First 15 minutes at SJD Short-Term Parking are usually free
This official Short-Term Parking lot sits directly in front of Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), serving both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 via a short walk of roughly 3–5 minutes. It’s meant for quick drop-offs, pick-ups, and brief terminal visits, not overnight stays. Entry is ticket-based with automated barriers, and you pay at machines near the terminal exits before returning to your car.
Short-Term Parking at SJD typically charges by the hour, with a minimum period that starts after that initial free window of around 15 minutes. Rates are higher than long-term or off-airport lots, so once you pass the two- to three-hour mark, costs stack up quickly. This setup works best for meeting an arriving flight, escorting family inside, or handling a counter issue between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 without worrying about shuttle timings.
The lot is post-roadway but pre-terminal, so you reach it before the terminal curbs on the access road for SJD. Stalls are uncovered, so expect full sun and heat on the car for most of the day, especially in the midday 11:00–15:00 window. Lighting poles run through the lanes, giving some sense of security at night, and there are marked pedestrian paths that lead straight to the main terminal doors.
Payment usually runs through automated pay stations that accept pesos and often major credit cards, with posted tariffs per hour and a daily max clearly shown near the entry. Keep the paper ticket dry and flat; if the machine can’t read it, you’ll likely queue at a staffed booth and spend another 5–10 minutes getting it sorted. Lost-ticket fees can jump to the daily maximum, so don’t toss it in a bag you’ll check.
Tip: If you’re only walking someone to the check-in counters at Terminal 2, watch the clock and aim to exit the Short-Term lot within 30 minutes; after the first hour, you’re usually paying a premium that rivals a full day in a long-term lot.