Traveling to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2026 | My Arrival Experience — Part 1

Planning your own Cabo trip? Browse my recommended Mexico travel essentials and guides on Amazon.

Welcome to Part 1 of my Cabo San Lucas, Mexico travel series! I documented so much of this trip that instead of squeezing everything into one long video, I'm bringing you along one chapter at a time.

In this first vlog, you'll see the beginning of our journey: arriving at the airport for our departure, boarding our flight, landing in Mexico, making our way through customs, and figuring out phone service once we arrived.

But before we get into the beautiful resorts, food, activities and scenery you'll see later in this series, I want to talk about something much more important: preparing for an international trip.

Before Anything Else: Get Your Passport in Order

If you're thinking about traveling internationally, don't wait until you've found an amazing flight deal to start thinking about your passport.

Check your passport before you book your trip. Make sure it isn't expired or damaged and research the entry requirements for the country you're visiting.

For Americans flying into Mexico, you'll need a valid passport book. A U.S. passport card isn't enough for international air travel to Mexico.

Travel tip: I also like keeping important travel documents organized and easily accessible while traveling.

I also recommend keeping a digital copy of your passport somewhere secure and keeping a separate copy of your important travel information. The goal isn't to expect something to go wrong—it's to be prepared so you can actually enjoy yourself when you arrive.

Research Where You're Staying

Jessica Holland Enjoying a Drink at sister property Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Adults Only Resort

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give after this trip is: research your destination AND your accommodations.

Don't choose a hotel or resort based solely on beautiful pictures or PRICE.

Before booking, I like to look into the surrounding area, recent reviews, transportation options, distance from the airport, amenities, restaurants and what I'll actually be able to do once I arrive.

Cabo San Lucas and the greater Los Cabos area have everything from large luxury resorts to nightlife, beaches, restaurants and outdoor activities, so where you stay can dramatically change the type of vacation you experience.

Looking for a place to stay in Cabo?
Compare Cabo San Lucas hotels and resorts, current rates, amenities and availability on Expedia.

Don't Forget to Research the Weather

Weather should be part of choosing your destination—not something you check two days before your flight.

Los Cabos has warm weather throughout the year, but different seasons offer very different experiences.

December through February: Cooler, comfortable weather makes this a popular time to visit. It's also an excellent period for travelers interested in whale watching.

March and April: Temperatures begin warming into the low 80s, making spring especially appealing for beaches and water activities.

May and June: Things get hotter, with temperatures reaching into the upper 80s.

July through September: Expect some of the hottest weather of the year, with temperatures around 90°F and a greater possibility of thunderstorms.

We traveled in early August, so weather was absolutely something we considered when planning our trip. During our stay, we had the privilege of experiencing an absolutely beautiful and powerful thunderstorm. Watching it roll through Cabo was incredible and ended up being one of those unexpected travel moments we'll never forget.

However, the storm also showed us why it's so important to pay attention to local weather conditions while traveling. Heavy rainfall caused runoff and debris to wash into the ocean, temporarily affecting the water quality. At one point, we were advised not to enter the water because of the debris that had washed in following the storm.

What I Recommend Packing for Cabo

Traveling during Cabo's warmer months? A few useful items can make long days in the sun and unexpected weather much easier.

Reef-safe sunscreen → Amazon
Portable phone charger → Amazon
Waterproof phone pouch → Amazon
Packable travel umbrella → Amazon

It didn't take away from our experience, but it was an important reminder that beautiful weather isn't guaranteed—even in paradise. If you're visiting Cabo during the summer months, keep an eye on local forecasts, listen to your resort or local authorities regarding swimming conditions, and be prepared to adjust your plans when Mother Nature has something else in mind.

Did We Feel Safe in Cabo San Lucas?

This was something I thought about before traveling, and our personal experience was that we felt really safe during our trip.

That doesn't mean I would tell anyone to stop taking normal precautions simply because we had a positive experience.

Before international travel, research the destination, check current travel advisories, understand how you're getting from the airport to your accommodations, and stay aware of your surroundings. Conditions can change, and another traveler's experience may be different from ours.

For us, preparation made it much easier to relax and enjoy Cabo once we arrived.

Will Your Phone Work in Cabo? How We Stayed Connected in Mexico 🇲🇽📱

One thing we wanted to make sure of before traveling to Cabo was that we could stay connected once we arrived in Mexico.

We used the international/Mexico benefits included with our T-Mobile plan, and our experience was great. We were able to make and receive clear phone calls and use our phones without having to purchase a separate SIM card.

Before traveling, I definitely recommend checking your specific phone plan to see what calls, texts and high-speed data are included in Mexico.

One thing we quickly discovered was how useful WhatsApp is in Mexico. It became one of our main ways of communicating with locals, especially when coordinating excursions, pickup times and meeting locations.

I highly recommend downloading and setting up WhatsApp before leaving the U.S.

Having reliable phone service made navigating Cabo and communicating much easier. Between our T-Mobile service and WhatsApp, we had no major issues staying connected.

Before your trip: check your international phone coverage, download WhatsApp, and screenshot important reservations and excursion details so you can access them even if you temporarily lose service.

Helpful travel tech: A portable power bank was one of the easiest ways to keep my phone available for directions, photos, reservations and communication throughout the day.

It’s a small amount of preparation that can make international travel much easier. 🌴✈️

Communicating in Cabo 🇲🇽 | Do You Need to Speak Spanish?

While we found that some people in Cabo spoke English, having a basic understanding of Spanish definitely made communicating easier.

You don't have to be fluent! Learning simple phrases for greetings, directions, ordering food, transportation and saying thank you can go a long way. Google Translate and WhatsApp can also be extremely helpful when you need a little assistance.

Most importantly, remember you're visiting someone else's country—a little effort to communicate in the local language can make the experience even better. 🇲🇽❤️

Arriving in Mexico

And that brings us back to Part 1 of the vlog.

After all of the planning, researching and packing, we finally landed!

In the video, I'm taking you through our airport experience, customs and one of the first practical things I needed to figure out after arriving: phone service.

Those little moments might not be the glamorous part of international travel, but they're part of the real experience—and I wanted this series to show that side of the journey too.

This Is Only the Beginning…

I have so much footage from Cabo that I'm going to release this trip slowly rather than trying to fit everything into one video.

Coming up, I'll be sharing more of the resort, incredible views, food, activities, the beaches, getting around Cabo and some of my favorite moments from the trip.

So if you're considering Cabo San Lucas—or you just want to travel along with me—stay tuned for Part 2.