Is Taxco, Mexico Safe?

Taxco is heavily frequented by tourists. Typically, they arrive on the weekends at the bus station. They come on Fridays and leave on Sundays and seem to enjoy Taxco de Alarcon even more for the brief time they have to spent here. 

A steady flow of tourists is one of the first indications of the general perception of Taxco. Much like many other places that have rough reputations, staying within certain bounds is always a requirement. But, in Taxco, even this sounds like a bit of an exaggeration. 

TAXCO, MEXICO – OCT 28, 2016: Main square (Zocalo) in Taxco, Mexico. The town is known because of its Silver products

Pretty much all the tourists will make the climb or the drive to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer on the mountain. You should be in very good physical condition before you try to walk here from the city center, because the elevation climb is no joke. And walking will take you through some local neighborhoods, where messing with tourists is usually off limits.

 

The question of safety in Taxco can be a somewhat controversial topic. This is because of the incident that happened in November 2018, where a Red Cross worker and three policemen were killed while distributing supplies. Incidents like this are extremely rare and unlucky.

Anyone who has traveled in Southeast Asia will find a few interesting parallels here. The local powers that be in Taxco are not incentivized to create problems with tourists, because this would damage Taxco’s reputation, and a lot of money is made from tourism. The perception would spread that Taxco is a dangerous city to visit, and it would negatively impact the city’s economic situation. So, as a tourist only visiting for a few days, the most danger you should reasonably expect is in the slightly chaotic driving or of being ripped off at the Saturday silver market. 

Let’s also take note of what the US State Department and others are saying about safety here. Taxco is considered off limits in the Mexico travel advisory. One could say this source is a bit overzealous in their travel warnings, given that both Canada and the UK have approved Taxco for travel. All three have generally warned against,

So, of course, you should always use your best judgement. However Taxco is a very safe place to visit in general. If you decide to make it out to see Santa Prisca, the narrow cobblestone streets, some of the local silver museums and historical museums and enjoy the local food as well, you should not be trembling in fear! There are many great sights and sounds here to experience.

If you are interested in learning more, we have other content available on Taxco. Santa Prisca Silver is a wholesale jewelry dealer. Feel free to reach out to us below if you have any questions. We maintain standards to avoid waste and remain an ethical and sustainable jewelry brand.