PUERTO DE SAN JOS

port town, south-central Guatemala, situated along the Pacific Ocean. Opened in 1853 and now the nation's third largest port, it is a roadstead with a long wharf; passengers and cargo are transferred from ships anchored 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore. San Jos handles a considerable portion of Guatemala's imports, especially petroleum; the port's chief exports are molasses, coffee, cotton, sugar, lumber, and honey. A major project to make the port a deepwater facility to handle its increasing traffic was begun in 1979. The resort of Iztapa, once a Spanish fort, lies to the east. San Jos is linked to Escuintla, 26 miles (42 km) to the north, and to Guatemala City by railroad and highway. Pop. (1989 est.) 15,125.