SJD airport

Navigating the Cabo (SJD) airport. Or what I like to call Squid Game Cabo. Lol, okay, it’s not that bad but here are some tips and what to expect. When your plane lands in San Jose del Cabo, do yourself a favor, take a deep breath, and prepare yourself for what’s to come. You are in Cabo so… no bad days. Relax, and in an hour or two you will be having a great time! SJD is a small but very busy airport. During peak times it’s pretty much nuts to butts until you get to your ride. When you first arrive you usually will go from the plane to a 3-minute shuttle ride to the terminal although some gates now empty directly into the terminal. Upon arrival you will herd like cattle over to the Immigration lines. Mexico is phasing out both Immigration and Custom forms so this is simply presenting your passport and answering a few questions on the purpose of your visit and maybe where you are staying and for how long. Usually quick and easy. Early flights, like before noon, often have very short lines. Later and afternoon flights have longer lines that can be long but usually not more than 30 minutes. There are some exceptions. BTW your “tourist visa” or permission to enter Mexico is good for up to 90 days and unlike some misinformation I’ve read in some forums here, your passport only has to be good until the day you leave Mexico. Not an extra 6 months or 90 days like Europe and some other countries. That being said, if your passport is going to expire a few days after your scheduled return then get it renewed before you go. A flight cancellation or rare storm could cause you a headache. After immigration you will head to baggage claim. Once again here it’s typically overcrowded and takes a good amount of time for the baggage to arrive. Sometimes this area can be quite a cluster. I once saw an airport baggage handler riding the baggage conveyor. After retrieving your luggage follow the crowd to customs. Here you will wait in line, go up to an agent when called, answer a few questions about tobacco or what’s in your bag then press a button. It is completely random, green you are good, walk on through, red your luggage goes through an X-Ray machine and may be inspected. Now here is the best piece of advice about Cabo you will ever get! After customs go through the doors and into the tunnel of love, not! In this hallway everyone and their mother will be vying for your attention. Asking if you need directions, a car rental, taxi, fishing, golf, timeshare, money exchange and who knows what else… WALK STRAIGHT THROUGH AND DO NOT STOP UNTIL YOU GET OUTSIDE! When you see the light (the sun) you are all good. The taxi stand is on the right and the shuttles to car rentals and private drivers are just across the lane. Now have beer and welcome to Cabo! But if you want one from the airport it’s like 12 bucks, gone are the days when I first came to Cabo and got 6 beers for 3 bucks!