Major city · Mexico
San José del Pacífico
Stop one night on the old Oaxaca–coast road for cool pine air and mountain views; skip it if you take the new Puerto Escondido freeway.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MXN
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry, clear mornings)
- avoid Jun–Oct (rain, cloud, landslide risk on Highway 175)
- Airports
- OAX · PXM
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
San José del Pacífico is a small mountain village at about 2,440 m on Highway 175 between Oaxaca City and the Pacific coast. It is a road stop, not a destination: one night, a walk, a temazcal and a plate of mushroom soup. The 2024 freeway to Puerto Escondido cut the drive in half and now bypasses the village, so only travellers on the old road stop here.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about San José del Pacífico, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $).Mexico-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities.Mexico-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.Mexico-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.Mexico-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Mexico-wide
- SafetyThe village itself is calm and safe for tourists; the real risks are the winding Highway 175 in fog or rain, altitude…
- RestroomsPut paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.Mexico-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 078 Tourist assistance (SECTUR) · 078 Green Angels roadside help
- Sundays & holidaysMost museums and many archaeological sites close on Mondays; banks close on public holidays.Mexico-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportOAX Oaxaca (Xoxocotlán) (About a 3-hour drive to the village on Highway 175; no direct bus from the terminal.).
- Getting aroundThe village is compact and walkable; most lodgings sit on or just off the highway.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (regular or café de olla)M$20–50 (≈ US$2–3)
- Budget bedHostel bed or basic cabin, a night, per personMX$300 (≈ US$17)
- Mid-range bedCabin or hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,200 (≈ US$65)
- High-end bedCabin or hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$2,500 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$550 (≈ US$30) · Mid MX$950 (≈ US$55) · High MX$1,800 (≈ US$100)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- OAX Oaxaca (Xoxocotlán) (About a 3-hour drive to the village on Highway 175; no direct bus from the terminal.) · PXM Puerto Escondido (Coast-side option if you come up from the beach; transfer time check.)
Weather and climate
San José del Pacífico: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
20°C68°F
4°C39°F
2 rd
Feb
21°C70°F
5°C41°F
2 rd
Mar
23°C73°F
7°C45°F
3 rd
Apr
24°C75°F
9°C48°F
5 rd
May
23°C73°F
10°C50°F
10 rd
Jun
21°C70°F
11°C52°F
17 rd
Jul
20°C68°F
10°C50°F
18 rd
Aug
20°C68°F
10°C50°F
18 rd
Sep
20°C68°F
10°C50°F
18 rd
Oct
20°C68°F
9°C48°F
11 rd
Nov
20°C68°F
7°C45°F
4 rd
Dec
20°C68°F
5°C41°F
2 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is compact and walkable; most lodgings sit on or just off the highway. Bring a torch for unlit lanes after dark. No local buses; taxis are scarce, so arrange any onward ride the day before.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 3 h
Colectivo ("suburban") van from Oaxaca, or drive Highway 175
The natural pairing: come up from Oaxaca City for one night and return.
Door to door: 3–3.5 h
Continue south on Highway 175, then the coast road
Downhill to the beach; do it in daylight.
Door to door: 2.5–3 h
Highway 175 south, or the new freeway from Oaxaca City
The freeway bypasses the village, so most beach traffic no longer stops here.
Door to door: About 3.5 h
Highway 175 to Pochutla, then the coast road
Long for a day; better as a one-way leg to the coast.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre, near the highway
Walkable to comedores, shops and the trailheads; expect road noise at night.
Avenida Rancho Viejo
Cabins, hostels and ranchos along the road out of town; quieter, need a torch after dark.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- M$400–700 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
- Mid
- M$700–1,200 (≈ US$40–65) excl. bed
- High
- M$1,200 (≈ US$65)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Cabin or hotel double room1 × 1 night × MX$1,200 | MX$1,200 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MX$950 | MX$1,900 |
| Colectivo Oaxaca → San José, one way2 × MX$230 | MX$460 |
| Temazcal session2 × MX$400 | MX$800 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250 | MX$500 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MX$486 |
| Trip total≈ MX$2,673 per person per day, bed included | MX$5,346≈ US$300 |
2026 estimate in pesos; transport to the village excluded. Amounts are estimates — check locally. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (regular or café de olla) | M$20–50 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Comedor set meal | M$100–200 (≈ US$6–11) |
| Mushroom soup at a highway restaurant | M$150–300 (≈ US$9–17) |
| Cabin or hostel bed | M$300–700 (≈ US$17–40) |
| Temazcal session | M$300–600 (≈ US$17–35) |
| Colectivo Oaxaca → San José | M$180–230 (≈ US$10–13) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Highway 175 is long, winding and slow: about 3 h for 140 km from Oaxaca City, and mountain fog after dark.Highway 175 is long, winding and slow: about 3 h for 87 mi from Oaxaca City, and mountain fog after dark.
- Rainy season (Jun–Oct) can bring landslides and road closures on 175: check road status before you travel.
- Psilocybin mushrooms are prohibited in Mexico; traditional use is often tolerated but unenforced, and buying or carrying them is a legal risk with no regulated service.
- Altitude about 2,440 (≈ US$140) m: expect breathlessness on the first climb and cold nights year-round.
- ATMs are unreliable here: bring cash from Oaxaca City.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Tourist assistance (SECTUR)
- 078
- Green Angels roadside help
- 078
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
San José del PacíficoSan José del Pacífico
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Tourist assistance078
- Green Angels roadside help078
Embassy
No embassies here; the US, UK and Canadian embassies are in Mexico City, with consular agencies in Oaxaca City (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Colectivo Oaxaca → San José: M$180–230 (≈ US$10–13), about 3 h
- Bus Oaxaca → San José: about M$95 (≈ US$6) historically; likely out of date, check at the terminal
- Taxi in the village: short hops M$50–100 (≈ US$3–6)
Say or show
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- ¿Dónde está la parada del colectivo? — Where is the colectivo stop? (DON-deh es-TAH la pa-RA-da del ko-lek-TEE-vo)
- Una habitación para dos, por favor — A room for two, please (OO-na a-bee-ta-SYON pa-ra dos)
- ¿Hay agua caliente? — Is there hot water? (eye A-gwa ka-LYEN-teh)
- ¿Está abierta la carretera? — The road, is it open? (es-TAH a-BYER-ta la ka-re-TE-ra)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRA-syas)
Carry cash: card readers are rare and the nearest reliable ATM is in Oaxaca City or on the coast.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for San José del Pacífico. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry, clear mornings) · avoid Jun–Oct (rain, cloud, landslide risk on Highway 175) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Bus and colectivo departures from Oaxaca field-checked, with the last afternoon van and a taxi fallback.
- Walking cluster map: highway centre, Rancho Viejo cabins, trailheads and temazcal sites.
- Place pages for the temazcal sites and the main comedores, with opening days verified.
- Rainy-season road-status fixture for Highway 175 so the page can flag closures.