10 No FOMO Things to Do in Taxco: Mexico’s Top Magic Town
Looking for what to do in Taxco, one of Mexico’s best pueblo magicos?
As my bus approached the city, distinct Spanish colonial architecture with terracotta-colored roofs sprawled across the mountains of Taxco de Alarcon in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Driving up the steep cobblestone streets, one can’t help but stare in awe at the beauty of this small city and wonder how the heck people can navigate Taxco’s narrow, windy roads.
As a former silver mining town, Taxco is best known for being one of the finest places for silver jewelry and crafts in the Western hemisphere.
But for visitors like you and I, you’ll find gorgeous city views and fantastic nature day trips nearby. Now, here’s the info on all of the best things to do in Taxo, Mexico.
Taxco, Cuernavaca & Prehispanic Mine Tour
Best Day Tour from Mexico City
Top Things to Do in Taxco, Mexico
Taxco is designated as one of Mexico’s pueblos magicos (magic towns). Mexico has selected 132 pueblos magicos all over the country, and Taxco holds one of the top-ranking spots on the list.
So, you’ve decided to go for a visit, what are the things you should go see?
1. Panoramic View of Taxco at Cristo Rey
From any given point in the city, you will see a giant Jesus statue sitting near the top of the mountain overlooking Taxco. For a few dollars, you can take a cute VW Beetle taxi up the crazy steep, winding roads to the top. From the main square, taxi drivers take 10-15 minutes to get to the top.
From the Christ viewing platform, enjoy one of the best places to see the panoramic scenery of the entire city and the valley beyond.
Breathtaking…
I recommend walking down as it was a pretty easy 30 – 45 minutes down winding streets or hidden stairwells. It’s hard to get lost. As long as you are going down, all the roads will lead to the Zocalo, the town center.
2. Climb the Bell Tower of Templo de Santa Prisca
Viewable from anywhere in the city, the exquisitely decorated church, Temple de Santa Prisca, sits grandly in the center of the Zocalo. The details from its outside façade is captivating, and don’t get me started on the colors during the sunrise and sunset. The light casts a pinkish hue on the exterior.
You can go up to the bell towers for a Taxco city view for 50 pesos per person (although we may have been overcharged since someone told us 5 pesos). Even having overpaid, do not miss this Taxco attraction. You can literally take pictures on the roof of this behemoth cathedral.
Once you are let in, go up the narrow, windy staircase all the way to the top where the bell tower is. This is by far one of the best views of the whole city!
3. Go Silver Shopping
Taxco has traditionally been known for its silver mines and is still the silver capital of Mexico. Historically, the local people traded silver to the Aztecs for protection.
Today, this precious metal industry is still very prominent in the town. Seemingly around every corner and at every kiosk, silver shops hang sparkling necklaces in doorways and pendants in glass cases.
At a mid-range store, a sterling silver pendant sells for 20 USD and a matching chain for 15 USD. There were definitely cheaper and more expensive options than these. Although jewelry is the primary souvenir choice, silver statues or tea sets are also available.
4. Wander through the Winding Streets for Hidden Secrets
One of my favorite things to do in Taxco is just roaming around the hidden alleyways and paths. Every turn up the hillside provides an opportunity for a better city view or a tasty snack to try. Endless rows of colonial buildings and terracotta-colored roofs lead you to hidden churches and lovely gardens.
Aim to get lost; once you’re ready to go back, just go down, you’ll end up back in the Zocalo.
5. Get Lost in Mercado Tetitlán
Like most cities and towns in Mexico, there will be a central market, and Taxco is no different. Mercado Tetitlan is concentrated near the Zocalo, sprawled across five floors and still spilling out onto the stairwells and streets nearby.
Vendors sell all the usual expected market categories: necessities, street food, juices, fruits, and for Christmastime, an entire area dedicated to cheery decorations.
Fun Fact: I once got lost in the market for 25 minutes. Many floors don’t have exits, and I am directionally challenged.
6. Peer into the Historical Mines Beneath Taxco
Only rediscovered in the last decade or so, this pre-Hispanic mine is one of Taxco’s newest attractions. You can take a guided tour to see the historic mines tunneled beneath the town of Taxco.
