Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    San José del Pacífico

    Mexico

    San José del Pacífico

    VillageMountainsNature

    San José del Pacífico is located at almost 2,400 meters on Federal Highway 175, between Oaxaca de Juárez and the Pacific coast near Pochutla.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Mexico
    7. Oaxaca
    9. San José del Pacífico
    San José del Pacífico is located at almost 2,400 meters on Federal Highway 175, between Oaxaca de Juárez and the Pacific coast near Pochutla. The small village is surrounded by pine and cloud forests; in the mornings, clouds often drift through the valleys. Travelers stop here to break up the long journey, stay overnight in wooden cabins with fireplaces, and hike in the surroundings.

    Sights

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    The Enchanted Forest
    Attraction

    1The Enchanted Forest

    A wooded area at kilometer 132 of the Oaxaca–Puerto Ángel road, about a ten-minute walk from the village center. A suspension bridge and a swing hang here over the slope, often with a view of the sea of clouds below the village. A zip line starts on the other side of the road.
    Open in Google Maps
    Mirador Los Altos del Golán

    2Mirador Los Altos del Golán

    Viewpoint on the outskirts of San José del Pacífico, situated at approx. 2,400 meters in the Sierra Sur. At sunrise and sunset, you often gaze upon a sea of clouds gathering below the village amidst wooded ridges. On clear days, the view stretches to the Pacific.
    Open in Google Maps
    Mirador San José del Pacífico

    3Mirador San José del Pacífico

    A viewpoint along the road through San José del Pacífico, with views across the forested valleys of the Sierra Sur. In the early morning, a sea of clouds often lies below the village; on clear days, you can see the Pacific in the distance.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants & Cafés

    1

    Casa Honorio

    Restaurant on Avenida Rancho Viejo, about one kilometer northwest of the town center.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Economical Kitchen Mount Sinai

    A simple comedor in town, set up as a Cocina Económica for affordable Mexican home cooking. A place for a quick, inexpensive meal when passing through.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Reina

    Pizzeria on Calle Hidalgo in the center.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Drink

    Eat in simple eateries and cafés on the main street.

    Sierra's Traditional Food

    Soups, stews, tamales and fresh tortillas, suitable for the cool mountain climate.

    Coffee and hot chocolate

    Coffee from Sierra Sur and Oaxaca-style cocoa are offered in almost every café.

    Culture & Character

    Culture & CharacterSan José del Pacífico is part of the territory of the Zapotec of the Sierra Sur. Its inhabitants rely on agriculture, timber, coffee from lower altitudes, and increasingly on tourism. For decades, the village has also attracted travelers interested in the region's ritual mushroom culture; it gets particularly busy during the rainy season. Today, the audience is a mix of hikers, families on their way to the coast, and long-term travelers.

    Access

    Getting ThereMinibuses and shared taxis on the Oaxaca de Juárez–San Pedro Pochutla route stop in the village. From Oaxaca, you'll need about three hours; to Pochutla and Mazunte, it's roughly the same time via a very winding road. Within the village itself, you'll get around on foot.

    Accommodations in San José del Pacífico

    Find perfect stay in San José del Pacífico

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Nearby

    Mazunte

    Mazunte is a small village located on a bay of Oaxaca's Pacific coast, a good hour east of Puerto Escondido. Until the 1990 ban, the village thrived on sea turtle fishing; today, turtle conservation, small guesthouses, yoga offerings, and a tranquil beach define its character. Since 2015, Mazunte has held the title of Pueblo Mágico.

    Puerto Escondido

    Puerto Escondido, on Oaxaca's Pacific coast, grew from a fishing village into a small town and one of Mexico's most famous surf destinations. Besides Playa Zicatela's heavy waves, there are calm swimming coves, mangrove lagoons, and a relaxed scene of cafés, beach restaurants, and bars.
    Hierve el Agua

    Hierve el Agua

    Hierve el Agua is located about 70 kilometers east of Oaxaca de Juárez in the mountains above the Mitla Valley. Over millennia, calcareous spring water has flowed down the cliffs here, creating deposits that look like petrified waterfalls. Above are pools of spring water and expansive views over the Sierra.
    Teotitlán del Valle

    Teotitlán del Valle

    Teotitlán del Valle is a Zapotec village situated about 30 kilometers east of Oaxaca de Juárez at the foot of the Sierra Juárez. It is known for its wool carpets, many of which are produced by families on treadle looms, often using natural dyes. In daily life, Zapotec is still spoken alongside Spanish.
    Oaxaca

    Oaxaca

    The state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico stretches from the highlands of the Sierra Madre del Sur to the Pacific coast. With 16 officially recognized indigenous peoples, including Zapotec and Mixtec, it is culturally one of the most diverse regions of the country.At its heart lies the capital, Oaxaca de Juárez, with Monte Albán and the artisan villages of the Oaxaca Valley. Over the mountains, for instance through San José del Pacífico, roads lead to the coast, home to Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, and Zipolite.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI