Mexico City to Taxco: Private day trip

Tumble down the steep cobblestone alleys of one of Mexico's most visually dramatic Pueblo Mágico towns, where centuries of silver mining have left a legacy of extraordinary baroque architecture, world-class craftsmanship, and a labyrinthine hillside cityscape unlike anywhere else in the country.

• The Iglesia de Santa Prisca, the breathtaking 18th-century baroque masterpiece that towers over Plaza Borda and dominates Taxco's skyline — its twin towers and elaborately carved facade, funded entirely by silver baron José de la Borda, are among the finest examples of Churrigueresque architecture in Mexico
• The steep cobblestone callejones (alleyways) and stairways that wind up the hillside in every direction, with terracotta-roofed colonial buildings draped in bougainvillea at every turn — and fleets of vintage white Volkswagen Beetle taxis navigating the impossibly narrow streets

• Browse the silver shops, markets, and workshops that line virtually every street in town — from the Tianguis de la Plata market to artisan workshops where silversmiths craft pieces by hand. Taxco remains the undisputed silver capital of Mexico and the finest place to buy it
• Take a day trip to the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa, one of the largest cave systems in the world, just an hour from Taxco, where vast cathedral-like caverns stretching for kilometers are illuminated on guided tours

• Pozole — Taxco is celebrated for its version of this hearty soup of hominy and meat, and unlike anywhere else in Mexico, all three traditional varieties — red, white, and green — are made here with equal pride

• When buying silver, always look for the 925 stamp confirming sterling silver, and note that prices are set by weight — Taxco's shops are generally reputable, but it pays to compare. The town is around 3 hours from Mexico City by bus from the Taxqueña terminal