San José del Pacífico is a beautiful hillside town high in the mountains in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Understand

San José del Pacífico is about 2440 m/8000 ft high on the Pochutla-Oaxaca highway (175), and makes a good overnight stopover when driving between Oaxaca City and the Pacific Coast, though as of March 2024, the new freeway from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido (which cut travel time in half) means that many beach-bound travelers bypass the San José area entirely. San José del Pacífico is also known for its psychedelic mushrooms.

Get in

By car

San José del Pacífico can be accessed from either Oaxaxa city or the Pacific coast. The roads from either directions are long, windy and slow. From Oaxaca, expect a 3-hour drive to travel 140 km of road.

By bus

Buses go from Oaxaca to San José del Pacífico for M$95 per person (likely out of date).

By colectivo

There are at least three shared van services traveling from Oaxaca to San José (and beyond). Locals call them "suburban". They run large, air-conditioned vans, though sometimes the AC is broken, and make multiple stops. The trip is supposed to take three hours.

• Huatulco 2000, ☏ +52 5655750389. This seems to be the most well-established company, and is located just west of the Oaxaca town center. There may be only two departures per day, both in the morning, but they do take reservations in advance. $230. (updated Mar 2024)

• Líneas Unidas. This company also seems very organized, and is located just southeast of the city center, with scheduled departures for San José approximately every 45 minutes for most of the day. It seems to have a reputation for crazy drivers. $180. (updated Mar 2024)

• Eclipse 70. Located near Líneas Unidas, with a bit more of a casual vibe. They may refuse to make a reservation, especially more than a day in advance, but "guarantee" departures about every 45 minutes throughout the day (presumably meaning they won't be canceled or delayed if not enough people show up). $180. (updated Mar 2024)

Get around

The town is very compact and can be accessed by foot.

See

• The natural surroundings are amazing: take a walk around the town and enjoy views of the village nestled into the mountains.

Do

• Take a hike: there are several trails that take you up the mountains and into the forest.

Buy

Psilocybe zapotecorum in San Jose del Pacifico

• There are plenty of interesting arts and crafts for sale in the town. The Taberna de los Duendes offers authentic Italian and a large selection of Mezcal infusions.
• Psychedelic mushrooms. Although the sale and possession of psilocin and psilocybin are prohibited, this is mostly unenforced against traditional use by indigenous users, and also non-indigenous users may get away with it to some extent. As with other psychoactive substances, there are a host of risks, especially if used without adequate knowledge. Mushroom season runs from about July to October but they may be found at other times preserved in honey.  

Sleep

• Puesta Del Sol, Carretera Federal, Oaxaca - Puerto Angel 175. Mountainside hotel with cabins and restaurant. 

Go next

If heading north, visit Oaxaca, the historical town. If heading south to the coast, be sure to visit Mazunte, a hippy beach town or Puerto Escondido, the famous surf beach.