Cabo Airport: SJD, Terminals and Getting to Town

Cabo airport usually means Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), in San José del Cabo. It’s the region’s main gateway, with two passenger terminals; Cabo San Lucas also has a smaller airport much closer to town, but its identifiers vary across listings. Wikipedia’s airport overview describes SJD as the main gateway, while Los Cabos Airport’s overview places it in San José del Cabo.

Which airport should you use for Cabo?

If you’re searching flights for a typical Los Cabos trip, start with SJD. It serves both San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. The other airport is Cabo San Lucas Airport, which is physically closer to Cabo San Lucas, but its codes are inconsistent between sources. The Los Cabos Airport page calls it CSL; Skyscanner calls it CSW, and AirportGuide lists both CSW and CSL. Check the airport and identifier directly with whoever is arranging your flight, especially for a charter or private trip. Los Cabos Airport, Skyscanner, and AirportGuide list the Cabo San Lucas airport differently.

So, if the question is “what airport is Cabo San Lucas?” the practical answer is usually SJD for the main Los Cabos gateway. If you mean the nearest airport by location, Cabo San Lucas Airport is listed 4.7 miles from Cabo San Lucas. The Los Cabos Airport page describes that airport as private, while AirportGuide lists its facility use as public, so don’t assume the code or access details mean the same thing across listings. Skyscanner’s airport listing, Los Cabos Airport, and AirportGuide provide those details.

The region has two airports: SJD and Cabo San Lucas Airport. The airport-to-town figures above come from different sources and describe different places; they aren’t a comparison of road distance or travel time. Wikipedia, Los Cabos Airport, and Skyscanner give the airport count and locations.

What are the SJD terminals like?

SJD has two operating passenger terminals. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights; Terminal 2 handles international flights. That’s the simple version to remember when checking your airline’s instructions. Los Cabos Airport identifies the terminals by flight type, and Wikipedia’s terminal details describes their facilities.

Terminal 1 has arrivals services including baggage claim, rental-car counters and taxi stands. Its departures area has check-in, security, a food court and eight gates. Terminal 2 has arrivals, customs and immigration, baggage claim, car rental and taxi stands on the ground floor. Departures are upstairs, with check-in, security, restaurants, food stands, duty-free shops and 19 gates, nine of them with jet bridges. Wikipedia’s SJD overview lists those terminal layouts.

Both terminals have maps covering check-in, security, gates and amenities, and the airport lists lounges, charging stations, currency exchange and traveler services. Accessibility assistance is available for mobility support and help moving between gates, terminals, security or customs. For a specific assistance request, contact the airport or airline before travel rather than counting on a service being arranged automatically. Los Cabos Airport’s passenger information describes maps, amenities and accessibility support.

How far is SJD from Cabo towns?

SJD is 10 km north of San José del Cabo, according to the airport overview. The research available here doesn’t establish a dependable road distance or drive time from SJD to Cabo San Lucas, so we’re not going to dress up an estimate as a fact. Your hotel’s exact location matters too: Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo and the resort corridor are separate destinations, not one airport drop-off point. Wikipedia gives the SJD-to-San José del Cabo distance; Los Cabos Airport lists transport serving Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo and area resorts.

At SJD, you can choose a shared shuttle, a prebooked private transfer, a taxi, a scheduled bus or a rental car. Authorized taxi stands are just outside the terminal, and the airport describes taxi fares as fixed-rate. It doesn’t provide specific fares in the information reviewed, so confirm the total before you ride. If you want a direct trip to a particular hotel, compare a prebooked private transfer with a shared shuttle before arrival. See our guide to SJD airport transfers for help choosing a ride.

Rental-car counters are on-site. The airport also describes scheduled buses to nearby towns, but the source information doesn’t give specific routes or timetables. Check the current details before building a connection around the bus. If your plan is to stay around the marina or Medano Beach, compare the hotel’s location and your transfer destination before booking; our guides to Cabo’s four areas and Medano Beach hotels can help you narrow that down. Los Cabos Airport lists taxis, shuttles, buses and rental cars.

What should you know before arriving?

Don’t let an airport conversation make your plans for you. If someone offers a vacation-club or timeshare presentation, decide if you’re interested before you commit time or personal details. Keep your first job simple: collect your bags, confirm your ride and get to your accommodation. For more on evaluating those offers, see our Cabo timeshare presentation guide.

One official entry-related detail to check: Los Cabos Airport says foreign visitors staying in Baja California Sur for longer than 24 hours must pay the Embrace It tourism fee online through its secure platform. The page reviewed doesn’t state the fee amount, so check the current official instructions rather than relying on an old figure. Los Cabos Airport’s visitor information describes the requirement.

Finally, use SJD as the search term when checking your flight, but verify your terminal with your airline. If your itinerary names Cabo San Lucas Airport instead, confirm its location, identifier and arrival arrangements directly with the operator; the listings don’t agree on its codes or whether it is private or public. That small check can prevent a very avoidable airport mix-up. Los Cabos Airport and AirportGuide differ on how they describe that airport.

Quick answers

What airport is Cabo San Lucas?

Most visitors use Los Cabos International Airport, code SJD, in San José del Cabo. Cabo San Lucas also has a smaller airport, but listings differ on its identifiers and public or private status.

What is the closest airport to Cabo San Lucas?

Cabo San Lucas Airport is listed 4.7 miles from Cabo San Lucas. SJD is the main Los Cabos gateway, but it is in San José del Cabo.

How many airports are in Cabo?

There are two airports in the Los Cabos region: Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and Cabo San Lucas Airport.

What is the SJD airport code?

SJD is the airport code for Los Cabos International Airport, located in San José del Cabo. It serves both San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

How many terminals does Cabo airport have?

SJD has two operating passenger terminals. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights and Terminal 2 handles international flights.