San José Acatempa is a municipality located in the Jutiapa department of Guatemala. It holds historical significance as one of the first towns established by Spanish conquistadors in 1525. The settlement was founded under the command of Capitán General Don Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras during an expedition to conquer the region of the old kingdom of Cuzcatlan, which encompasses parts of present-day southeastern Guatemala and El Salvador.
The town was originally known as Azacualpa, and the surrounding area was referred to as Valle de Zacualpa during the colonial period. It was not until 1944 that the municipality received its current name, San José Acatempa, following an official order issued by General Jorge Ubico.