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South from Escuintla an excellent, smooth highway heads through acres of cattle pasture to PUERTO SAN JOSE , which, in its prime, was Guatemala's main shipping terminal, funnelling goods to and from the capital. It has now been made virtually redundant by Puerto Quetzal, a container port a few kilometres to the east. Today both town and port are somewhat sleazy and the main business is local tourism: what used to be rough sailors' bars pander to the needs of the day-trippers from the capital who fill the beaches at weekends. The shoreline is separated from the mainland by the Canal de Chiquimulilla , which starts near Sipacate, west of San Jose, and runs as far as the border with El Salvador, cutting off all the beaches in between. Here in San Jose, the main resort area is on the other side of the canal, directly behind the beach. This is where all the bars and restaurants are, most of them crowded at weekends with big ladino groups feasting on seafood. The hotels are some of the worst value in the country, and cater to a largely drunken clientele - you could try Casa San Jose Hotel , Av del Comercio (tel 776 5587; US$10-15), which has a pool and restaurant, or, for a really cheap option, Hospedaje Vinas de Mar (US$5-10), which is basic but right by the beach. Buses between San Jose and Guatemala City run every thirty minutes or so all day. From Guatemala City they leave from the terminal in Zona 4, and in San Jose from the plaza.
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