San José del Pacífico

San José del Pacífico is a little mountaintop town with a tremendous view, so high that the Pacific Ocean is clearly visible far below. The climate is brisk and dry, and pine-clad mountains rise all around, an ideal setting for a few days away from the tropics. What’s just as good, the village has a pair of pretty fair restaurants and an invitingly rustic hotel.

Little was spared to create the Hotel Puesta Del Sol (from the U.S 011-52-1-951/100-8678, in Mexico long distance 045-951/100-8678, locally 044-951/100-8678, sanjose [at] sanjosedelpacifico [dot] com, www.sanjosedelpacifico.com [1], www.tomzap.com/sjose.html [2], $20 s or d, $30 t). Gardens lead downhill, past the hotel restaurant, to clean and cozy knotty-pine cabañas with fireplace and private hot-water shower-baths.

Food is available either at the hotel’s Restaurant Esther (8 a.m.–8 p.m daily, $3–8) with its lovely view, or the restaurant Rayito del Sol (Little Sunbeam) in the village nearby.

The main local diversions are natural, such as basking in the sun, hiking mountain trails to panoramic viewpoints, observing wildlife, watching spectacular sunsets, and resting or reading by the fireplace. The Puesta del Sol management arranges guided local walks and tours.

Getting There

Get to San José del Pacífico by bus or car via Highway 175, either 65 miles (105 km) north of Pochutla [3] or 81 miles (130 km) south of Oaxaca City [4].