COVID-19 Travel and Safety
We are planning to go forward with our wedding as planned, but there are some basics to know before you go.
Travel to and from US
There are changes in how international travel happens, but they're all practiced and easy to adapt to. When leaving the US to Mexico you aren't required to do anything other than wear a mask and bring your passport. However, when returning to the US there are a few things to keep in mind:
-Masks are required on all transportation modes and are generally expected in all public places while in Mexico
-Anyone returning to the US is required to have a negative COVID-19 test (or documented recovery) within 3 days of boarding a flight to the US. (CDC information)
-We will send details on options for receiving your COVID-19 test if you RSVP with your email. There are options for rapid tests in Cabo San Lucas as well as Todos Santos.
-After international travel the CDC recommends you get tested 3-5 days after travel and stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel (General FAQ from CDC)
Safety at the Wedding
For wedding events, any concerns you may have please reach out to duncananddayanna@gmail.com and we will be happy to explain the current conditions and precautions we have in place to ensure your safety. We've listed below a few of the key details that should help ensure your comfort:
-All transportation we be provided by a single transportation company. Sanitation procedures will also be in place, if you would like to book this team for pickup from the airport you can do so as well! Check-in with friends it might be more affordable to get a group rate.
-All events will take place outdoors
-Food will be served rather than provided via buffet
-Todos Santos has had very few cases of COVID-19 since the outbreak and are following all health procedures. Hand sanitizers, face masks, and wiping off your feet when entering a location. Be expected to asked to wear a mask!
***You can find more info on COVID-19 in Baja Sur here: coronavirus.bcs.gob.mx/english/
Flying in to Cabo
Todos Santos is about 45 minutes North of Cabo San Lucas on the MX19 (think the Hwy 1 in California but with more cactus!) and a bit over an hour's drive from the Los Cabos airport (www.loscabos-airport.com) if you're going directly to the wedding from there.
You can book transportation to pick you up directly from the airport with taxis, buses, and private transportation available (we have a few recommendations below). If you're uncomfortable booking transportation yourself please let us know in your RSVP. We will do our best to help you get situated.
Please note there is also La Paz International Airport (LAP) near Todos Santos- it's east on the Gulf of Mexico side. Smaller airport and the same distance as Cabo to Todos Santos!
Getting to Todos and Exploring the Area
Todos Santos is a small, relatively quiet town with a few taxis available to help you get around once you arrive, but depending on where you stay you may want to think about renting a vehicle as well. We will have Todos Santos Private Transportation providing pickup and drop-offs for all wedding activities, but with so much to do in the area having the flexibility to drive around and explore yourself is highly recommended.
There are multiple services to get you from the airport to Todos Santos. You can rent a car upon arrival at Los Cabos airport or rent in town where you can find two small, local, and reliable operations here. Renting on your own from the airport is very convenient with plenty of vendor options.
For those who want to fly in and begin the fiesta right away, we recommend using the Todos Santos Transportation. We will be using this company for shuttle picks ups through the wedding weekend!
Should I rent a car?
Car rentals at SJD Airport
There are a variety of local and national car rental companies available. All are located offsite and a shuttle will be provided if you’ve booked in advance. All car rentals will ask you for your flight information to arrange airport shuttle service to the rental car facility. American rental companies tend to provide newer vehicles. We suggest that you rent an SUV or minivan, particularly if you plan to do exploring outside of the hotel area – roads can be sandy or unpaved.
After exiting customs, you will enter a room full of men asking if you need a car rental, taxi ride, anything and everything. And they will stretch the truth and say you need to talk to them about your rental reservation. You do not. Proceed past these people with a giant smile until you are outside of the airport. Once outside, you’ll see a bar on your left (grab a cold one) and a group of people holding signs for rental car shuttles. If you’ve booked a shuttle, your shuttle driver will be waiting here unless they’ve instructed you otherwise.
Below you'll find a few options to choose from but definitely doesn't include all that are available so feel free to explore!
