By Jane Bauer

With the temperatures on the coast heating up it is also a great time to take a few days to visit some cooler places. As the new highway is passing through Puerto Escondido I expect heavy traffic passing through San José del Pacifico will be slowing down which makes it a great time to head up there to explore.

San José del Pacifico, well-known for its shamans and hallucinogenic mushroom culture, is a charming town with lots of options for accommodations in all price points and several excellent restaurants. The views are breathtaking and when the fog rolls in it feels as if you are above the clouds. Be sure to bring some cozy clothes and I recommend getting a cabin with a fireplace.

Just a short drive off the main highway is San Mateo Rio Hondo another charming town that in recent years has captured some of the tourist market even though it is a bit further out than San José. It has stunning natural landscapes characterized by lush forests, rolling hills, and serene rivers. The Sierra Sur region is renowned for its biodiversity, offering visitors opportunities for eco-tourism and outdoor activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and river exploration.

The walk between the two towns, which takes you through the mountain woods rather than on the highway, is about 9km. I left San Mateo around 7am and got to San Jose at about 9:30am- perfect timing for a hearty breakfast. I got some fried chicken from a roadside stand to-go and began the journey back to San Mateo. It is not a challenging walk- mostly level and populated with interesting birds and butterflies.