Magic PLaces Around Mexico #2 San Jose del Pacifico, Chiapas. Magic mushrooms town!

Que ondi Amigos!!

What if I told you there is scenic little town up in the Mountains where you can be in touch with nature while you enjoy a very good trip in Mushrooms?

I know right, sounds good! A place where you can scape of all the things going on with the world, scape of the technology and just have time to connect with yourself and the earth.  

San Jose del Pacifico is a one-street town located 3 hours from Oaxaca City and 3.5 hours from the Pacific Ocean. If you are not to used to crazy drives be ready because the roads to get here are super windy. There is people throwing up all the way, so don't get surprised.  At the end it is all worth it, I promise.

There are plenty places for you to stay, prices are between $2 usd to $40 usd at night.  Crazy huh. Beautiful places too. 

We stayed in a wood cabin facing the most beautiful view in town, with our own balcony, hammock, hot water and fire place for $40 usd at night, and we were 4, so $10 usd each. That is quite expensive for the area but to me it was super worth it. 

What about the mushrooms?

So each year, with June rains , the harvest of the magic mushroom begins, used by the Zapotecs as a tool for self-exploration, revelation and healing. It was discovered by  María Sabina, who called herself a woman-doctor "curandera" or "shaman". She also was a symbol of wisdom and love.

Maria Sabina is from Huautla de Jimenez about 5 hours from Oaxaca City and 8 hours from San Jose del Pacifico. she had traditional knowledge about the ceremonial and healing use of hallucinogenic mushrooms, she used to called them "holy children"and they grow in her region. Back in the 60's she allowed Westerners to participate in the healing vigil that is known as the "Velada". All participants in the ritual ingested psilocybin mushroom as a sacrament to open the gates of the mind. 

What are the Psilocybin mushrooms?

 A psilocybin mushroom, also known as a psychedelic mushroom are various types of fungi found all over the world containing a strong hallucinogen, psilocybin. They are non-toxic, non-addictive and have no after-effects/hangover.  Magic mushrooms allow us to experience a different level of consciousness or reality.  

This kind of mushrooms have also been used in therapeutic settings to treat a wide variety of ailments and disorders including cluster headaches, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety, depression, and addiction. 

Why can you consume magic mushrooms in San Jose?

So in Mexico magic mushrooms are no legal, but this town is independent and does not allow the police to have access to the community. In this way, tradition continues to be maintained and also allows more people who are interested in internal growth.

Make sure you get the right instructions on how much/many to take, don’t want to over do it and totally trip yourself out. 

As soon as you get here you will notice how much people love shrooms...

 There are a few places to eat, one internet-cafe and a few craft stores where you will find anything you want to buy with a mushroom on it. There is a small shop on the only street, unfortunately I don't remember the name but there is an artist who does some sick tattoos and a lady who designs beautiful traditional clothes.

This is the only place where you can pastas, plates are huge but the view is the most part, they have this little room on the second floor for 4 or 5 people where you can watch the clouds roll in through the mountains. 

Besides having the most amazing mushroom trip, you can also go for a hiking and do Temazcal. 

We actually had our mushroom trip hiking and it was the best thing we could do, just make sure you remember the way back.

Temazcal Everyday!

But what is a Temazcal?

Temazcal is a steam bath and it can look like brick igloo or a concrete box.  They’re used for both physical well-being and natural healing.  

Tlazolteotl is Mother Earth, she is considered the goddess of the temazcal, and is believed to devour what we no longer use to transform it into fertile land and transmute it into new life. Within the temazcal, which is the belly of the earth, the steam makes us sweat and take out toxins from our body; the temazcal will absorb that sweat and transform it into fertile land, ready to feed the new life. 

 Temazcal therapy is based on the fact of causing sweat in our body through medical vapor. Sweating, by itself, already has a high curative value, but also, inhaling the vapor greatly increases the healing capacity of the temazcal. This vapor is produced by the contact of herbal water with red hot stones. Each herb has different medicinal qualities: for example, chamomile helps to cleanse the eyes and restores good digestion; while eucalyptus will help to fight respiratory diseases, etc.

Definitely a place it should be on your travel list!

Have you ever been here or have you tried magic mushrooms?

I would love to hear your experience.

Happy and safe travels amigos!!

Con mucho amor, Ana.

Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Sabina

https://thethirdwave.co/shrooms/

http://the-earlybird.co/mexico-san-jose-del-pacifico-magic-sunsets-and-mushrooms/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/temazcal-traditional-mexican-sweat-lodge-1588898