Getting from Los Cabos Airport to Cerritos Beach

Almost everyone arrives at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), in San José del Cabo. From there to Playa Los Cerritos is roughly an hour. It is a straightforward drive on paved highway, and the road has improved considerably in recent years.

Here is what is worth knowing before you land.

The two routes

There are two ways across the cape, and they take about the same time.

Via Cabo San Lucas (Highway 1, then Highway 19). You drive the length of the corridor from San José del Cabo through Cabo San Lucas, then turn north on Highway 19 up the Pacific side. This is the route your phone will usually suggest. The disadvantage is the corridor and Cabo San Lucas itself, which can be slow in the late afternoon.

Via the inland road (Highway 19 direct). A newer link lets you cut west from the airport area and join Highway 19 without going through Cabo San Lucas. It avoids the worst of the traffic and is the quieter drive.

Either way, the final approach is the same: Highway 19 north to El Pescadero, then the signposted turn-off west toward the beach.

What the road is like

Highway 19 between Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos is a modern four-lane highway with a paved shoulder for most of its length. It is not a mountain road and it is not remote. There are Pemex stations, restaurants and towns along the way.

Two practical notes:

Drive it in daylight if you can. Not because of safety, but because the road is unlit outside of towns, cattle occasionally wander onto it, and the last unpaved stretch down to the beach is much easier to read in the light. If your flight lands late, a pre-arranged transfer takes the decision away.

Watch the speed through towns. El Pescadero and Todos Santos both have speed bumps that arrive without much warning.

Rental car, transfer or taxi

Rental car. Worth it if you want to see Todos Santos, the sierra or the Sea of Cortez side. Book it before you arrive rather than at the counter, and read what the quoted price includes: Mexican liability insurance is legally required and is often not in the headline rate. Expect to pay for it separately.

Private transfer. The simplest option after a long flight. Arranged in advance, a driver meets you in arrivals and takes you straight to the door. If you are staying with us, reception can organise one.

Taxi. Available at the airport, but the fare to Cerritos will usually exceed the cost of a booked transfer, and negotiating after a long flight is nobody’s idea of a good start.

Bus. There is intercity bus service from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos, but not from the airport directly, and you would still need to cover the last stretch to the beach. Practical if you are travelling light and unhurried.

Is the drive safe?

Yes. This is one of the most travelled tourist corridors in Baja California Sur, and the highway itself is in good condition. The ordinary cautions apply: drive in daylight when you can, keep to the speed limit, do not leave valuables visible in a parked car, and fill up before long empty stretches.

Most visitors drive it themselves without any incident at all.

Arriving at the beach

The turn-off to Playa Los Cerritos is signposted from Highway 19 at El Pescadero. From the highway it is a short drive on an unpaved road to the sand. It is well graded and passable in any rental car.

If you are coming to us, we are at the northern, quieter end of the beach. Reception is staffed from 8am to 8pm, check-in is from 3pm, and there is parking on the property. If you are arriving outside those hours, call ahead and we will arrange it.

Distances at a glance

From	Time
Los Cabos airport (SJD)	about 1 hour
Cabo San Lucas	about 1 hour
Todos Santos	12 minutes
La Paz	about 1 hour 30