12 things to do in Taxco – Complete travel guide
Last Updated on November 25, 2024
Taxco, a Pueblo Magico (Magical Town), is an important silver-mining hub and a paradise for tourists. Located in a mountainous area, the village is beautiful. Picture narrow paved streets, winding up and down, passing through traditional white and red houses. Every corner is stunning and every edifice worth a look. Taxco is also known for its surroundings: lush forests and breathtaking landscapes. Spend a day walking around town, exploring one of the region’s most beautiful caves or go for a swim in turquoise waters. Read on to discover all the best things to do in Taxco.
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Things to do in Taxco and places to visit
Taxco is known for being an important silver-mining center. Everywhere you’ll go, you’ll find small shops making and selling jewelry. It’s the perfect place to do some shopping.
Visit religious edifices
- Church of Santa Prisca: Taxco’s main baroque church from the 1750s, considered one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico;
- Ex-convent of San Bernardino de Siena: originally built in 1592, it was destroyed to be rebuilt in 1804, adopting the Neo-Classical style;
- Capilla de Los Barrios
Holy week’s celebration statues
If you come by these statues without knowing what it is, you’ll probably think something weird is going on here (I surely did). During the Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Taxco, some people wearing a hoody (to keep their anonymity) join a procession to repent from their sins, hurting themselves. There are three categories of pennants: the crucified (only men, carrying a huge tree tronc filled with spikes), the spirits (women bound at the hands and feet by heavy chains) and the floggers (they carry a heavy cross and take breaks to whip themselves).
That’s what these statues represent, probably still weird even once you know what it means.
Taxqueño Christ viewpoint
The best place to get a panoramic view of the whole city. From there, you can see all the main buildings and churches.
For a nice view, you can also take the cable car (95 pesos for a round-trip). You’ll get more or less the same view from where the line ends, so you don’t have to do both. If you don’t have a car, the easiest option is to take the cable car and skip the Christ.
Pre-Hispanic Mine
This mine is the first pre-hispanic mine discovered in Mexico. Built by the Chontales in the 15th century, it was kept hidden so the Spaniards wouldn’t find it. It was rediscovered in 2013 when the hotel above it started renovation work.
You can now visit it, it had been well restored and adapted to tourism. The part you visit is 40-meters below ground level. You do the visit with a guide, who will explain everything about mining and the Chontales culture and history.
The mine is open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM. The entrance fee is 150 pesos. Most guides don’t speak English.
William Spratling Museum
William Spratling opened the first silver workshop in Taxco in 1930. There, you’ll find some items from his private collection and some of the designs he made.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM (3 PM on Sundays). The entrance fee is 55 pesos.
Museum of Religious Art
Even if you’re not into Religious Art, this museum is worth visiting. The building is stunning, a perfect example of traditional architecture. It also explains everything about the history of Taxco. A guide is included (tip expected but not mandatory), I’m not sure they speak English though.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 PM to 6 PM. The entrance fee is 50 pesos,
Ex-Hacienda El Chorrillo
Built between 1525 and 1534, under Cortes’ order, this hacienda is now part of an art school. It was built to extract silver, with an intricate and unique system, using water, salt, and mercury. You can visit it and admire one of the city’s oldest buildings.
Silver workshops
Taxco is famous for producing silver and jewelry, prices are incredibly low. You can buy some pieces and check out a workshop, where they’ll show you their craft. At every corner, you’ll find small shops selling silver and local crafts. There’s also a small handicraft market behind the Santa Prisca Church.
Things to do around Taxco
Pozas Azules de Atzala
Visiting the Pozas Azules (Blue Pools) is one of the best things to do in Taxco. The place is peaceful and stunning. The water is at its bluest during the dry season. During the rainy season, the water is muddy, but the waterfall is spectacular.
There you can swim in the pools, zip-line and sample some local food. There have changing rooms but no lockers. You’ll have to walk a bit to reach the entrance, some kids will offer to guide you, that’s not necessary.
To get there, take a colectivo from the Coppel on Plateros Street, there’s one every 30 minutes. Ask the driver to drop you off at the pozas. To get back, just wait where you were dropped off. Don’t forget to ask when the last one is. The fare should be around 30 pesos. It takes around 30-45 minutes to get there.
The entrance fee is 50 pesos, add 200 for the zipline.
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa
The Cacahuamilpa Cave is another one of the best things to do in Taxco, you cannot miss it. The cave is known for its impressive rock formations and for being one of the largest cave systems in the world. The part you can visit on foot is around 2km (1.2 miles) deep. You can also arrange for a more adventurous exploration.
For the classic route, a mandatory guided tour leaves every hour from 10 AM to 5 PM. It costs 80 pesos per person. The tour is around 2 hours long. To get there take a bus Flecha Roja from the main bus terminal in Taxco. They leave every 45 minutes.
Taxco Itinerary
The minimum I recommend staying there is 2 days/1 night, but you can easily spend more time there and take your time.
On the first day, if you arrive in the morning you can visit Taxco city and in the afternoon go to the pozas. The next day, head for the cave, then on to your next destination.
If you have a car or hire a guide, you can visit everything in a day if you don’t have much time. If you really don’t have time, you can join a day tour from Mexico City.
What to eat in Taxco
Taxco is famous for its Pozole, a type of corn and pork soup. It’s a typical dish, served all over Mexico, usually during special events. Taxco is known for making the best one. I recommend going to Tia Calla, in one of the corners of the main square (it’s a bit hard to find, you have to take stairs going down).
Where to stay in Taxco
Definitely try to stay in the city center/historical part of town. A guesthouse would be the perfect choice if you want a more authentic experience. Here’s a couple of accommodation you can check out:
- Posada Joan Sebastian: small budget posada offering a dorm and basic rooms, great view from the terrace.
- Hotel Posada Spa Antigua Casa Hogar: small but comfy rooms, great view over the city, friendly owners.
- Posada de la Mision: Taxco’s most famous hotel, not in the center, but the mine is there and the cable car nearby. The best view of the city. Great decoration (a bit out-dated at times, but clean), large rooms, pool, bar, and restaurant.
How to get to Taxco
From Mexico City, you can take a direct bus from Taxqueña, the Southern bus station.
To get to Taxco from Cuernavaca, take a bus at the Estrella Blanca Bus Station (near the city center), there’s one every hour.
Is Taxco safe?
Guerrero state is known for not being the safest place in Mexico. This being said, Taxco is touristy, so the government tries to make it as safe as possible. I would say, it’s safe to go to Taxco as well as the pozas and the cave. I was there alone and felt safe all the time, these parts are not dangerous, unlike the rest of Guerrero. In the city, you won’t have any problems, to visit outside, if you want to feel safer, just hire a local guide to tour you around. You can contact one of the many travel agencies in Taxco to arrange it.
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