How to Get to Todos Santos from Los Cabos and La Paz Airports

How to get to Todos Santos: fly into Los Cabos (SJD), which has the most international flights, or La Paz (LAP), which is closer, then cover the last stretch by road on Federal Highway 19, about 1.5–2 hours from Los Cabos airport and about an hour from La Paz. Todos Santos has no airport and no train, so every trip ends with a drive, whether you hire a car, book a private transfer or take an intercity bus.

Starting point	Options	Road time to Todos Santos (approx.)	Best for
Los Cabos airport (SJD)	Private transfer, rental car, shuttle to a bus station then bus	1.5–2 h	Direct flights from the US and Canada
La Paz airport (LAP)	Private transfer, rental car, taxi to the bus terminal then bus	About 1–1.25 h	Shortest drive; mainly domestic flights
Cabo San Lucas (town)	Bus, taxi, transfer, car	About 1 h	Travellers already staying in Los Cabos
La Paz (town or ferry port)	Bus, taxi, transfer, car	About 1 h from the city centre	Ferry arrivals and Sea of Cortez trips

Times are estimates for daylight driving with normal traffic. Roadworks, heavy rain in the late summer storm season and stops in towns along the way all add time. The sections below explain each route, where the road goes and what to expect when you land.

How to get to Todos Santos: the road network

Todos Santos sits on the Pacific side of the southern tip of Baja California, between the Sierra de la Laguna mountains and the ocean. One highway serves it: Federal Highway 19, which leaves Highway 1 at San Pedro, south of La Paz, runs south-west to Todos Santos, then continues down the Pacific coast past El Pescadero and Cerritos to Cabo San Lucas. Highway 1, the other route between La Paz and Los Cabos, crosses the mountains and the East Cape instead and does not pass through the town.

Which way you arrive

Coming from La Paz, you drive south on Highway 1 to San Pedro, turn onto Highway 19 and reach Todos Santos from the north. Coming from Los Cabos, you first cross from San José del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas, then follow Highway 19 north along the coast, through El Pescadero, about 10 minutes before town. If your rental or hotel is in Pescadero or near Cerritos beach, it is on the way from Cabo, not beyond Todos Santos.

From Los Cabos airport (SJD) to Todos Santos

Los Cabos International Airport is next to San José del Cabo and handles most flights into the region, including many direct routes from the United States and Canada. It is the further of the two airports from Todos Santos, roughly 110 km by road, but for many travellers the wider choice of flights outweighs the extra half hour of driving.

Private transfer

A private transfer is the simplest option after a long flight: the driver meets you outside the terminal and takes you straight to your door, which helps in Todos Santos, where many rentals sit on sandy lanes without clear street numbers. It is also the sensible choice with surfboards, children or a late landing. You can arrange one on our Todos Santos private transfers page; send the driver your exact address or a map pin before you fly.

Rental car

All the major rental companies have desks or shuttles at SJD, and a car is useful in Todos Santos because the beaches, trailheads and Pescadero sit off the main road. Two things to know before you book: Mexican law requires third-party liability insurance from a Mexican insurer, and the cheap rates shown online often leave it out, so compare the full price at the counter. Also, the arrivals hall is known for people offering free transport or discounted tours; many are timeshare promotions. Walk straight through to your pre-booked driver or rental shuttle.

Bus from Los Cabos

Intercity buses run between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz on the Highway 19 route and stop in Todos Santos. The catch is the first leg: from the airport you need a shuttle or taxi to the bus station in San José del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas, and you then travel with your luggage on two vehicles. It is the cheapest way, but it takes most of an afternoon. Check current departures at the bus station rather than relying on old timetables posted online.

From La Paz airport (LAP) to Todos Santos

La Paz airport, a short drive south-west of the city, is the closer option. It mainly handles domestic flights, with connections through Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana and other Mexican hubs, and only a few international routes that change by season. If you are flying from inside Mexico, or you can find a convenient connection, landing here cuts the road trip to about an hour.

Driving or a transfer from LAP

The route is straightforward: south on Highway 1 to San Pedro, then Highway 19 across the desert to the Pacific. There are fewer rental desks than at SJD, so book your car in advance. A pre-booked transfer works the same way as from Los Cabos and is worth it if you land in the evening.

Bus from La Paz

Buses to Todos Santos and Cabo San Lucas via the Pacific route leave from the city, not from the airport. Take a taxi from LAP to the bus terminal and buy your ticket there. The bus drops you on the main road in Todos Santos, within walking distance of the centre; for places further out, arrange a local taxi from our Todos Santos transport directory.

Driving tips for Highway 19

The drive is easy by Mexican standards, but a few local habits catch visitors out.

• Drive in daylight. Cattle, horses and goats wander onto the road, and at night they are very hard to see. Most locals avoid the open desert stretches after dark.
• Watch for speed bumps. Topes appear at the entrance to every town, including El Pescadero and Todos Santos, often with little warning.
• Fill up before long stretches. There are petrol stations in Todos Santos and El Pescadero, but the desert section towards San Pedro has few services.
• Carry pesos. Small shops, taco stands and some taxis take cash only, so withdraw some at the airport or in a bank ATM in town.

Other ways to reach Todos Santos

From Cabo San Lucas or a day trip

If you are already staying in Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos is about an hour north and works as a day trip by car, bus or organised tour. Staying a night is better: the town is quieter once the day visitors leave, and sunset at the beach is the reason many people come.

By ferry or by road from the north

Car ferries from the mainland ports of Mazatlán and Topolobampo dock at Pichilingue, north of La Paz, and from there it is about another hour and a half to Todos Santos. Driving the whole peninsula from the US border on Highway 1 is a trip of several days and needs planning for fuel and overnight stops.

Once you have the route sorted, choose where to sleep on our Todos Santos stays page, and plan your days with our guide to the best things to do in Todos Santos.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest airport to Todos Santos?

La Paz (LAP) is closest, about an hour by road. Los Cabos (SJD) is about 1.5–2 hours away but has many more international flights, so most visitors from the US and Canada land there.

Is there a bus from Los Cabos airport to Todos Santos?

Not directly. You first need a shuttle or taxi to the bus station in San José del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas, then a bus on the Highway 19 route that stops in Todos Santos.

Do I need a car in Todos Santos?

The town centre is walkable, but the beaches, Pescadero and the trailheads are spread out along the coast. A car or a few taxi rides make the area much easier to explore.

Is it safe to drive from Cabo to Todos Santos?

The highway is paved and well used, and the drive is routine for locals. The main risks are animals on the road and speed bumps, so drive in daylight. Check the current US State Department advisory for Baja California Sur before you travel.