What Is the Best Way to Get Around Cabo? What U.S. Expats Need to Know Before Moving
Everything You've Read About Getting Around Cabo Was Written for Tourists. You're Not One.
Most of what you'll find online says the same thing: book a shuttle, grab a taxi, maybe rent a car for a day trip. That works for a week-long vacation. It doesn't work when you're buying groceries, taking kids to school, going to the doctor, or commuting along the corridor every day.
If you're relocating from California, Texas, or Arizona, how you get around will shape your daily life here more than almost anything else, and it's one of the things new arrivals get wrong most often. Here's what you need to know before you land, before you sell your car, and before you sign a lease.
A tourist stays in one hotel and moves a few times a week. A resident moves every day. Los Cabos isn't one town you can walk around. It's two cities, San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, connected by roughly 20 miles of corridor. Choosing how you'll get around based on vacation advice is how people end up spending a fortune on rides, or feeling stuck at home.
Inside the terminal at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), you'll walk past desks with people offering "free" transportation, tours, and help. Many of them are selling timeshares. After a long flight, with kids and luggage, it's easy to get pulled in. Don't stop. Walk straight outside to your pre-arranged transportation.
Pre-booked shuttles or private transfers are the most reliable way to get from the airport to where you're staying. Airport taxis are available, but they're notably expensive.
This one surprises almost everyone. Uber isn't allowed to pick up passengers at the airport, so don't count on opening the app when you land.
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Back home, you open an app and a car shows up. In Cabo, Uber is available, but there are restrictions on where it can pick you up, so it's not the always-there option you're used to in Los Angeles, Houston, or Phoenix. Taxis are everywhere, but they can be expensive. Always agree on the price before you get in.
For a visit, that's manageable. As your everyday way of getting around, it adds up fast.
Los Cabos has public buses, including Ruta del Desierto, which connects different parts of the area. It's an option some residents use, but if you're used to planning your day around your own car, relying only on the bus is a big adjustment.
For most people relocating from the U.S., yes. Tourist guides say you only need a car for day trips, like driving to Todos Santos. But when you live here, errands, schools, doctors, and social life are spread out across the two cities and the corridor.
This is the one that can hurt the most. U.S. auto policies typically don't cover you in Mexico. If you drive here, you need Mexican auto insurance. Driving without it is a risk you don't want to take.
Many people plan to drive their car down from California, Texas, or Arizona. The rules for foreign-plated cars depend on your situation, so check what applies to you before you make the drive, not after.
From the marina in Cabo San Lucas, water taxis are the easiest way to reach spots like El Arco and Lover's Beach. Fun for a day out, not part of your daily commute. Agree on the price before you board.
The best way to get around Cabo depends on where you live. Living in town puts you closer to daily errands. Living in the corridors gives you more space and privacy, but almost always means driving for everything. If you're still deciding between areas, read our guide Los Cabos Corridors Explained: A Relocation Guide for U.S. Expats before you choose.
A couple relocating from Los Angeles, California sold their car before the move, planning to use Uber like they did at home. Within the first month, the restrictions and the cost of daily rides made them rethink everything. They ended up buying a car locally, and wished they'd planned for it from the start.
Don't plan your daily life in Cabo around how you get around in a U.S. city.
A family relocating from San Antonio, Texas rented a beautiful home in the corridor without thinking about school runs. Two drives a day, every day, became the hardest part of their routine. For their next lease, they chose based on distance to school first.
If you have kids, map your daily drives before you fall in love with a house.
A retiree relocating from Scottsdale, Arizona drove his car down assuming his U.S. insurance would cover him. He found out otherwise before anything happened, and got Mexican auto insurance right away.
If you're driving down, sort out your insurance and your car's paperwork before you cross.
You won't really know how you'll get around Cabo until you live it: the morning traffic, the drive to the supermarket, the distance to the hospital, the ride to school. That's why we tell every client relocating from the U.S. the same thing: rent for at least a full season before you buy. Live the commute first, then choose where to buy, before you make a decision you can't easily undo.
For visitors, pre-booked transfers, taxis, and Uber can work. For people living in Los Cabos, most find that having their own car is the most practical option, especially outside the two main towns.
No. Uber isn't allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. Book a shuttle or private transfer before you arrive.
Taxis in Cabo are known for being expensive, and Uber has restrictions on where it can pick you up. Whichever you use, agree on or check the price before the ride.
Typically, no. If you're driving in Mexico, you need Mexican auto insurance.
It's possible, but it's a big adjustment, and much harder if you live in the corridors. If you plan to go car-free, choose where you live with that in mind.
Moving from California, Texas, or Arizona and not sure which area makes daily life easier? Karla and Erick Cabo Realty are local experts who can help you choose a home that fits how you'll actually live. Reach out for personalized guidance on renting before you buy in Los Cabos.
Thinking of moving to Baja California Sur, México?
Karla Andreu and Erick Flores (Century 21) guide U.S. & Canadian buyers, expats, retirees, and families through every step.
We specialize in beach & golf communities across Los Cabos and Baja California Sur—offering expert advice, relocation support, and clear guidance to help you invest with confidence.
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