Entrance to the mine and museum comes with a one-hour guided tour that can speak English and an unusual welcome drink.
7. Ride the Cable Car for Taxco Views
If you leave from the center of Taxco, you can walk on foot to the base with a steep 20 minute walk. The cost is 120.00 pesos round trip and the ride is only about 5 minutes one way. The cable car stops at the Montetaxco Hotel, where you can wine and dine for above-average costs.
Address: Los Plateros 3, Ahuacatitlan, 40225 Ahuacatitlán, Gro., Mexico
Day Trips Near Taxco, Mexico
A few special day trips surround the vicinity of Taxco and are doable by yourself. Many hotels and agencies offer tours to visit these locations as well.
I would’ve loved to visit all of them, but alas, I only had time to see Pozas Azules, which I highly recommend. I hope you have more time to check the other ones out too!
8. Pozas Azules
In Pozas Azules, turquoise water streams down waterfalls in a river that pools into man-made and natural blue pools. The ever-green moss on the cliff sides contrasts beautifully against the color of the icy blue waters.
Only 45 minutes outside of Taxco with a minibus, Pozas Azules is a fantastic day trip if you’ve got an afternoon to spare. Although it was cloudy and raining the day I went, the pools were still blue, so I can only imagine what it would look like if it was nice out.
Additional Guided Pools
Beyond the official boundary of Pozas Azules, you can hire a local guide to take you on the 10-minute hike to some additional small pools. Based on tips, I saw the lady before me tip 50 pesos, so I did the same.
How to Get to Pozas Azules:
On Avenida de Plateros in front of the “Coppel’ store, minibusses leave every 30 minutes at the bottom and top of the hour. The bus stop is directly at the entrance of Pozas Azules and will last 45 minutes.
How to Get Back to Taxco:
The minibus will wait at Pozas Azules for 15 minutes and leave at the bottom and the top of the hour. Due to picking other people up, it will take about an hour to return back. The last bus will return at 6 pm.
9. The Cacalotenango Waterfall
On the way to Pozas Azules, a large 540 feet waterfall cascades down the mountainous area. Using the same minibus as Pozas Azules, it takes about 30 minutes from Taxco. Ask the driver which is the best stop to get off at. You will also have to hike a bit to get to the waterfall.
10. Grutas de Cacahuamilpa (Caves of Cacahuamilpa)
30 minutes outside of Taxco, Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park is home to one of the largest cave systems in the world. Every year, the cave even organizes concerts within its walls.
Today, only guided tours allow visitors into the nearly two-kilometer-long caves. An English tour is available at more expensive rates. Here’s some more information on the caves. Side note: Atlas Obscura is one of my favorite websites to find odd places
👉 Book a full-day tour from Mexico City, visiting both Taxco and the Cacahuamilpa Caves
Where to Stay in Taxco
BUDGET HOSTEL – Amate Hostel
We stayed at Amate Hostel, as it was the cheapest one we could find. Although not anything crazy special, the staff was friendly, and the place had a super cool sink.
FLAVORFUL PRIVATE ROOM – Villa San Francisco Hotel
For a private room with a bit more pizzaz, Villa San Francisco Hotel is a low mid-budget hotel with colonial-style architecture and a swimming pool.
Where to Eat in Taxco
Menta
If you have been to Central and South America for a while, raise your hand if you are at least slightly bored of the food. So, I am always super excited when I find an amazing veggie and fruit-filled place.
For around 15 USD at Menta, we got 2 fantastic juices, a giant salad, and a Toast that would rival some of the best brunch places in the USA. I would highly recommend Menta if you are looking for some greens or are a vegetarian.
Note: Google has said that it is permanently closed (false), here is their FB page. Last I heard, they were going under renovations in 2023.
Hole-in-the-Wall Mexican Place: Los Dobles
We passed by Los Dobles, a small restaurant featuring around 10 ceramic pots of options. Their nopales poblano was the best nopales I have ever had, and I don’t even like nopales.
Update: Sadly, they may be now closed, but if you’re there, do check if they’re still there
Restaurants in the Zocalo
There are many restaurants in the Zocalo serving traditional Mexican fare. They can be a bit more pricey than their non-zocalo neighbors, but you pay for the food and the views of the city and the Santa Prisca church. There are quite a few restaurants that advertise their rooftop terrace, and any one of them will do.
