FBOs at Los Cabos International MMSD SJD

Airport security

Los Cabos and the broader Baja California Sur state carry a U.S. State Department Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution designation, reflecting risks from criminal activity, organized criminal organizations, and terrorism that may occur throughout the state.

The Los Cabos airport access road was temporarily disrupted in mid-2025 by groups linked to transport industry disputes, indicating a capacity for localized civil unrest directly affecting airport access.

The U.S. Embassy has issued a separate security alert referencing recent security incidents specific to San José del Cabo, underscoring that elevated risk is present at the local level and not solely a country-wide characterization.

Los Cabos International Airport is a major international commercial hub operating under the regulatory authority of Mexico's civil aviation agency and managed by a large concession operator.

No formal ICAO or national authority security classification tier has been published for this facility; however, documented physical security measures include 24-hour CCTV coverage, metal detection at passenger access points, deployed security personnel throughout the facility, and advanced non-imaging passenger screening technology capable of detecting both metallic and non-metallic concealed threats.

Arrivals customs screening follows a randomized inspection protocol administered by the national tax authority.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

Hours: Aligned with scheduled flight operations; international customs and immigration processed on arrival — approximately 45 minutes post-landing under normal conditions Airport of entry for international operations.

Mexican Aduana (customs) and INM (immigration) are co-located in Terminal 2 for international arrivals. Declarations required for goods exceeding USD 500 arriving by air.

Ground corridor

• Ground transport risk in the Los Cabos corridor is characterised primarily by opportunistic petty crime — pickpocketing, overcharging, and unlicensed transport solicitation — rather than organised violence
• the Tourist Corridor between the airport and resort zones is among the most actively policed and monitored areas in Baja California Sur. Residential colonia areas on the outskirts of both San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas carry elevated petty crime profiles and should be avoided, particularly after dark
• movement should remain within established tourist corridors and well-lit arterial routes. Pre-arranged vehicles via vetted transport providers or hotel ground support teams are strongly advised over curbside solicitation
• unsolicited drivers in the arrivals hall and unmetered vehicles outside the terminal present a documented overcharging and fraud risk, and ride-hailing services are not permitted to collect passengers from within the terminal footprint. No active armed conflict zones, OFAC sanctions, or movement restrictions apply to Baja California Sur
• the February 2026 security events in Jalisco did not affect operations in this region.

City threat summary

Los Cabos and the broader Baja California Sur state carry a U.S. State Department Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution designation, reflecting risks from criminal activity, organized criminal organizations, and terrorism that may occur throughout the state.

The Los Cabos airport access road was temporarily disrupted in mid-2025 by groups linked to transport industry disputes, indicating a capacity for localized civil unrest directly affecting airport access.

The U.S. Embassy has issued a separate security alert referencing recent security incidents specific to San José del Cabo, underscoring that elevated risk is present at the local level and not solely a country-wide characterization.

Country overview

Mexico maintains a U.S. State Department Level 2 overall advisory with six states under Level 4 'Do Not Travel' designation — Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas — reflecting a persistently elevated nationwide security environment driven by organized crime.

The fragmentation of the Sinaloa Cartel following internal conflict and the death of CJNG leader 'El Mencho' in a February 2026 military operation have triggered a volatile period of cartel realignment, with associated violence, blockades, and infrastructure disruptions spanning multiple states.

While major tourist corridors and urban centers outside the highest-risk states retain a measure of operational normalcy, the threat environment across a substantial portion of Mexico's territory remains significantly elevated.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Acapulco MMAA CRITICAL
• Tampico MMTM CRITICAL
• Monterrey MMMY HIGH
• Cancún MMUN ELEVATED
• Cozumel MMCZ ELEVATED
• Guadalajara MMGL ELEVATED
• Mexico City MMMX ELEVATED
• Oaxaca de Juárez MMOX ELEVATED
• San José del Cabo MMSD ELEVATED
• Toluca MMTO ELEVATED