Puerto San Jose Travel Guide

108km (67 miles) S of Guatemala City; 52km (32 miles) from Escuintla

Puerto San José is the quickest and easiest beach to reach from Guatemala City or Antigua, and therefore it's also the most popular and developed. Still, the beach and its chaotic downtown hold little appeal for most foreign visitors. Puerto San José was once Guatemala's principal industrial and trade port, but that role has been entirely taken over by Puerto Quetzal, a few miles to the east. Perhaps the greatest draw to Puerto San José and vicinity is the ripe fishing grounds found just offshore. This area is developing a reputation as a major destination for sportfishing, with record numbers of marlin and sailfish being raised.

The beach right in front of Puerto San José is particularly unappealing. The best beach in the area is Chulamar, several miles to the west, where you'll find the Villas del Pacífico resort.