Los Cabos Starter Pack

Fly into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), just outside San José del Cabo.

San José del Cabo is 10-15 minutes from the airport. Cabo San Lucas is 35-45 minutes.

The Tourist Corridor (Hwy 1) connects the two towns along about 20 miles of coastline.

Airport shuttle: shared vans to hotels along the corridor cost roughly $20-30 USD.

Taxi from airport: fixed authorized rates apply. Ask for the official rate sheet before you get in.

Uber operates in Los Cabos, but pickups are restricted right at the airport. Walk to the highway or a nearby lot first.

FMM Tourist Card: issued on arrival, valid up to 180 days. Keep it safe. You need it to leave the country.

Visa runs: some expats leave and re-enter to reset their 180 days, though this is increasingly scrutinized.

Temporary Resident Visa: for stays over 180 days. Apply at a Mexican consulate in your home country first.

Permanent Resident status: available after 4 years on temporary status, or sooner if you qualify by income or investment.

The INM immigration office serving Los Cabos is in San José del Cabo. Arrive early and bring copies of everything.

RFC (tax ID): needed if you plan to work or do business in Mexico. Get it at the local SAT office.

Los Cabos has a dry desert climate. It gets far less rain and humidity than the Yucatán or the Pacific coast towns.

Winter (Dec-Mar): mild and dry, 70s-80s°F, low humidity. Peak season for tourists and for whale watching.

Summer (Jun-Sep): hot and dry, often 90-100°F or higher. The ocean stays warm and afternoons can bring brief storms.

Hurricane season runs June through November, with most activity in August to October. The area has taken direct hits from major hurricanes before, so take storm warnings seriously.

Chubascos: sudden, intense desert downpours in late summer can cause flash flooding in low-lying arroyos.

Shoulder season (April-May, October-November) brings good weather, fewer crowds, and lower hotel rates.

Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

Tourist Police patrol both San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Flag one down or call 911.

Amerimed, H+, and Hospiten all run English-speaking private hospitals along the corridor.

A US consular agent is based in Cabo San Lucas for passport and emergency services.

Save local hospital and consulate contact info to your phone before you need it.

Public buses (Autotransportes Aguila) run the corridor between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Cheap and frequent.

Taxis are widely available but unmetered and pricier than in most of Mexico. Always agree on the fare first.

Uber works within both towns, though pickup restrictions apply near hotels and the airport.

A rental car is common here given how spread out the corridor is. Many expats keep one long-term.

Golf carts are a common way to get around the resort communities along the corridor.

San José del Cabo's historic center and the Cabo San Lucas marina are both walkable on their own.

Telcel has the largest coverage nationwide, the safest choice if you plan to travel elsewhere in Mexico. Buy a SIM at any OXXO.

AT&T Mexico and Movistar are also available with competitive prepaid data plans.

SIM registration is required. Bring your passport, or your CURP if you have one, to activate a SIM.

Telmex and Izzi fiber cover most of the corridor with decent home internet speeds.

A small but growing number of coworking spaces and cafes serve remote workers in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

Data plans are prepaid. Top up at OXXO, 7-Eleven, or through the carrier's app.

USD is widely accepted, especially in the Cabo San Lucas tourist zone, but you get a worse exchange rate than paying in pesos.

Opening a Mexican bank account usually requires temporary or permanent residency status.

BBVA, Santander, and Banorte all have branches in both towns. Bring residency proof and address verification.

Wise is a popular way for expats to receive USD or EUR and convert it to MXN at a fair rate.

Foreign cards are often charged a fee per ATM withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.

Use ATMs inside banks during business hours and avoid isolated standalone machines.

San José del Cabo Centro: historic downtown with cobblestone streets and art galleries. Quieter and more residential.

Cabo San Lucas Marina: the center of nightlife, restaurants, and sportfishing charters, and the busiest, most touristy area.

The Corridor, between the two towns, has luxury resort communities like Querencia and Palmilla with golf-course living.

El Tezal and Colonia El Chamizal are more affordable, locally oriented neighborhoods on the edges of Cabo San Lucas.

Cabo Bello is a popular mid-range residential area close to Medano Beach and the marina.

San José suits people wanting a quieter, more local pace. Cabo San Lucas suits those wanting nightlife and marina life.

The San José del Cabo Art District has a strong restaurant and gallery scene, especially lively during the Thursday Art Walk from November to June.

Cabo San Lucas Marina has a dense strip of restaurants, most priced for tourists. Expect to pay more here than inland.

Local mercados and taco stands in the residential neighborhoods offer far better value than the marina.

Fresh seafood is a highlight throughout: fish tacos, ceviche, and catch straight off the sportfishing fleets.

Groceries: CityMarket, Soriana, and Walmart cover the corridor, with smaller local mercados for produce.

Restaurants right on the marina charge a premium for the view. Walk a few blocks inland for the same food at a lower price.

Medano Beach: Cabo San Lucas' main swimmable beach, lined with beach clubs and restaurants.

Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach are boat-access only, right by El Arco. The Pacific side (Divorce Beach) has dangerous currents, so swim only on the bay side.

Chileno Bay is a Blue Flag beach with calm, clear water and some of the best snorkeling in the area.

Santa Maria Bay is another excellent snorkeling cove along the corridor, less crowded than Chileno.

Costa Azul, known locally as Zippers, is the area's main surf beach.

All beaches in Mexico are public by law. Resorts control access points, not beach ownership.

Glass-bottom boats and water taxis run from the marina out to El Arco, the famous arch rock formation.

Humpback and gray whales migrate through Bahía de Cabo San Lucas from December to April, one of the best land-adjacent whale watching spots in Mexico.

Los Cabos is known internationally for sportfishing. Charters for marlin, dorado, and tuna leave daily from the marina.

Todos Santos, a Pueblo Mágico about 45 minutes away, is home of the original Hotel California and a growing arts scene.

Cabo Pulmo, a protected marine national park about 1.5 hours away, has some of the best diving and snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez.

Desert ATV and horseback tours run out of both towns into the surrounding desert landscape.

Los Cabos is one of Mexico's top golf destinations. Courses along the corridor include Cabo del Sol, Diamante, and Querencia.

Costa Azul (Zippers) is the main local surf break, with more spots toward San José.

Sportfishing charters are a major local industry, with half-day and full-day trips widely available.

Cabo Pulmo and the corridor bays offer some of Baja's best diving and snorkeling visibility.

Gyms and CrossFit boxes are concentrated in Cabo San Lucas and along the corridor resorts.

Medano Beach has calm, swimmable water, making it the easiest beach for younger kids.

Whale watching tours from December to April are a popular family activity accessible right from the marina.

Adventure parks like Wirikuta offer zip-lining and ATV tours suited to older kids.

Marine-life encounter programs near the marina let families see dolphins and sea lions up close.

International schools serving expat families are concentrated around San José del Cabo.

Decide which vibe you want, San José's quieter and more historic pace or Cabo San Lucas' busier nightlife, before choosing where to live.

Always negotiate taxi fares before getting in. Marina and hotel-zone taxis charge tourist rates.

The desert sun is intense with little shade. Hydrate and use strong sunscreen, especially from May to September.

Pacific-side beaches, including Divorce Beach, can have dangerous rip currents. Always check which side of a beach is safe to swim.

Tap water is not potable. Stick to bottled or purified water.

The currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN). USD is accepted in tourist areas but at a worse exchange rate.

English is common in tourist areas, but Spanish helps a lot in the residential neighborhoods and local markets.