Hollywood stars were among the first to hear the siren call of the Baja peninsula, attracted by the world-class deep sea fishing. But until the 1960s, when enterprising tourism promoters began using World War II-era surplus DC-3s to fly tourists from Los Angeles to La Paz, visitors had to sail down to Cabo, travel down the two lane road from the border, or fly private aircraft to primitive air fields.
In the 1970s, the development of the tourist industry around Cabo went into overdrive and the opening, then expansion of Los Cabos International Airport was a crucial factor in bringing more and more visitors to the area. Located eight miles north of San Jose del Cabo and 29 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, the airport is a modern, full service facility with a traveler-friendly website.
Major Canadian and U.S. airlines, plus tour charter flights serve Los Cabos. Carriers include Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, United and U.S. Airways. Mexican airlines, flying from north of the border cities, include Mexicana and Aeromexico. Non-stop flights are available from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and Atlanta. Flights from the east coast of the U.S. and Canada are four to five hours in duration. Flights from the Midwest take about three hours and it is a two hour air journey from Texas, Arizona and California.
While Mexican authorities require only a valid government ID and birth certificate to enter the country, visitors to Mexico traveling by air must have a valid passport to re-enter the United States. Before landing in Mexico, airlines provide in flight two forms required by the Mexican government, an application for a tourist card and a customs declaration.
There are several options available to carry visitors from the airport to their hotel including rental cars, taxis, shuttle buses and limousines. Los Cabos airport authorities warn visitors to shun unlicensed shuttle operators at the airport who attempt solicit business. Ground transportation reservations can be made online on the airport's website before departing.
Airlines recommend arriving three hours before your scheduled departure time, but check with your airline or the airport website for any news about delays or flight changes. While the weather in Baja is generally balmy, there can be threats from occasional Pacific storms or winter weather north of the border can create delays with arriving flights that are scheduled to turn around and carry visitors home.
