Tip of the Day: Keep pesos and dollars — many taco stands are cash only.Border tip: SENTRI lanes move fastest before 7am on weekdays.Did you know? Tip 10–15% at restaurants; propina may already be included.Water tip: Drink purified “agua purificada” — most locals do too.

Airports

Airports

TIJ

Tijuana International Airport (Gral. Abelardo L. Rodríguez)

CBX

Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada; Baja’s hub for domestic Mexico and international service.

  • TIJ to downtown Tijuana: 10–15 min.
  • TIJ to Rosarito: 30–40 min.
  • TIJ to Ensenada: 75–90 min.

Ground transportation

  • Taxis available curbside — agree on price or confirm the meter before you get in.
  • Uber/rideshare availability at TIJ is inconsistent and best treated as a backup, not a plan.
  • ABC / Autotransportes buses connect TIJ to Rosarito, Ensenada, Mexicali, and beyond.
  • Rental cars available on-site — confirm cross-border coverage and carry Mexican auto insurance.

Parking & pickup

On-site parking at lower rates than SAN; curbside pickup with rideshare/taxi zones separated from private-vehicle pickup — follow the signage, it changes terminal to terminal.

MXL

Mexicali International Airport (Gral. Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada)

San Felipe and the Mexicali/Calexico area, with domestic Mexico flights.

  • MXL to San Felipe: about 2.5 hours south on Mex-5.

Ground transportation

  • Taxis available curbside.
  • Rental cars available — confirm cross-border coverage and carry Mexican auto insurance.
SFH

San Felipe International Airport

Limited / seasonal service

Minimal/seasonal scheduled service — confirm current routes before planning around this airport; most San Felipe visitors fly into MXL and drive.

Ground transportation

  • Taxis available for arriving charter/GA flights.
ESE

Ensenada Airport (El Ciprés)

General aviation only

General aviation only — no scheduled airline service. Ensenada visitors fly into TIJ or SAN and drive in.

GUB

Guerrero Negro Airport

Limited / seasonal service

Small regional field mid-peninsula — a fallback for the whale-watching season, not a primary route into Baja.

Ground transportation

  • Taxis available for arriving flights.
LTO

Loreto International Airport

Gateway to Loreto and Nopoló — domestic Mexico service plus seasonal US routes.

  • LTO to downtown Loreto: about 10–15 min.

Ground transportation

  • Taxis available curbside — ask the fare before you get in.
  • Rental cars available on-site.
LAP

La Paz International Airport (Manuel Márquez de León)

Baja California Sur’s domestic hub, plus limited US service — an alternative to SJD for La Paz and the East Cape.

  • LAP to La Paz malécon: about 20 min.

Ground transportation

  • Taxis available curbside — ask the fare before you get in.
  • Rental cars available on-site.
SJD

Los Cabos International Airport

Baja California Sur’s busiest airport — broad US, Canada, and domestic service; serves the whole Cabo San Lucas–San José del Cabo corridor.

  • SJD to San José del Cabo: 15–20 min.
  • SJD to Cabo San Lucas: 30–45 min.

Ground transportation

  • Pre-paid shuttle and transport desks are the norm inside the terminal — compare against Uber before buying at the counter.
  • Uber operates in the Los Cabos corridor and is generally cheaper than airport taxi/shuttle counters.
  • Taxis available curbside — ask the fare before you get in; airport taxi fares run well above in-town rates.
  • Rental cars available on-site.
CSL

Cabo San Lucas International Airport

General aviation only

Charters and general aviation — most Cabo travelers mean SJD, not this field.

SAN

San Diego International Airport

The far larger US hub — often cheaper and more convenient for Tijuana/Rosarito/Ensenada visitors flying from the US, at the cost of a border crossing to reach it from Mexico.

  • SAN to San Ysidro border: 15–20 min without traffic.
  • SAN to Rosarito (after crossing): 45–60 min total.
  • SAN to Ensenada (after crossing): 2–2.5 hours total.

Ground transportation

  • Taxis available curbside.
  • Uber operates at SAN with standard pickup zones.
  • MTS Blue Line trolley + Route 992 bus: cross the border on foot at San Ysidro (PedWest/PedEast), board the Blue Line trolley right at the San Ysidro Transit Center, ride toward downtown, and transfer at Old Town Transit Center (or America Plaza / Santa Fe Depot) to MTS Route 992, which serves both SAN terminals. No one-seat ride — budget the transfer time — but it’s a cheap, traffic-free alternative to a $25–35 rideshare from the border. Confirm current fares/schedules on the MTS site before you travel.
  • Rental cars available at all terminals — if renting in the US to drive into Mexico, confirm your rental agreement allows cross-border travel and carry Mexican auto insurance regardless.

Parking & pickup

Short-term, long-term, and economy lots plus a free cell-phone waiting lot for pickups — check current rates before a long trip, SAN parking is not cheap. Terminal 1 and 2 are not connected airside — confirm your terminal before a tight connection or rideshare pickup.