Things to Do in Taxco

Taxco is a silver-mining town stacked up a steep hillside in Guerrero state, about 3 hours south of Mexico City. Its white-painted buildings with terracotta roofing tiles, narrow stone streets (too narrow for conventional traffic in most of the centre), and the pink Churrigueresque façade of the Santa Prisca church make it one of the most photogenic towns in Mexico. It’s been a centre of silver craft since the Aztec period and remains the country’s silver capital.

Santa Prisca church

The definitive building in Taxco: built 1748–1758 by silver magnate José de la Borda, whose fortune funded it entirely. The façade is late Churrigueresque — an ultra-ornate Spanish Baroque style that reaches its Mexican peak here, with carved saints, relief panels, and twin towers rising above the town. The interior has gilded altarpieces in the same style. Entry free.

Silver shopping

The town centre is a dense concentration of silver workshops and shops. Taxco silver is regulated by a local association — look for the “Hecho en Taxco” mark for pieces made locally by verified craftspeople. The street market (tianguis) around the Zócalo has the widest range at multiple price points. For higher-end work with confirmed provenance, the shops on Calle de los Plateros (Silversmiths’ Street) and the established galleries near Santa Prisca are the starting point.

The streets and views

Much of the pleasure in Taxco is the topography — walking up (or taking a moto-taxi up) and then wandering the steep callejones. The Plazuela de San Juan and Plazuela Bernal are quieter spots away from the main plaza. The best view of the town comes from the cable car (teleférico) connecting the bottom of town to the Hotel Montetaxco at the top — ~MXN 100 return. The hotel pool is accessible for a day fee if you want to swim with the view.

Grutas de Cacahuamilpa

40 km north of Taxco: a vast cave system (Mexico’s largest accessible cavern) with chambers over 80m high. Guided tours through the main cavern last about 2 hours. Entry ~MXN 170. Can be combined with a visit to the two rivers that emerge from the cave mouth (the Dos Ríos picnic area).

Getting there

From Mexico City (Taxqueña bus terminal): Estrella de Oro or Flecha Roja, ~2.5 hours, frequent departures. From Cuernavaca: 1 hour. Most visitors do Taxco as a day trip from Mexico City, though staying overnight (fewer visitors after 4pm when day-trippers leave) gives a different experience of the town.