Terminal 2 at Los Cabos International Airport: 8 Things you should know
If you are traveling between the U.S. and Los Cabos, Mexico, you are likely going to arrive and depart from Terminal 2 at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).
Terminal 2 handles most international flights at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), including those to and from the U.S. and Canada. Terminal 1 is used for some international flights but primarily serves domestic flights within Mexico.
This new terminal is modern, air-conditioned, and easy to navigate. Large windows allow in lots of natural light. Because the terminal only has four jet bridges (among ten gates), on many flights you’ll be using mobile stairs brought up to the plane and will need to walk across the tarmac.
Here are a few things you need to know to help things go as smoothly and expeditiously as possible when you’re flying in or out of Terminal 2.
ARRIVALS
1) Arrivals are on the lower level.
First you’ll snake through a lengthy immigration line (which tends to move fairly rapidly.) At immigration, you need to show your passport, explain the reason and length for your visit and surrender the immigration form you’ve filled out on your flight.
- Tip: A portion of the form will be handed back to you. You will need it when you leave Mexico so be sure to keep it with your passport or you’ll have to pay a substantial fine (about $40 USD). The stub will be collected by your airline at the departure gate.
Next, you will pick up your luggage from the baggage carousel and proceed to awaiting customs agents.
- Tip: Car rental counters are just beyond the luggage carousel.
You will be asked if you are bringing goods into the country for resale, and then asked to press a button that randomly turns on a red or green light. If it turns green, you are home free. If it turns red, your baggage will be subject to a physical inspection.
- Tip: Be sure not to bring any fruit or other agricultural products into the country.
2) Warning: Beware of timeshare salesmen.
Los Cabos is the only place in the world where we’ve encountered a virtual army of timeshare salesmen who are sanctioned to wait like hawks for arriving visitors after they pass through customs. The salesmen roam the arrivals area and even stand behind official-looking counters without signage on both sides of the room.
As you walk to the exit door of the terminal, you’re likely to be stopped en route and called over to a counter where an English-speaking salesman will either offer to find your driver using his cellphone (or if you don’t have any transportation arranged, will offer to help you.)
Do not stop and avoid any eye contact. If When approached, say “No, thank you” and keep walking. Proceed straight to the exit door where your shuttle or van driver will be waiting for you with a placard with your name.
Unless you are in the market for a timeshare or want a free taxi ride in exchange for a very long and uncomfortable sales pitch, it is prudent to make pick-up arrangements with a shuttle or van company before you leave home.
- Tip: TripAdvisor ratings can be useful in choosing a reputable company and confirming a price in advance.
DEPARTURES
3) There is no such thing as TSA Pre✔ here.
Departures are on the middle (ground) level of the terminal. Come prepared to remove your shoes, belt, overcoat or sweater; you’ll also have to take your laptop out of your bag.
- Tip: You’ll walk through a large duty-free shop after you pass through security.
4) Come fully charged.
Although the new airport looks modern and has some free Wi-Fi and access to Boingo, we couldn’t find any electrical or USB outlets to charge cellphones or computers.
5) Be alert to frequent gate changes.
Gate assignment changes are common; ours was changed three times within the few hours between our arrival at the airport and the time of takeoff. The terminal has terrible acoustics and the barrage of constant announcements can be deafening and, at the same time, largely unintelligible.
- Tip: To keep track of your departure gate, it’s best to rely on an app like Tripit and to confirm any changes with airline personnel at one of the gates.
6) Food options are limited.
The food court with tables is limited to fast-food outlets including Subway, Carl’s Jr., Sbarro, Starbucks and Yogen Fruz (frozen yogurt). There are often lengthy lines for ordering.
There are two Corona-branded bars in the center of each side of the terminal but no enclosed restaurant.
If you are a fussy and/or healthy eater, it’s likely you won’t find anything to take with you on the plane. Either eat a hearty breakfast or bring something with you for your flight.
Other concessions sell tacky souvenirs, soft drinks, candies and snack food.
- Tip: Also on More Time To Travel – 5 Tips from the FDA for entering the U.S. with prescribed medications
7) Lounge options are limited.
Seating in the departures area is limited and can be crowded at peak periods.
Airline carriers have no lounges in the terminal. Access to a Priority Pass lounge, called the VIP Lounge, is free to Priority Pass holders and costs $30 per person for others.
9) Dropping or picking someone up at the airport by private or rental car?
The access road to the airport is a toll road in both directions so you’ll need cash on hand. You will have to pick up a ticket at one toll booth and then pay a toll of about $2 USD at another.
At the terminal, convenient parallel parking spots are available to drop someone off at the ground level, which houses all the airline ticket counters.
If you are picking someone up at the airport, you’ll need to park your vehicle and wait for your visitor on the lower (arrivals) level. A short-term pay parking lot is available close to each terminal.
- Tip: The distance between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is a fairly long walk, especially in the heat. In some places, there are no sidewalks between the lots so be sure to park in the one closest to the terminal where your visitor is arriving.
When you enter the parking lot, pick up a ticket. Before you exit with your car, you’ll need to walk to the parking machine, get the ticket stamped and make payment. (When we visited in February 2016, the parking fee was $ 28 pesos for one hour.) Then insert your paid ticket at another machine as you exit the lot in your car.
IF YOU GO
The airport is located about 15 minutes from downtown San Jose del Cabo and about a half hour from downtown Cabo San Lucas.
Additional airport information: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
Phone numbers:
Area Code: 624 (Los Cabos) From Mexico (Dial 01 instead of 011 52)
011 52 624 146 5111/12/13
011 52 624 146 5200/06/07/08
Read my colleague Janice Mucalov’s very helpful post on getting from the airport to your hotel on Sand In My Suitcase.
Excellent information on the airport – and how to navigate it! When we first visited Cabo, we got caught up by the timeshare salespeople. They’re sooo clever. If you have a transfer voucher in your hand, and say “no”, they say “this way to Cabo Transfers” (or TransCabo, whatever your transfer company is). Then you think they will lead you there. Uh uh. This is a great piece to give to anyone flying to Cabo :-).
I’m embarrassed to say that even after going to Los Cabos for ten years, we still get caught on occasion. They always have a new trick up their sleeves!:-)
We visited Cabo the past two weeks. During our stay at Vidanta, my son ans wife purchased a large painted bowl for $70 from an on-site vendor. During the TSA check it was confiscated. They stated that since they sell them in the airport shops, they had the right to confiscate it. To me that is ludicrous because they also sell t-shirts, hats, and lots of other souvenirs. So that means they could take it all. I would love to hear a valid explanation. Otherwise it seems that buying anything there is just a rip off to tourists. I’ve never had such a poor experience in Mexico.
So sorry to hear this, Sylvia. Coincidentally, I had a similar experience when I purchased vanilla from a shop in the terminal and then had it confiscated. I know how upsetting this can be.
The only suggestion I would have would be to contact the airport to complain. There is a form to do that here: https://www.loscabosairport.com/contact-los-cabos-airport/