Fun Things to Do in San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca Mexico

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This guide to the top things to do in San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca Mexico is perfect for visiting San Jose Oaxaca. I spent a few days in San Jose, so I wanted to share a few cool things to see and do in San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca and general information about where to stay and how to get there.

Why Visit San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca Mexico?

is a small indigenous pueblo 8000 feet high in the Mexican mountains. I visited San Jose Oaxaca for one reason, which is the same for most people: hiking. Just kidding! Most tourists, like me, travel there to participate in a San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca mushroom retreat.

Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress. 

Best San Jose Tours: 
Best San Jose Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in San Jose
Best San Jose Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in San Jose

San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca Mexico Mushrooms

When my friends suggested visiting , I had no idea it was the Mushroom Capital of Mexico. I didn’t know that magic mushrooms were big in Mexico, as I thought it was more of a Guatemalan thing. While you don’t have to do San Jose del Pacifico mushrooms during your trip, it would be a shame not to consider it.

One of the first things I noticed in San Jose is that taking magic Oaxaca Mexico mushrooms is no secret. The entire town is full of mushroom art—every store, cafe, and hostel in the city has a sign saying you can buy Oaxaca mushrooms from them. I paid for mine using a debit card!

San Jose del Pacifico mushrooms are sacred and included in many traditional ceremonies, so there’s no reason to be intimidated.

Quick Tip: I highly recommend booking all of your Mexico transportation with GottoGo. You can search for buses, shuttles, ferries, and Flights on their website. What I love most about them is their customer service. I know these guys personally from living in Guatemala, and they look after their customers.

If anything happens and you get delayed and miss your bus, you can just call them, and they are always there to help. If you book through them, you will pay a little more than booking in person at the bus station. But it’s worth it for the ease and security. Click here to search for transportation in Mexico.

San Jose Oaxaca Mushroom Retreat Options:

• Find a shaman and do a ceremony
• Take a magic nature walk
• Buy some and take them with your friends

If traveling solo, I would have picked options one or two—since I was with a group and was the only one who hadn’t taken Oaxaca mushrooms before, we kept it lowkey. My group bought the mushrooms from our hostel and settled into our accommodations. My friend, Trisha, had a magic mushroom Spotify playlist ready. We also purchased some soda to wash down the disgusting taste of the mushrooms. I’m so glad we did, as you aren’t supposed to wash the mushrooms, and the mud was gross.

We paid 300 pesos each for seven Oaxaca Mexico mushrooms (enough for one complete trip). As a first-timer, I was nervous about taking too much, so I ate four. While my experience was positive, I think three would have been plenty.

If you’re interested in trying Ayahuasca in Mexico, read this. I also can’t recommend doing Kambo in Mexico enough!

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?

The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing

Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.

Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

Other Things to Do in San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca Mexico

Hiking

San Jose is famous for having world-class hiking trails. I didn’t get a chance to try any because it rained the entire time I was there, so I barely left our cabana. Ask your lodging hosts for recommendations if you’re interested in San Jose hiking. Most trails are weather-dependent, so they can advise you on the best routes and connect you with a local guide.

Temazcal Ceremony

A temazcal ceremony is conducted by a shaman in a sweat lodge. There are many San Jose Oaxaca temazcals in San Jose—we did one near my friend’s cabana. While the ceremony was only 200 pesos, it may not be for everyone. If you are interested in temazcals, book one guided by a shaman for the full experience.

Reading

If you visit San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca Mexico during the rainy season (also mushroom season), bring many books and prepare to spend a lot of time indoors. I spent most of the day in bed reading my book… it was bliss. Well, it would have been if I weren’t so cold!

Yoga

San Jose Oaxaca has a nice yoga studio near La Cumbre hostel. Check the schedule for a specific timetable of offered classes and events. Don’t forget to bring your travel yoga mat!

Are you looking for a yoga retreat in Mexico? Read this.

Quick Tip: View my full Mexico packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Mexico Essentials shopping list here.

Where to Stay in San Jose Oaxaca

While in San Jose, I stayed at Cabañas La Cumbre San Jose del Pacifico. It was cute and offered a cheap place to eat, but it’s uphill from the town—be prepared to walk uphill or take a tuk-tuk. They sell San Jose del Pacifico mushrooms there and provide helpful tips for first-timers.

We did have a negative experience with an employee who got aggressive with my friend when we were checking out—he banged on our door and shouted at him. It felt sketchy and put me off.

Our cabana was cold and damp—if you visit during the rainy season, I suggest staying somewhere warmer. They also have terrible WiFi, and I could hardly get a phone signal.

My friend stayed in these cabanas, which seemed to be in a better location (no uphill hiking needed) and warmer with working WiFi. They’re more expensive but well worth it. You can also buy supplies for an Oaxaca mushroom retreat from the nearby temazcal shaman.

Many accommodations in San Jose aren’t on Booking.com. If you don’t mind being spontaneous, arrive and find something on the spot. You may get a better deal, but there are no guarantees!

I also suggest bringing a WiFi device to be safe.

How to Get to San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca

Renting a car and driving is the best way to see the state of Oaxaca. If you don’t want to drive, you must take the bus.

Oaxaca City to San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca

You can fly or take a bus to Oaxaca City—from there, locate the bus (minivan). I strongly recommend taking motion sickness drugs and sitting toward the front. Also, bring your valuables in your daypack, as your backpack will probably end up on the roof.

The company you want is called Eclipse 70, and the bus stop is on Armenta with Lopez 504 in central Oaxaca City. The buses run pretty frequently, so there’s no need to pre-book. The cost is around 100 pesos, and the ride will take three to three and a half hours.

Alternatively, you can travel with Lineas Unidas, located at Bustamante 601.

Puerto Escondido to San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca

To get to San Jose from Puerto Escondido or anywhere else on the coast, you must go to Pochutla. The same two bus companies run this route: Lineas Unidas and Eclipse 70. When you are on the coast, the best thing to do is to ask the locals for info, as they’ll know the best way to get there.

Best Time to Visit San Jose Oaxaca

Wondering when to visit San Jose del Pacifico? Not in September, when I went! I suggest January through May or October through December. December can be rainy, but any other time of year should be pretty dry. The good thing about visiting in the rainy season is that it’s also peak time for Oaxaca mushrooms.

Is There an ATM in San Jose? 

There are no cash machines or banks in San Jose, and most places charge an extra 5% if you want to pay with a card. We didn’t know this beforehand, which cost us since no one in our group had cash. Do yourself a favor and bring some money in addition to credit cards.

Mexico Travel Guide Planning

🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Mexico?

Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Mexico which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Mexico on Amazon here.

🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Mexico?

I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major Mexican tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.

🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Mexico?

First and foremost check out all of the amazing Mexico tours Where Sidewalks End has. They are a small local company and they have some really special experiences.

For everything else I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. 

If you are traveling to Cancun you can use GoCity and save up to 55% of the initial cost of entrance tickets to various museums, tours, and attractions!

If you are traveling to Playa del Carmen then I recommend booking through my friend Vanessa at Turismo Channel. You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the above codes to receive the discount.

👩‍⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?

I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.

I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here

✈️ Any flight recommendations?

WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.

📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?

I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.

With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.

🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?

The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.

🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?

I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack. 

Visiting San Jose del Pacifico Oaxaca Mexico: Final Thoughts

If you’re interested in sampling Oaxaca mushrooms, San Jose del Pacific is the place to beat. Otherwise, San Jose Oaxaca offers fun hikes, yoga studios, and traditional ceremonies for tourists to experience. Be prepared for storms if you visit during the rainy season!