Getting There & Departing

By Car -- From La Paz, the best route is Hwy. 1 south past the village of San Pedro, and then Hwy. 19 south through Todos Santos to Cabo San Lucas, a 2-hour total drive.

By Bus -- The bus terminal (tel. 624/143-5020) is on Héroes at Morelos; it is open daily from 7am to 10pm. Buses go to La Paz every 2 hours starting at 7:15am, with the last departure at 8:15pm. To and from San José, the more convenient and economical Suburcabos public bus service runs every 15 minutes and costs 23 pesos.

Orientation

Arriving -- At the Los Cabos International airport, either buy a ticket for a colectivo (shuttle) from Josefinos (tel. 624/146-5354), the authorized transportation booth inside the building ($15 per person, $85 for a private van of up to five passengers), or arrange for a rental car, the most economical way to explore the area. Up to four people can share a private taxi, which costs about $60.

Cabo San Lucas also has its own general aviation airport (tel. 624/124-5500; CSL), about 5km (3 miles) out of town. To get there, take Hwy 1 toward the Wal-Mart shopping center, and turn left at the traffic light, onto Constituyentes (marked for La Paz as well). Turn right at the first light, following signs for AEROPUERTO. Drive straight about 3km (2 miles) through an unpromising village of rough-looking shacks, and it's at the end of the road. It's served by Aereo Calafia and Aeroservicios Guerrero, with flights up the peninsula and to the mainland Pacific coast. Be aware that these flights rarely take off as scheduled, so be patient and just plan to arrive in your final destination at least 30 to 45 minutes later than expected.

The walk from the bus station to most of the budget hotels is manageable with light luggage or backpacks, and taxis are readily available.

City Layout -- Cabo spreads out north and west of the harbor, edged by foothills and desert mountains to the west and south. The main street leading into town from the airport and San José is Lázaro Cárdenas. As it nears the harbor, Marina Boulevard branches off from it and curves south around the waterfront, becoming the main tourist artery, lined with shopping centers and touts pushing gold jewelry, timeshares, and Viagra. It's obnoxious, but not sleazy, and is a pleasant place for a walk on Sundays, when it's pedestrian-only. To its north is Plaza Amelia Wilkes, better known simply as "the plaza," bordered east-west by Hidalgo and Cabo San Lucas and north-south by 5 de Mayo and Madero; this is the less flashy center of town, a good place to start a stroll through shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Festivals & Events in Cabo San Lucas

October 18 is the feast of the patron saint of Cabo San Lucas, celebrated with a fair, feasting, music, dancing, and other special events. However, the biggest event of the year for more than 25 years, also in late October, is Bisbee's Black & Blue, which draws thousands of party-ready anglers in the quest for the $100,000 purse that comes with catching the biggest marlin.


Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.