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Taxco is a colonial mining town spread across steep hillsides in northern Guerrero, its white walls and red-tiled roofs climbing above narrow, winding streets. Silver brought wealth here in the colonial era, most famously to the miner José de la Borda, and the town's reputation as Mexico's silver capital was revived in the twentieth century. It is designated a Pueblo Mágico and protects its architecture closely.
Santa Prisca Church dominates Plaza Borda with its pink stone towers and lavish Churrigueresque facade, built with Borda's fortune in the eighteenth century. Casa Borda, beside the plaza, now serves as a cultural center. The Museo Guillermo Spratling honors the American designer who helped revive local silversmithing in the 1930s, while the Museo de Arte Virreinal displays colonial art in a historic mansion. Visitors can also see the Church of San Bernardino de Siena, ride the Teleférico up to Monte Taxco, climb to the Cristo statue for views, and tour the Mina Prehispánica.
Silver shops and workshops line nearly every street, so browsing is a central part of any stay. Walking is the best way to get around, though the gradients are tough, and small VW taxis handle the slopes. Taxco suits culture lovers and shoppers, and it pairs well with the Cacahuamilpa caves.
WiserMap travel guideTaxco Mexico Silver Shops Santa Prisca and Cable Car ViewsPlan a trip to Taxco in Guerrero with Santa Prisca, Plaza Borda, silver shops, museums, the cable car and Cacahuamilpa caves, plus food, stays and timing.Read the guide
Santa Prisca is the pink stone church that towers over the centre of Taxco, built in the 1750s with money from the silver magnate Jose de la Borda. Its carved facade and twin towers are masterpieces of Mexican Baroque, and inside are richly gilded altarpieces. Entry is free; visit outside mass times and dress respectfully.
Plaza Borda is the small main square of Taxco, shaded by laurel trees and framed by Santa Prisca, old mansions, cafes and silver shops. It is the heart of town life, with shoe shiners, balloon sellers and evening crowds. Grab a balcony table at a cafe overlooking the square to watch the church light up at dusk.
Casa Borda is the 18th century mansion built for Jose de la Borda on the side of Plaza Borda, now a cultural centre. It hosts art exhibitions, workshops and events, and because it is built on a slope, the back of the house is several floors taller than the front. Entry is usually free; check what exhibitions are on.
Behind Santa Prisca, this museum is named after William Spratling, the American designer who revived Taxco's silver craft in the 1930s. It shows his collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts from Guerrero and exhibits on the town's history. It is small and takes under an hour; the entry fee is low and it is closed on Mondays.
The Museo de Arte Virreinal is in Casa Humboldt, a colonial house where the explorer Alexander von Humboldt stayed in 1803. It displays religious art, furniture and objects from the colonial period, many linked to Santa Prisca. The building itself, with its Moorish style facade, is worth a look; allow about an hour.
The Teleferico de Taxco is a cable car that climbs from the north entrance of town near Los Arcos up to the Monte Taxco hotel on a hilltop. The ride gives sweeping views over the white houses and red roofs of Taxco and the mountains around. Go late afternoon for the best light and check the hours, as it can close in bad weather.
A large statue of Christ stands on the Cerro de Atachi above Taxco, with a lookout that gives one of the best views of the town and Santa Prisca. It is reached by a steep road from the centre, best in a taxi or the white VW combi vans. Go around sunset for the view of the lights coming on, and bring a jacket.
Taxco is Mexico's silver capital, and its silver market gathers hundreds of stalls and workshops selling rings, chains, earrings and tableware. Prices are often lower than in the shops around Plaza Borda. Look for the .925 stamp on genuine sterling silver, compare prices, and visit on Saturday when the market is busiest.
The Mina Prehispanica is an old silver mine in the centre of Taxco that can be visited on a guided tour through narrow tunnels. Guides explain how silver was mined from pre-Hispanic times through the colonial era. Tours last about 40 minutes; it is cool underground, so bring a light jacket and wear shoes with good grip.
The Ex Hacienda del Chorrillo is a colonial era silver processing estate on a hillside in Taxco, with stone arches and an old aqueduct. Today it houses a campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, which teaches art and silver design. Visitors can walk the grounds during opening hours and see student exhibitions.
The Pozas Azules de Atzala are a series of turquoise natural pools and small waterfalls in a river valley near the village of Atzala, a short drive from Taxco. Visitors swim, picnic and relax under the trees. There is a small entry fee; the water is clearest in the dry season, and weekends can be busy with local families.
The National Silver Fair is held in Taxco each year, usually in late November or early December, with silver design competitions, exhibitions, markets and cultural events. It is the best time to see the work of top silversmiths. Hotels fill up, so book ahead, and expect the narrow streets to be very crowded.
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