Car rentals in Todos Santos
There are two small car rental companies located in town where the bus and many shuttles will drop you off. Due to their size you will want to ensure you book your vehicle in advance of your trip as their isn't any guarantee they will have inventory upon arrival.
Budget Car Rental (make sure you choose the Todos Santos location)
About the insurance
Some credit cards companies claim to offer complimentary Collision Damage Waiver/Loss of Use coverage for rental cars – you will want to confirm this with your card company. However, Third Party Liability insurance from the car rental company is required by law, and is often not quoted initially when making a reservation. Expect to pay about 50% more than quoted for the rental for this third party liability insurance, which we strongly encourage you to purchase. Your credit card company will not cover third party damages.
Driving to Todos Santos
If you do go it alone, you’ll want directions. It’s important to know that Google Maps is not very dependable and that GPS is hindered by spotty internet (and streets without names). All that being said, below you can find some directions to print and keep for your very own.
Directions from Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to Todos Santos
Follow signs to Cabo San Lucas/Todos Santos and take the immediate left onto the Toll Road.
After 15 minutes you will come upon a toll booth with a small fee when you reach the entrance to the “Corridor.”
After the toll, you will see the ocean. Turn right at the roundabout in front of the Mega and travel approximately 20ish minutes until you reach the entrance to Cabo San Lucas.
Soon after getting the first view of Cabo Harbor you will pass Costco and Home Depot on your right.
At this point, look for the intersection with a small bullfighting ring on the right and turn right there—on Reforma.
Continue on through one stoplight and be ready to turn right again at the second light on Miguel Hidalgo.
At that intersection, you’ll see the Golden Palace Hotel straight across and to your right.
You are now heading toward Todos Santos on Highway 19 (Google Maps shows this as Route 1).
In about 2 to 3 blocks you will see a large Soriana Grocery plaza on your right, just past the Chedurai.
Continue north along the Pacific for 45 minutes or so.
Then take a right on Carr 19 (Carr is short for carretera, which means highway in Spanish).
Follow Carr 19 until you run into Todos Santos and a big Bienvenidos a Todos Santos sign.
Notes about the Area
The are itself is broken up into a few key destinations. Take a look at the linked map to get your bearings set as you decide how you want to use your free time while in the area.
Playa la Pastora
To the Northwest of town is Playa la Pastora, the beach closest to where we will host the wedding and post-wedding pool party brunch the next day! The beaches are nearly empty and lined with homes up the coast. From here you can whale watch, see the baby turtle releases in the evening at Playa Tortugas, and soak up all the sun you like (although be careful, there is a steep drop off and deep waters right off most beaches in the area) while watching surfers or the local fishermen. There is a dirt road that runs along the beach and will take you back into the town of Todos Santos, built slightly above the beach and inland on a hill.
Todos Santos
The Town of Todos Santos is well known as a "Pueblo Magica" (or Magical Town) with beautiful but simple architecture and a focus on local history and culture. Here you can find incredible restaurants and shops, whether you're looking to taste Mezcal or the freshest mangos of your life you can find almost anything you need, just be sure to carry cash (Pesos!) with you as not all locations will take credit card yet. You can walk the town for the most part, so if you decide to stay here you may not even need to rent a car!
Cerritos Beach
Outside of the Todos Santos area are a number of small beach communities. The most built out of these is Cerritos beach just outside the town of Pescardero (you'll miss it on the drive to TS if you close your eyes for too long). It's a well-known area thanks to its moon-shaped beach creating one of the only truly swimmable beaches on the Pacific side of Baja (and if you want to surf this is THE place to do it). To get to the beach you take a relatively rough but well-used dirt road to get to one of a few local hotels that are mostly priced well below what you will find in town. If you decide to visit or stay here you're going to want to rent a car as both cell service and transportation options from here can be limited. There are few food options, but fortunately, they're all pretty great if you decide to visit or stay here.