4 Things Travelers Need To Know Arriving At The Cabo Airport As High Season Begins

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The winter chill is officially taking over North America, and massive crowds are currently booking flights to the sunny Baja Peninsula to escape the freezing temperatures. Los Cabos is an absolutely spectacular desert oasis, offering incredible resorts and coastal views. However, the exact moment you land at the Los Cabos International Airport, you are immediately thrown into the incredibly busy peak season rush.

Navigating Terminal 2 during the winter high season can be highly overwhelming for arriving tourists. If you just step off your flight without a solid game plan, you can easily add an extra 60 minutes of pure travel friction to your arrival day. Before you grab your passport and board your flight down to Mexico, there are exactly 4 critical things you need to know about surviving the airport experience.

1. Pre Book Your Airport Transfer

This is the absolute biggest mistake arriving travelers make when visiting Los Cabos. You cannot just wing your transportation. During the peak winter months, the official taxi lines wrap around the curb, and waiting for a ride can easily steal 45 minutes of your precious vacation time. Furthermore, hailing a ride on the spot is incredibly expensive.

You absolutely must pre book a private airport transfer before you leave home. Having a dedicated driver waiting for you completely eliminates the stress of navigating the massive crowds on the curb. You simply grab your luggage, walk outside, and immediately hop into a cool air conditioned SUV. It gets you to the resort pool hours faster than figuring it out on the fly.

2. Bypass The Shark Tank Salespeople

The layout of the Los Cabos airport features a very notorious trap for arriving tourists. After you clear customs and grab your bags, you have to walk through a long corridor before you actually reach the exit doors. This specific hallway is packed with highly aggressive timeshare salespeople, and frequent visitors affectionately refer to this area as the shark tank.

These salespeople dress exactly like official airport staff. They will confidently ask to see your transportation voucher, offer you a free welcome drink, and promise to help you find your taxi driver. Do not stop walking. Keep your head down, politely say no thank you, and continue moving until you are completely outside the sliding glass doors. Your actual pre booked driver will never be inside the terminal. They will be waiting for you outside under the shaded canopies holding a sign with your name on it.

3. Expect Longer Waits And Pack Light

Because the high season brings a staggering amount of daily flights into Los Cabos, the airport infrastructure gets pushed to the absolute limit. You need to mentally prepare for longer lines at the immigration checkpoints the moment you step off the plane.

The biggest bottleneck always happens at the baggage claim carousels. During peak arrival times, baggage wait times can easily swell to 40 minutes or more. When you just spent 4 hours on a cramped airplane, the last thing you want to do is stand around a crowded luggage belt. If you can manage to fit your swimsuits and sandals into a single carry on bag, absolutely do it. Skipping the checked bag process lets you breeze straight through customs and beat the massive crowds to the exit.

4. The Customs Button (Reg Light / Green Light)

Mexico utilizes a very unique random selection process at the final customs checkpoint in Los Cabos. Before you exit the airport, you push a physical button that looks like a traffic light. If it flashes green, you are free to go. If it flashes red, customs agents will search your luggage. It is completely randomized, so do not panic if you get the red light.

However, you must be incredibly careful about exactly what is inside your bag. Electronic cigarettes and vapes are strictly illegal in Mexico. If customs agents find a vape in your luggage during a random search, they will immediately confiscate the device and hit you with a massive financial fine on the spot. Here are 5 other items that could get you fined upon arrival.