BajaNomad

New Los Cabos Airport SJD Bypass toll road report

BajaUtah - 11-23-2015 at 11:36 AM

I drove the new Los Cabos Airport to CSL bypass toll road on 11/14/15. Things have changed for those who have driven the old toll road.

You now pick up a bar code ticket when you enter the road. For those heading south from the airport there is a new toll station a few miles after the start of the road. Push a button grab a ticket and be on your way.

The new toll section starts at the top of the last hill heading south. The turn off is a bit counter-intuitive as the turn off to CSL is to the left towards SJD and not right as you would expect. There are a lot of confused folks as they stop in the middle of the road, back up into traffic or just randomly cut across lanes - just be careful. The new road is a wide 2 lane that runs along the foothills heading what feels like due west. It runs about 20k from the turn off to the first CSL exit. There are no other turn offs or services before this point. You turn south to CSL and the road appears to continue on west to meet up with hwy 9 - we did not see anymore of the road going west after we turned to Cabo

The exit of the road has a toll booth where you pass your bar code ticket under a reader and the person in the booth takes your Pesos. There is a sign that tells you the amount after the bar code gets read. At this point it's only cash. I only used Pesos so I don't know if USD is accepted. The toll from the airport to the CSL turn off was 65mxp for my Jeep. There is a lot of confusion about bar code reading and money taking from all involved. Each time we hit a toll booth it took twice as long as in previous trips. I'm sure it will smooth out over time.

The CSL exit spits you out north of town and not being an expert I ended up wandering around downtown CSL before I got out. I'm sure there is a better way to head back to the 4 lane but I didn't do it.

Coming back north I drove the 4 lane and hit the northbound toll booth just west of the Mega roundabout. This booth is under a lot of construction at the approach ramps with lots of workers and lane changes so be careful. The toll on the old road is still 32mxp. Be aware that where the old road and the new road meet up north bound at the top of the hill is pretty blind for those coming in from the new section. Expect they will just pull directly in front of you because that's what the lane striping tells them to do. It could get ugly.

Impressions -

If you are going anywhere along the corridor (Costco, Home Depot, etc) it is still faster to use the old toll road to SJD and drive the 4 lane.

If you are going to/from Todos Santos or anywhere on hwy 9 this new road will save a ton of time and aggravation

I hope the bar code readers hold up to the weather and other abuses. If that system gets hung up it will add a ton of time exiting the toll roads.

Even with the hang ups it's way faster than driving through SJD with half the stop lights still missing or non operational since Odile.

David K - 11-23-2015 at 01:58 PM

Thank you for a most thorough description!

Spearo - 11-23-2015 at 02:37 PM

Great report. Thanks.

I have a place in Pescadero and go to the airport on a regular basis to pick up family and friends. Its way worth the 65p not to drive through CSL. Also handy for getting to Cabo Pulmo.

pauldavidmena - 11-23-2015 at 04:11 PM

Thanks for this update, as my wife and I are flying into the Los Cabos airport and are staying in El Pescadero in January. It sounds like your report adds a bit of caution to the initial ecstasy of learning that the road is finished, as there seems to be potential confusion when getting onto the road from the airport, and potential danger when doing the same returning from Highway 19. I'm a bit concerned about the latter because my return flight to Boston is at 7:00 a.m. and it's possible that we'll be making some of the drive before the sun is completely up.

BajaUtah - 11-24-2015 at 09:15 AM

pauldavidmena -

I didn't mean to oversell the danger of this road. It is as good a stretch of asphalt as you will find in Baja. There are just a few oddities that you would find anywhere the first time you drive it. After the first run it will be like putting on and old pair of huarachis.

You might consider staying at the airport Best Western for a flight out that early. I haven't stayed there but others who have say good things. It's a 2 minute walk to terminal 2. I would do that vs coming from the east cape that early

pauldavidmena - 11-24-2015 at 03:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaUtah  
pauldavidmena -

I didn't mean to oversell the danger of this road. It is as good a stretch of asphalt as you will find in Baja. There are just a few oddities that you would find anywhere the first time you drive it. After the first run it will be like putting on and old pair of huarachis.

You might consider staying at the airport Best Western for a flight out that early. I haven't stayed there but others who have say good things. It's a 2 minute walk to terminal 2. I would do that vs coming from the east cape that early


@BajaUtah - Thanks for the update. I've learned that it's always good to prepare for the unexpected in Baja, so a little bit of caution can go a long way.

As for the early morning departure, I decided to change my flight from 7:05 AM to 1:13 PM to avoid any non-daylight driving. It's the grand finale of the Todos Santos Music Festival the night before we leave. Between that and the thought of coffee and pastries at Baja Beans in the morning, it was the right way to go.

windgrrl - 12-4-2015 at 03:43 PM

Drove this beautiful new road today,and I thought it was quicker than the old toll road. It was more expensive, but avoids traffic and airline arrival congestion. Do watch carefully for SJD turnoff sign if you do not want to skip corridor hotel zone between SJD and CSL. There are concrete barriers and road buttons heading back north in this interchange area, but BajaUtah's directions and advice are spot on.

If you continue past the SJD turn off, there is signage once entering CSL, but you need to think and choose carefully to avoid driving through local streets.

Happy Friday,
W

23S52N - 12-7-2015 at 01:46 PM

Please forgive me if I appear somewhat confused, because I am. Living in LA Paz I have always driven the old hwy 1 to the airport at SJD. Am I to understand that the west/east road from hwy 19 South of Pescadero to the airport is now open?

Thanks,
Keith

El Jefe - 12-7-2015 at 05:21 PM

Yes it is. Coming from La Paz there is a turnoff for the new road eastward at the top of the hill before you drop down into Cabo. Make the left turn and you are on your way.

I timed my drive from the old ice plant on the south end of Todos Santos to the first stop sign at the entry to the airport. Exactly one hour and two minutes! EZ drive.

There is no reason to take Hwy 1 all the way from La Paz to the Los Cabos airport unless you like the drive through the mountains. On hwy 19 it is four lane all the way and then the toll road is a breeze. So much safer and a lot faster.

23S52N - 12-8-2015 at 11:16 AM

Thanks for the clarification. Haven't been south of Todos Santos on 19 for a few years now. Have to go to the SJD a/p in February so will try this route.

Regards
Keith

23S52N - 12-8-2015 at 02:04 PM

One last question that I missed; is there signage indicating the road and if so what does it say? Thanks.

Regards,

Keith

Lee - 12-8-2015 at 03:31 PM

Turnoff sign reads ''San Jose del Cabo/airport''. Impossible to miss. Road bares left. First toll take a ticket. Exit at the airport is about 70 pesos. It really is a great road. The terrain feels like Mainland, to me.

El Jefe - 12-8-2015 at 04:01 PM

And one more thing. You don't even have to go through Todos Santos any more either. There is a well marked bypass road just before Todos. Passes town on the east side and joins the highway to the south.

23S52N - 12-8-2015 at 07:02 PM

Great, thanks folks, yes i saw the new bypass last year when i was in TS. Unfortunately Google earth doesnt think we are worth updating since 2009. Definitely will try this route in Feb.

regards,
Keith