Taxco & Cuernavaca day trip: silver mines & colonial churches

Descend into a pre-Hispanic mine, then walk Taxco's silver-lined colonial streets

A full-day guided tour from Mexico City to Taxco and Cuernavaca includes round transfer, a live guide in English or Spanish, and optional entry to a pre-Hispanic mine and lunch. You descend in an authentic mining elevator to explore ancient corridors, visit Santa Prisca church (built 1758 by a silver-strike fortune), tour a working silver workshop, and walk the hillside cobblestone streets of Mexico's oldest mining city. The tour runs 11 hours and suits all fitness levels, though it involves considerable walking on uneven ground.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day trip to Taxco and Cuernavaca

• Depart from Mexico City to Taxco
• Visit pre-Hispanic silver mine
• Explore Taxco silver workshop
• Visit Santa Prisca church
• Enjoy traditional lunch in Taxco
• Explore Cuernavaca city and cathedral
• Pass by Hernán de Cortés museum

The Experience

Taxco sits on a hillside three hours south of Mexico City, a colonial town built on silver. The day starts with pickup from your hotel or a central meeting point, then the drive south through Morelos state. Your first stop is Cuernavaca, the state capital, where you'll see the 16th-century Cathedral with its mural of Mexico's first native saint and visit the Palace of Cortés, a former conquistador residence decorated with Diego Rivera murals. These stops set the context—conquest, wealth, art—before you reach Taxco itself.

In Taxco, the guide leads you through the winding cobblestone streets to Santa Prisca, the church that anchors the town. Built in 1758 by José de la Borda, a French immigrant who struck an enormous vein of silver, it stands as one of Mexico's most ornate colonial temples. From there, you walk to a working silver workshop where artisans show you how to recognize quality silver and you have time to browse and buy. Lunch at a local restaurant is included if you've selected that option; otherwise, you're free to eat where you choose. The walking here is substantial and the ground is irregular—steep streets, uneven stones—so comfortable shoes matter.

If you've booked the pre-Hispanic mine option, you'll descend in an authentic mining elevator into corridors that have been worked for hundreds of years. Inside, displays show how ancient settlers extracted precious minerals. This is the optional add-on that separates the experience from a standard colonial town visit. The mine visit takes time and adds physical demand, but it's the reason many travelers choose this tour over a shorter Taxco-only option. You can also book the tour without the mine, visiting Taxco and Cuernavaca at your own pace, or go private with a dedicated guide and vehicle.

What’s included

• Round transfer from Mexico City.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• guided visit to Taxco including Santa Prisca church and a silver workshop.
• guided visit to Cuernavaca including the Cathedral and Palace of Cortés.
• optional pre-Hispanic mine descent with authentic mining elevator and ancient corridor exploration.
• optional lunch at a local restaurant in Taxco.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Amigo Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the option with the pre-Hispanic mine if you want to go beyond the colonial architecture and see how the town's wealth was actually extracted—the mine descent is the physical centerpiece that makes this tour different from a standard Taxco visit. If you prefer to focus on the churches, streets and silver shops without the mine, or if you want to explore at your own pace without a guide, the tour-without-mine and transportation-only options give you that choice.

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Top questions

What is Santa Prisca church and why is it famous?

Santa Prisca is the ornate colonial cathedral that dominates Taxco's skyline, built in 1758 by José de la Borda after he discovered a massive silver deposit. It's considered one of Mexico's most beautiful churches and is the centerpiece of any visit to the town.

Can I visit the pre-Hispanic mine on this tour?

The pre-Hispanic mine visit is optional and depends on which tour option you select at checkout. If you choose it, you descend in an authentic mining elevator and explore the ancient corridors where settlers extracted minerals hundreds of years ago. Three of the four available options include it.

How much walking is involved in Taxco?

Taxco involves a considerable amount of walking on irregular, uneven ground—the town is built on a hillside with steep cobblestone streets and tile-roofed buildings. The tour suits all fitness levels, but comfortable shoes and a willingness to navigate slopes are essential.

Is lunch included?

Lunch at a local restaurant is included only if you select an option that offers it. Two of the four available options include lunch; the other two do not. You can always eat on your own if your option doesn't include it.

What do I need to bring for this tour?

You must bring your passport—physical, digital, or photocopied—as proof of legal stay in Mexico, per government immigration regulations. If you're traveling with an infant, you must bring your own approved child restraint system for the bus, as the operator does not provide one.

How long is the full day trip?

The tour runs 11 hours total, including the drive from Mexico City, stops in Cuernavaca, exploration of Taxco, and the optional mine visit if selected. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or meeting point are included.