pen)
On the plane, you’ll usually get a paper form to fill out. If you don’t receive it in the air, no stress, there’s typically someone handing them out after you land.
Insider tip: Toss a pen in your carry-on. You’ll feel like a genius. Also, you don’t need to sit on the floor or use the wall to help. Keep walking, there are tables for writing further down the hallway.
The form is simple, but it goes faster if you’re prepared. It usually asks for things like:
Flight number
Passport Number
How many people are traveling with you
How many bags you are bringing
How many days you are staying
You only need one form per family, not one per person.
The airport flow: What happens after you land
Once you’re inside, you’ll go through a couple of checkpoints. The “big picture” is:
- Passport/immigration line (this is the first line you’ll see)
- Baggage claim
- Second stop point (this is where that form comes into play)
Bathroom hack –
If the bathroom at the bottom of the escalator is packed, don’t worry. There’s often a much less busy bathroom on the other side of the first line (the first line being the passport/immigration line).
The second stop point: the questions + the button
At the second stop point, you’ll hand over that form. An attendant may ask a couple of quick questions, like:
“How long are you staying?”
“Do you have a drone with you?” (you will have to pay Mexican taxes if you have a drone or more than one computer)
Then comes the part that surprises people the first time: they’ll ask you to push a button.
You’ll get one of two results:
Green light: you’re good to go, grab your luggage and head out.
Red light: totally normal, no need to stress. It just means your bags need to go through an
additional screening (usually a quick scan or visual check).
Most of the time, even a red light is just a small delay, not a “you’re in trouble” situation.
Our team at MarVida can set-up your transportation ahead of time, and we really recommend it. If you land without a plan, it’s surprisingly easy to get pulled into a tourist trap in the shuffle outside the airport. We work with a transportation partner we trust, and they’ll contact you before you arrive with clear instructions and an exact meeting point so there’s no guesswork.
A quick note on the “helpful” crowd 🥴
When you walk out of the terminal, do yourself a favor: ignore the sales pitches and keep
moving toward the exit. Outside, you’ll see a couple of bars and a row of yellow umbrellas. Your driver will tell you which umbrella number to look for.
One quick heads-up: if you grab a margarita out there, just know that they’re very proud of them. They may say it’s cash only, but that’s not always true. I paid with a card last time because I had zero cash, and it was easily the most expensive margarita of my entire trip.
Once you’re outside, find your umbrella number, spot your driver, and hop into the chariot that’s ready to take you to vacation mode.
