San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca: Magic Mushrooms and Mountains

In the misty mountains, over 8,000 feet above sea level, is San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca. This small town has become a popular destination for travelers because of the magic mushrooms that grow in the wild.

But you’ll soon discover that it has more to offer than a transcendental trip. As another traveler expressed, “San Jose is magical without mushrooms. Just breathing the air is amazing!”

It’s true. San Jose del Pacifico is an extraordinary place to disconnect, get in touch with nature, and as a result connect more fully with yourself.

The pine forests create a peaceful environment for hikes. The chilly temperatures are conducive to an authentic temazcal ceremony. And in the evenings, the clouds settle low into the mountains for stunning views of the setting sun above the clouds.

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Things to Do in San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca

I believe travelers should envision a visit to San Jose as a self-guided wellness retreat. This is the place to pause and reconnect with your spirit.

While the most popular thing to do in San Jose del Pacifico is to eat magic mushrooms, it should not be your only focus. That being said, I can’t imagine a better place to experience mushrooms in Mexico.

Experience a Temazcal in San Jose del Pacifico

With a climate that leans towards cold and a common desire to renew, San Jose is also a great location to experience a temazcal ceremony. This ancient ritual is a spiritual steam bath to cleanse and ground yourself with the earth. 

The ceremony typically begins with an offering before asking permission to enter. The time in the temazcal is split into a series of four steam sessions which correspond to the four elements of earth, water, wind, and fire. There’s a lot of singing, chanting, sweating, and introspection that takes place inside. You can read more in my guide to temazcal in Oaxaca City.

Offerings for a temazcal in San Jose del Pacifico seem to be as abundant as those for buying mushrooms. When I was in San Jose, I did a temazcal ceremony with Paco. It’s definitely an authentic experience that is bookable by messaging him on Facebook.

Temazcal Yo’o Be’en (map) also looks amazing and is close to an amazing cabin in San Jose (see where to stay).

San Jose del Pacifico Hiking

There are a few hikes in San Jose del Pacifico that you can do in the surrounding forests. If you’re looking for something more than hiking among the pine trees, I recommend hiring a guide to take you on a planned hike and perhaps to a small waterfall. Otherwise, there are also a couple you can do on your own.

One of the most frequented is the path behind Cabanas La Cumbre. Many travelers hike the path for about one hour up the mountain to ingest magic mushrooms. The path is mostly covered by vegetation and leads to a small lookout point over the town of San Jose.

Another is a three-hour hike to San Mateo de Hondo, a town just a bit larger than San Jose. The path we took starts past the domes in the forest and opens up to some beautiful viewpoints as you hike up over the mountain. The path then connects with the road, at which point you may try to catch a ride for part of the way if you prefer. 

When you reach the viewpoint overlooking San Mateo, use the dirt paths on the right to descend into town. The town of San Mateo is more compact than San Jose with a large church and community center. The feeling is more of a small Mexican mountain town rather than one that developed alongside the highway. 

Enjoy Doing Nothing

San Jose del Pacifico is the perfect location in Mexico to disconnect and reset your mind. Cell service only works in part of the town and the wifi may be unreliable or nonexistent. It’s a great space to just relax and watch the forest, read a book, or do some writing.

San Jose del Pacifico Mushrooms

In many of the indigenous communities of Oaxaca, psilocybin mushrooms have a long history of use in ceremonies led by a shaman, called veladas. These ceremonies are traditionally used to purify, heal, and communicate with the sacred. Before we go further, I want to touch on a quick history of the exposure these communities experienced as a result of the psilocybin mushrooms, which they call niños santos. 

In the 1950s, María Sabina, a Mazatec shaman in the town of Huautla de Jiménez, reluctantly opened her ceremony to a westerner. You can read the full story here, but she was essentially shunned by the community after travelers began arriving in the town in search of magic mushrooms.

Today, the towns of Huautla de Jiménez, San Jose del Pacifico, and nearby San Mateo de Hondo embrace the tourists that arrive in search of mushrooms in Mexico. Now, with a knowledge of the history and significance for the community, I urge you to handle the niños santos and the power they hold with respect, just as they have been by these communities for thousands of years.

Meanwhile, the power of psychedelics is being realized in the United States and elsewhere, resulting in a push to become more mainstream. People are realizing the ability of mushrooms to alleviate depression, addiction, and PTSD.

As more and more people turn to this powerful medicine for daily use, the effects of microdosing are also being studied. On the other side of the spectrum, I also think this quick opinion about microdosing vs taking a full dose is also worth a read.

Where to Find Mushrooms in San Jose

The mushroom season in San Jose is from July to October, which is essentially corresponds to the rainy season in Mexico. During the season you will find fresh mushrooms to consume. Outside of the season they may be preserved in honey. 

I have heard some reports of buying fake mushrooms, so it’s important to know where to go. That being said, a friend who attended a retreat in San Jose del Pacifico, reported a range of mushroom experiences in the group from a woman for whom the mushrooms had no effect to a woman who had a very intense experience.

I actually did not consume mushrooms in San Jose del Pacifico. I was with a new friend and we went in with the intention of, “if it feels right.” We both found ourselves happy doing other things such as hiking in the forest. However, I’ve spoken with a lot of travelers about their experiences both before and after I visited. 

One of the oldest pioneers of mushroom tourism in San Jose is Tío, who opened Cabañas Pacífico and the attached restaurant over 20 years ago. They prepare mushroom tea for consumption and I’ve personally spoken to several travelers who had a good experience here.

