Private meet-and-greet pickups at SJD Terminals 1 and 2
TransCabo runs pre-booked shared and private shuttles from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) to resorts in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, with staff waiting just outside customs in Terminals 1 and 2 holding company signs. This is the classic resort transfer: your name on a placard, air-conditioned van, and direct hotel drop if you’ve actually booked private.
Rates fluctuate by hotel zone, but many reports peg one-way private transfers to Cabo San Lucas in the US$90–130 range per vehicle, with shared shuttles usually priced per person. Most flights into SJD hit between 11:00 and 16:00, and TransCabo tends to stack departures in that window, so shared options can be cheaper but slower if you’re the first one on the van.
How it works step-by-step
- 1. Pre-book online: Regulars book directly on TransCabo’s site a few days before arrival instead of through hotel desks, since third parties sometimes switch you from private to shared without flagging it.
- 2. Save your details: Take screenshots of your voucher, pick-up time, and WhatsApp contact before you land; SJD Wi‑Fi near Terminal 2 arrivals can be spotty and roaming texts sometimes lag.
- 3. Exit customs: After baggage claim and customs at Terminal 1 or 2, walk past the timeshare gauntlet for about 30–60 meters until you reach the outside curb where transport reps hold grouped signs.
- 4. Find the TransCabo sign: Look specifically for “TransCabo” placards near other shuttle brands; multiple reviews call out that reps stand in a crowd, so you must actually read each sign, not just follow a random person with a clipboard.
- 5. Confirm service type: Before you get in any vehicle, say “private” or “shared” and match that to your voucher; one reviewer thought they had private and ended up waiting about 30 minutes while the van filled with other passengers.
- 6. Ride to your hotel: Private transfers go straight to your resort, often reaching the Corridor in 20–30 minutes and Cabo San Lucas in 35–45 minutes, while shared shuttles can add extra stops and detours.
- 7. Plan your return: Many repeat visitors ask for a pick-up 3 hours before departure for domestic Mexico flights and 3.5–4 hours for US/Canada flights, padding for Highway 1 traffic back to SJD.
Watch out for and pro tips
Some guests report patchy communication when flights delay by 1–2 hours, and they’ve needed to call or WhatsApp TransCabo from the baggage area to confirm a driver is still assigned. There are also notes about change or cancellation fees if you adjust plans close to travel date, so read the terms on your specific booking and change earlier than 24–48 hours out.
Another theme in reviews: pricing feels steep versus local taxis or rideshare for short hops to San José del Cabo hotels 10–15 km away, especially if you’re solo. In return, you get meet-and-greet service, a known operator, and a pre-set route; if you care more about cost than predictability, compare their quote to the posted taxi rates right outside Terminal 2.
Last tip: if you absolutely want a direct ride, triple-check your confirmation says “private,” say the word again to the rep at the curb, and be ready to push back politely if someone tries to route you into a shared van.