Money and Payments
Mexican pesos are the local currency, but U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Cabo San Lucas, from restaurants to taxis to the marina shops. You'll get a better exchange rate paying in pesos, so it's worth pulling cash from an ATM tied to a Mexican bank (look for Santander, BBVA, or Banorte over airport-branded ATMs, which tend to charge more). Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee where you can. Tipping runs close to U.S. norms: 15-20% at restaurants, 10-20 pesos per bag for bellhops, and a few hundred pesos per day for a villa or condo cleaning staff if you have one.
### Takeaway
Carry a mix of pesos and a fee-free card. Skip airport ATMs when you can.
Getting from the Airport
SJD sits about 20-25 minutes from Cabo San Lucas by car, and closer to an hour if traffic or check-in lines run long. Pre-booking a private transfer or arranging pickup ahead of time is the easiest way to skip the currency-exchange hustle and unmetered taxi lines that greet you right past customs. If you're staying at Terrasol Beach Resort, plan for that same 20-25 minute window from SJD and confirm your arrival time with whoever's picking you up.
### Takeaway
Book your transfer before you land. Don't negotiate a fare at the curb.
Sun, Heat, and Water
Cabo sits at roughly the same latitude as central Florida, and the desert sun reflects hard off sand and water. Reef-safe sunscreen (mineral-based, no oxybenzone) is required at some beach clubs and pools and is simply better for the reefs either way. Reapply more often than you think you need to, especially the first two days. Don't drink tap water, including with ice at questionable spots, stick to bottled or filtered water, which is standard at hotels, condos, and restaurants throughout town.
### Takeaway
Reef-safe sunscreen, bottled water, and pace yourself the first couple of days.
Which Beach You're On Matters
Cabo San Lucas has beaches on two different bodies of water, and they behave differently. Medano Beach faces the Sea of Cortez side and is calm and swimmable. The Pacific-facing beaches, where Terrasol Beach Resort sits between Playa Grande and Grand Solmar, have stronger surf and undertow and are better for walking, sunset views, and watching the swell than for swimming out past the shore break. Flags posted at beach clubs and hotels indicate daily conditions, so check them before swimming anywhere on the Pacific side.
### Takeaway
Sea of Cortez beaches for swimming, Pacific beaches for views and walks. Check the flags.
When to Go
High season runs roughly November through April, when the weather is driest and whale watching season overlaps with the best temperatures. Summer (June through September) is hot and humid with a chance of tropical weather, but it's also when rates drop and the water is warmest for snorkeling. Shoulder months like May and October often give you a good balance of lower rates and good weather.
### Takeaway
November through April for weather, summer for value.
Getting Around Once You're There
Cabo San Lucas Marina, the downtown strip, and most restaurants and shops are walkable if you're staying centrally. Ride-share coverage in Los Cabos has been inconsistent, so don't count on it as your only plan. Taxis are everywhere but agree on a price before you get in, since most aren't metered. If you're staying at a resort like Terrasol, ask the front desk or your host about a reliable driver contact for day trips out to San Jose del Cabo or the East Cape.
### Takeaway
Walk what you can, agree on taxi fares up front, and get a driver contact from your host.
Book Direct
Staying at Terrasol Beach Resort puts you steps away on the same Pacific beach as the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, between Playa Grande and Grand Solmar. Book direct at 1-877-220-2226 or WhatsApp Monica at +52 624 241 7383. You skip the platform fees.