Café de Los Radios
Café de Los Radios is a little café with a radio theme. They’ve got great Frappuccinos, but the real selling point was the fast Wi-Fi and pretty great views of all of Taxco.
ChuCho
For those with a sweet tooth, Chucho is a modern Churreria selling one of the best churros I have eaten in Mexico, and I have eaten a lot. Imagine a make-your-own froyo place but with churros instead. These are dipped in your choice of sauce, then two toppings, and can even be paired with ice cream.
How to Get to Taxco, Mexico
Taxco is in Guerrero State in central Mexico. Getting to Taxco is possible by public transport (bus) or car. Detailed below are bus options from the most common leaving destinations. I always use these two bus aggregators in Mexico to find busses: Check my Bus and ClickBus.
From Cuernavaca to Taxco
We could only find two buses that took this route, CostaLine, and Estrella de Oro. There are many bus stations in Cuernavaca, which can be confusing.
The CostaLine bus leaves from Grupo Estrella Blanca—Terminal de Autobuses (18.926275, -99.238667) a few times a day and arrives in about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
If you come from Tepotzlan, you will most likely take a transfer bus that stops in Cuernavaca.
From Mexico City to Taxco
The road from Mexico City to Taxco takes about 2hrs 20 minutes from Taxquena (Terminal del Sur), Mexico City’s southern-bound bus terminal. This bus route departs only 1-2 times a day.
👉 Want the logistics planned? Book a Full-day tour from Mexico City to both Taxco and Cuernavaca’s city highlights!
From Acapulco to Taxco | Bus Stops in Chilpancingo & Iguala
Coming from Acapulco, you will most likely arrive at Taxco’s bus station, Estrella de Oro. There are two main bus stations in Taxco: Estrella Blanca and Estrella de Oro. They are both on Avenida de Los Plateros and are only a 5-10 minute walk from each other.
The bus will also make stops in other cities on the way in Iguala, Chilpancingo, before arriving at Taxco.
Time to Reach Taxco by Bus:
- From Iguala: 30 minutes
- From Chilpancingo: 3 hrs
- From Acapulco: 4 hrs – 4.5 hrs
On the day we went, there were only two buses that day. We couldn’t find this bus on a bus aggregator, but here is Ado’s website to check the latest times. Iguala has many more connections to Taxco than straight from Acapulco if there are no optimal times.
👉 If you’re short on time, book a private full day tour from Acapulco to roam around Taxco
How Many Days Do You Need in Taxco, Mexico?
Taxco has a unique beauty that is worthy of checking out. I would recommend spending at least two days exploring the town itself. The streets are confusing, and it takes a while to get a handle on not getting lost.
If you have any additional days to spare, I recommend going on one of the nearby day trips.
Mexico City to Taxco Day Trip
While Taxco is a favored day trip from Mexico City, the 5-hour round trip might have you hurrying to see its highlights. Nonetheless, it’s entirely doable.
Final Thoughts: Is Taxco Worth Visiting?
Yes, absolutely! It’s always fun to stumble upon a magical town filled with history, beautiful churches, and friendly locals. I hope you think the same when you visit too! But what to choose if you don’t have enough time to see everything in Taxco, make sure to check off the following activities:
- Make your way to the top to see the views from Cristo Rey
- Climb to the top of the bell tower
- Day trip to Pozas Azules
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Going Elsewhere? Discover Other Mexico Adventures and Resources
- Best Things to Do in Tepoztlán, Mexico
- Fun Things to Do in Acapulco, Mexico
- Best Things to Do in Zihuatanejo – Ixtapa, Mexico
- Ixtapa Island: A Perfect Beach Day at La Isla Ixtapa, Zihuatenejo
- How to Visit Chacahua, Oaxaca – A Secret Mexican Beach Paradise
- Adventurous Things to Do in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca
- Day Trip to the Magical Waterfalls of Copalitilla and Llano Grande
- Things to Do in Huatulco, Mexico and Why I Won’t Be Back
- Never Lost in Mexico: Transporation Guide to Getting Around Mexico
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