Taxco: Mexico's Silver Town Built on a Hill

Taxco sits at roughly 1,800 meters in the mountains of northern Guerrero, about 170 kilometers southwest of Mexico City, and it has been a silver town since the Aztecs worked local ores. The drive from the capital takes 2.5 to 3 hours on Highway 95D, which makes it one of the few colonial towns in Mexico you can see properly in a single long day. Most people come for the silver shops. They leave remembering the geometry of the place — white walls, red tiles, and streets so steep that the local taxis are Volkswagen Beetles.

Getting to Taxco and Getting Around

Bus from Mexico City

Buses leave from Terminal del Sur (Taxqueña) roughly every 30 minutes, and the trip averages 2 hours 35 minutes. Estrella Blanca and Costa Line both run the route; expect to pay around 250 MXN each way, with some fares on Busbud starting near 300 MXN. The bus drops you in the middle of town, which is the single best argument for taking it — parking near the center can eat half an hour at midday. From the south bus terminal in Mexico City, taxis and metro connections are easy; from the north terminal, the ride is longer and not worth it unless you are already there.

Driving and tours

If you drive, stay on the toll road (95D) rather than the free road, which winds through villages and adds time. An Uber from Mexico City runs about 2,000 MXN one way for a 2.5-to-3-hour trip, useful if you are splitting the cost among three or four people. Day tours from Mexico City typically pair Taxco with Cuernavaca and give you roughly three hours in town — enough for the church, a silver shop, and lunch, but not for the cable car and the mine in the same visit.

Local transport

The historic center is a one-way maze. Combis (small buses) display their direction — uphill or downhill — on the windshield, and you can flag them anywhere. Mototaxis, three-wheeled vehicles that thread alleys too narrow for cars, charge 20 to 40 MXN per trip. White Beetles still work as taxis. None of this matters much if you are staying near Plaza Borda, because the center is walkable — but the hills are brutal, and a 10-minute walk can feel like a stair climb.

What to See and Do in Taxco

Santa Prisca and Plaza Borda

The Parroquia de Santa Prisca y San Sebastián dominates the town the way few churches dominate anywhere in Mexico. José de la Borda paid for it in the 1750s with a single silver strike, and the pink stone facade is carved to the edge of excess. Entry is free, donations accepted, and it stays open roughly 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Go early. By 11 a.m. the plaza is full of tour groups, and the light on the twin towers is better before the sun climbs over the ridge. The church sits on the east side of Plaza Borda, which is the town's living room — benches, shoe-shine stands, and a steady parade of people hauling silver boxes.

Silver shops and the market

Hundreds of workshops and storefronts sell silver here, and quality varies enormously. Look for the 925 stamp, which means 92.5 percent silver. Avoid pieces marked alpaca or metal blanco — those are silver-colored alloys with no precious metal in them, and no stamp at all is a red flag. Fixed-price shops on Plaza Borda cost more but are reliable, which is the right call for a first purchase. The Mercado de Artesanías at Plazuela del Bernal has the lowest prices and requires the most caution. Rough 2026 prices: rings 200 to 600 MXN, earrings 300 to 1,000 MXN, bracelets 600 to 2,500 MXN. The Museo Guillermo Spratling, two minutes from the zócalo, documents the American architect who moved here in 1929 and built the design tradition the town still trades on; admission is about 70 MXN and 45 minutes is enough. Rancho Spratling, open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., still produces pieces from original Spratling designs.

The cable car and the mine

The Teleférico lifts you about 175 meters above the rooftops to a hotel complex on the hillside, and the view back over Santa Prisca's towers is the photograph most visitors want. Tickets run around 80 MXN. The Mina de Taxco la Unión, a mine tour with an elevator descent and a 150-meter lit tunnel, opens daily around 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last tour typically at 4 p.m.; the combined mine-and-cable-car ticket is the efficient way to do both. For a view without the queue, the Cristo Rey monument on the hill above town gives you the whole white-and-red sprawl for free.

A two-day rhythm

Day one: arrive by early afternoon, check in, walk to Plaza Borda for Santa Prisca, then take a terrace table on the plaza for sunset — La Terraza is the obvious perch, and the view justifies the markup. Day two: taxi to Cristo Rey in the morning, brunch, then the cable car and mine before the afternoon crowds. If you have a third day, the Cacahuamilpa caves and the Pozas Azules natural pools are 30 to 40 minutes away and worth the detour.

When to Go, What to Watch For

Weather and seasons

November through May is dry and mild, with daytime temperatures in the 20s Celsius and cool evenings; February is usually the driest month. Avoid June through September, when rain is frequent and September alone averages about 255 mm — the cobblestones get slick, and the views close in. Semana Santa is the cultural event of the year, with processions that draw crowds from across Mexico, but hotel prices rise and the narrow streets clog. If you want the town to yourself, visit midweek; Friday to Sunday brings a noticeable surge of day-trippers from Mexico City.

The jumil festival

Around Day of the Dead (November 1–2), Taxco holds the Feria del Jumil, a festival dedicated to a small stink bug with an anise-like flavor that locals eat live, in salsa, or ground into paste. There is a Queen of the Jumil pageant. If that sounds like too much, order the salsa version — the flavor is peppery and faintly herbal, and it is far less confrontational than the live option.

Safety and practical notes

Guerrero state has a complicated reputation, and the U.S. State Department advises caution in parts of it. Taxco itself is a tourist town with a heavy police presence in the center, and the main risks are practical rather than dramatic: steep unlit side streets at night, pickpockets in crowded markets, and altitude that punishes anyone who tries to jog. Carry small bills for mototaxis. Wear shoes with grip — the cobblestones are polished smooth in places and slick after rain. Fees and tour prices change; check official sites or ask at the ticket window before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Taxco worth visiting for a day trip from Mexico City?

Yes, if you accept the limit. A day tour gives you about three hours in town, which covers Santa Prisca, one silver shop, and lunch. You will not have time for both the cable car and the mine. Overnighting is better: the town empties after the buses leave around 5 p.m., and the plaza at dusk is the reason to stay.

How do I know if the silver is real?

Check for a 925 stamp, which indicates 92.5 percent silver. Pieces marked alpaca or metal blanco contain no precious metal, and unstamped jewelry should be treated as suspect. Fixed-price shops on Plaza Borda are the safest bet for a first purchase; the artisan market is cheaper but demands more scrutiny.

How many days do I need in Taxco?

Two days covers the town comfortably — church, plaza, cable car, mine, and shopping. Three or four days lets you add the Cacahuamilpa caves, the Pozas Azules, or the Mil Cascadas waterfalls, all within 30 to 40 minutes of town. Most travelers who regret their visit tried to do it in a single day.

What is the best month to visit Taxco?

November through May for dry weather, with February the driest. If you want the Semana Santa processions, go in late March or early April and book lodging well ahead; if you want calm streets and lower rates, aim for the first half of March or any midweek date in the dry season.