Taxco Travel Guide

Taxco is a silver-mining colonial town built into steep hills in the state of Guerrero, three hours south of Mexico City. Its cobblestone streets, white-walled houses with terracotta roofs, and the baroque Santa Prisca church at its centre make it one of the most photogenic small towns in Mexico. The silver trade continues — the town has hundreds of workshops and shops selling jewellery at competitive prices.

Santa Prisca and the Zócalo

The Iglesia de Santa Prisca (1751–1758) is the architectural centrepiece — a twin-towered baroque church that dominates the main square (Plaza Borda). The interior has original Churrigueresque altarpieces; the sacristy has 17th-century paintings. The small square in front of it is the social heart of the town.

Silver

Taxco’s silver workshops range from small family operations to larger commercial outlets. The Mercado de Artesanías (craft market) sells mostly mass-produced jewellery; the individual workshops off the main streets produce higher quality work. Taxco has a silversmithing school — the pieces sold here by students are good value. Pure silver (92.5% — marked .925) is the standard; ask to see certification if buying anything significant.

Exploring the town

The town is small but very steep — taxis and peseros (shared VW Beetles that serve as local taxis) navigate the main routes. Walking the back streets above the main square gives the best views of the town and the surrounding landscape. The Teleférico (cable car) to Monte Taxco hill gives panoramic views over the town and the valley below.

Getting there

From Mexico City: buses from the Central del Sur terminal (Tasqueña) with Estrella de Oro or Costaline — 3 hours. From Cuernavaca: 90 minutes by bus. Taxco has no train or airport connections; road is the only option.

Semana Santa

Taxco’s Holy Week celebrations are among the most intense in Mexico — processions of penitentes (flagellants in dark hoods) pass through the cobblestone streets at night, and elaborate theatrical productions of the Passion story run through the week. The town fills completely; accommodation books up a year in advance.

When to go

Year-round. Semana Santa is the peak. The climate is mild at altitude (1,800 m). The Feria Nacional de la Plata (Silver Fair) in November–December is a more relaxed time to visit and see the jewellery in competition.