cabo san lucas

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cabo beach actionCabo transportation. It's your lifeline to everything Cabo. Cabo San Lucas isn't a huge city, but the development sprawl of the past decade is substantial. You should budget and plan your transportation to better enjoy your vacation. Hey, that rhymes!

That picture to the right? It's a typical Cabo street at sunset. Yep, they've got power lines and everything!

Depending on your budget and destination, you have several options to get from A to B:

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chicken

Did you know

tipping in Cabo

is not an exact science? Depending on where you look and who you ask, you'll find myriad answers to the, "How much do I tip?" question.

Rule of thumb: If somebody provides you with decent service, toss at least a ten peso coin their way. If you receive exceptional service, whether it's in a cab, hotel or restaurant, toss them ten to fifteen percent, but check that bill (especially at resorts,) in case they're kind enough to include a 'service charge.'

The Mexican minimum wage is around $3/hr, so even a little coin can speak volumes!

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Walking is your bread and butter. The 15 minute hike into town from resorts like Villa Del Palmar is both enjoyable and educational, and if you don't mind taking a few extra minutes trudging through sand, the walk along the beach is breathtaking!

Walking around the marina can fill an afternoon with vacation vignettes to last a lifetime. Then there's walking around town, it's the only way to get to the heart of Cabo. Walk as much as your barking dogs will allow. Remember, sidewalks in Cabo are a finicky thing at best. When in doubt, walk in the street, and watch out for those coconuts overhead. Sometimes, they fall!

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Busses run between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo (via the Cabo Corridor,) about every hour until sundown. A ride costs you a buck or two. Just ask around for the nearest stop or flag one down as it goes by. If you don't have a car or deep pockets for taxis, the bus is your only option to get to the other Cabo.

There are several local bus lines too, but we're not sure exactly where they go, and you definitely need to know a little Spanish to make sense of it all. Cabo busses are often converted school busses, and who wants to ride a school bus? We say, if your own two feet work, and you have the time, try walking instead!

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We've never rented a car in Cabo. Why? There are countless busy intersections without so much as a stop sign. God forbid, you get in a wreck... how the hell do you assign fault in a situation like that?

Your blood's thicker than ours? Good for you! Rent away. Most rental places offer only one insurance package, and it's all inclusive and expensive. Our advice? Take it. Go ahead. Splurge. Better safe than sorry.

Renting a car in Cabo is worth the while if you've got the wherewithal, and it provides almost complete autonomy in locomotion. Just be sure to check on parking options near all of your destinations including hotels and restaurants, and don't be surprised when there's nowhere to park.

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Walking is great and all, but when your feet start yelling and you're short on time, there's nothing like a cab to save the day. You can wander into almost any corner store or restaurant and ask them to hail/call you a cab.

Taxis in and around Cabo are usually vans and therefore hold several people. A typical cab ride runs less than seven bucks, but the long hauls reach well into double digits... but that's not a problem when you squeeze a bevy of buddies into a single faire. If you want more info on taxis to and from the airport, head to the arrival page.

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The famed glass bottom boats of Cabo. There are only a couple of spots where the see-through bottoms deliver a decent view of anything but water. If you're really into seeing fish through a boat, just ask your driver to take you to Pelican's Rock. That picture above is what a waiting water taxi looks like. Tranquil.

Unlike their wheeled brethren, water taxis charge by the head instead of the trip. If you book your water taxi through a third party, they'll likely start the bidding at $12 per person and often won't go any lower than $10/head. Instead, walk along the beach to hail one of the many waiting boats and offer something in the neighborhood of $8 each.

The primary points of interest reachable by water taxi include: the hotel beaches, the marina, Lovers Beach and the Arches. Vacationers willing to hike and climb for a while may reach Lovers Beach without a boat, but a water vessel is required to truly appreciate the Arches.

Your water taxi captain will ask you when you'd like to be picked up. If you're heading to a remote location, it's a good idea to arrange for a pickup, but popular stops like the marina or hotel beaches almost always supply ample taxi action.

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If you want to catch a blur's eye view of Cabo on your first day while maintaining some autonomy, there's nothing like a scooter. Many of the 'activities vendors' offer them by the hour, half day or day. They're great if you don't mind worrying about somebody stuffing it into the back of a truck when you're not minding it!