The other place that was highly recommended by multiple people is Cabanas Rubí. One fellow traveler told me she had fresh mushrooms, chocolates, and others preserved in honey available for purchase. Their group was personally looking for a more medium intensity experience and opted for the chocolates, which they were quite pleased with.

Watch the Sunset Among the Clouds

Any location where you can ascend into the mountains and have a clearing of the trees, you’ll find spectacular views in San Jose del Pacifico. The clouds often hang low in the mountains during the evening and if you’re lucky, the clouds will settle for an incredible sunset above the clouds. 

Some of the most open views close to the center are at Cabanas La Cumbre. Even if you are not staying there, you can sit at the restaurant and order a cup of tea or chocolate to watch the sunset.

Climb the Mirador

Further up the road, you will find a staircase marked as the Mirador. For 30 pesos, you can hike the 30 minutes to the top for more great views. My friend and I kept trying to aim for sunset, but the timing didn’t work so we never took the opportunity to go. The views look good, though perhaps more obscured by the nearby pine trees.

Where to Stay in San Jose del Pacifico

For a secluded stay with incredible views, I recommend booking one of the San Jose del Pacifico cabañas below.

Cabañas Camino al Cielo

The spectacular views from this mountain cabin may just take you on the road to heaven (camino al cielo). It also features a stone fireplace, king sized bed, and kitchen. Plus the location is great – just a 15 minute walk into town.

If you’re traveling as a family or small group, book their cabin with 2 beds which also features a fireplace and similar views.

These next two places to stay in San Jose del Pacifico organize free activities for guests: hiking, yoga class, etc. Keep in mind, they are about a 30 min walk from the center of San Jose or you can hire a moto taxi.

Cabanas Rancho Viejo (Private Cabins)

If you’re looking for a private cabin in San Jose del Pacifico, Cabanas Rancho Viejo feature a fireplace and balcony with forest mountain views. These wooden cabins have a modern rustic decor and vary in number of beds so they are great for couples, families, or a small group.

Bostel Rancho Viejo (Hostel)

This hostel feels like a mountain cabin featured in a magazine! The common spaces include two terraces, a reading nook, kitchen, and living room with a big comfy couch and a fireplace. Plus there’s an outdoor fire pit to enjoy in the evenings.

When you book a stay at Bostel Rancho Viejo, you’ll feel as though you’re renting a cabin in the woods with your friends. And in fact, that’s where the concept originates. The name Bostel comes from combining the words Bosque (the Spanish word for forest) and Hostel.

Where to Eat in San Jose del Pacifico

I was surprised by the number of restaurants in San Jose del Pacifico. But it really shouldn’t come as a surprise with the amount of tourism this town now receives.

I wouldn’t say the food knocked my socks off like the amazing restaurants in Oaxaca City. And in fact, I had the best food in San Mateo, but it was all solid with several vegetarian options.

The most obvious places to eat are along the highway, but if you walk into the main street and past the turn for La Cumbre, you’ll find small comedores, a place that sells roasted chicken, and a place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. I’ve listed only a few main restaurants in San Jose below. 

Cabañas Pacifico Restaurant 

This family-run restaurant is located just off the main highway. The patio offers nice, though slightly obscured views of the mountains encased in clouds. The menu includes typical Mexican items like quesadillas, tacos, and tlayudas. But the standout was a mushroom soup that tastes like something your grandmother would make.

Comedor Jessy

As my friend and I walked into the kitchen of the home, we were greeted by the matriarch of the family who was attending to several pots on the stovetop. After determining what was available that day, we ordered, and her husband served us lunch on the rooftop under the shade. 

I ordered a mushroom and chorizo quesadilla that was perfectly flavored and crisp. The mushrooms were more interesting than the standard white button mushrooms used in the soup at Cabañas Pacifico. My friend ordered a healthy plate of eggs and beans with a mushroom quesadilla. 

La Cumbre Restaurant

This is a nice place to come for a hot drink or a meal to watch the sunset. The menu includes your typical options of tortas, tacos, and tostadas as well as some breakfast items and soup. There are several vegetarian options as well.

How to Get to San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca

Even though the new coastal highway is now complete, it’s still relatively easy to get to San Jose del Pacifico from Oaxaca or from the beaches of Oaxaca.

A quick note about the ride. You’ll be traversing through the mountains in a small van with a driver that may prefer to take the turns a little faster than your stomach would like. 

If you have any concerns about motion sickness, you may want to take something before you start the journey. The section from San Jose to the coast is more likely to cause motion sickness than Oaxaca to San Jose.

Oaxaca to San Jose del Pacifico

Lineas Unidas vans (map) run multiple times a day from Oaxaca City to San Jose del Pacifico. If you want to have your choice of seat, I recommend going to the station to buy ahead of time, but typically you can just arrive.

After arriving to San Jose del Pacifico from Oaxaca, they continue to the town of Pochutla where you can find transport to several of the coastal towns.

Mazunte or Puerto Escondido to San Jose del Pacifico

To travel from the coast region, you’ll need to first go to Pochutla, which is located slightly inland from the coast. There are large pick up truck colectivos that run from Mazunte and Puerto Escondido to Pochutla. 

Once you arrive, Lineas Unidas (map) is a solid option to travel to San Jose del Pacifico. 

Zipolite to San Jose del Pacifico

If you are traveling from Zipolite there is a Líneas Unidas terminal (map) along the highway. It’s slightly more expensive but more convenient than traveling to Mazunte and changing transport again in Pochutla.