South of Mexico City, two colonial towns make an easy and rewarding day trip. Cuernavaca, the city of eternal spring, has a pleasant climate, a fortress-like cathedral, the Palace of Cortes with its Diego Rivera murals and quiet gardens that once drew the Aztec nobility and the Mexican elite. Taxco, further on, is a silver town stacked on a steep hillside, a maze of cobbled lanes, white-washed houses and the pink-stone Santa Prisca church. Most tours cover both in a long day, with time for lunch, silver shopping and a viewpoint over the red rooftops.
Cuernavaca's long history as a retreat explains its character. Aztec rulers had gardens here, Cortes built a palace on the foundations of a pyramid, and for centuries Mexico City's wealthy escaped to its mild weather. The Palace of Cortes, now a regional museum, holds one of Rivera's great murals, a sweep of the conquest and the farming life of Morelos. The Cathedral compound, with its fortress-like walls and open chapel, and the Jardin Borda, once a royal garden, round out the town. Cuernavaca is also known for language schools, art galleries and an easygoing pace.
Taxco is a different world. The silver boom of the eighteenth century built Santa Prisca, an extravagant baroque church that dominates the main square, and the hills are covered in terraced buildings, tiny taxis and silver workshops. Strolling the lanes, you find shops that sell jewelry directly from the families who make it, with prices that reward careful comparison. A cable car or viewpoint gives the classic view of the town's red-tile roofs.
The journey is long, usually two hours each way, so group tours leave early and return in the evening. Private options give more control over timing. Wear flat, grippy shoes for Taxco's slopes, bring a hat and cash for lunch and small purchases. Stay flexible about the order of stops. Tours are popular on weekends, and Taxco is especially busy during Holy Week, when the processions are among the most famous in Mexico.
What to expect
The experience
A guided full-day circuit from Mexico City to Cuernavaca's palace and cathedral and Taxco's silver streets and baroque church.
Best time
Weekdays, when Taxco's lanes are calmer. Holy Week is spectacular but very crowded.
How long
Typically 10-12 hours including two hours of driving each way.
Tips
Wear flat, grippy shoes for Taxco. Bring cash for lunch and silver. Compare prices before buying jewelry and ask for the silver content marking. Start early.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travelers who want colonial towns and crafts without leaving the capital's orbit.
- Families
- Fine for school-age children; the day is long and the hills are steep.
- Couples
- Romantic and scenic, especially the Taxco viewpoint at the end of the day.
- Pair with
- A late dinner in Roma, or a quiet next morning in Coyoacan.
- Time needed
- A full day.
Good questions
How far are the towns?+
Cuernavaca is around an hour and a half from the capital; Taxco is another hour or so beyond. Tours combine both in one long day.
Is it worth buying silver in Taxco?+
Yes, if you shop carefully. Look for the .925 stamp, compare workshops and avoid pressure sales.
Can I go without a tour?+
Yes, by bus from the southern terminal, but a tour handles the transfers and gives context.
When is Taxco busiest?+
On weekends and in Holy Week, when its processions draw large crowds from across Mexico.
What should I wear?+
Comfortable, flat shoes. Taxco's streets are steep and the cobbles are slippery after rain.
