Taxco, a magical town, is best known for the silver work that was revitalized by William Spratling and his team of local silversmiths in 1929. His movement became world renown due to the exquisite pre-Columbian motifs and the creativity and excellent workmanship of his local silver smiths. Taxco became a tourist stopover when the Mexican government built a highway connecting Mexico City to Acapulco.
William Spratling, born in Livingstone County, New York, was an architecture professor at Tulane University before leaving his career to create his remarkable legacy in Taxco.
This beautiful cobblestone-street town located in the middle of steep hills and surrounded by lush semi-arid forests is as rich in silver as it is in nature, culture and history. Taxco was formerly known as Tlachco, which means “ball game”. It was a settlement inhabited by the Tlahuicas who were a tributary society of the Aztecs. By the eighteenth century, the city reached its peak when Jose de la Borda known as the “Phoenix of the Rich Miners of America” discovered an important silver deposit. The town was then settled by the Spanish. Santa Prisca, Taxco’s main church, was built during this period (1759), and is one of the finest examples of Mexican/Spanish baroque architecture.
Natural protected areas, national parks, amazing caves, and waterfalls are among the many attractions that nature lovers find surrounding Taxco. A current list of up to 138 species of birds has been documented by local conservationists, who will guide us through the forest of Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National park for our birding delights.
We invite you to join us for this natural and cultural adventure to the beautiful colonial town of Taxco and its spectacular natural surroundings!
› TRAVEL
July 26th | Tuesday
7:00 AM
Leave from St. Paul’s Church
9:00 AM
Breakfast provided on bus
12:00 PM
Snacks available at bus
3:00 PM
Arrival to Taxco, check in at hotel, unpack and rest
4:30 PM
Cocktails and dinner at hotel *
› NATURAL PARK AND HISTORY
July 27th | Wednesday
6:00 AM
Breakfast at hotel
7:00 AM
Leave for National Park Grutas de Cacahuamilpa for birdwatching
7:45 AM
Arrival at Park for birding
11:00 AM
Leave for hotel
11:45 AM
Arrive at hotel
12:15 PM
Lunch at hotel *
1:00 PM
Rest, free time
2:00 PM
Go into centro for tour of historical museums:
Humboldt museum, Borda museum and Santa Prisca church
5:00 PM
Cocktails at La Parroquia restaurant on terrace *
5:45 PM
Dinner at La Parroquia restaurant *
› CAVES AND SILVER HISTORY
July 28th | Thursday
7:45 AM
Breakfast at hotel
9:00 AM
Leave for Grutas de Cacahuamilpa
9:45 AM
Arrive for tour of Grutas (2nd largest cave system in Mexico)
10:00 AM
Tour
12:30 AM
Return to hotel
1:15 PM
Lunch at hotel *
3:00 PM
Visit Museum of Silver, visit silver masters shops (Los Castillo)
5:30 PM
Return to hotel
6:00 PM
Cocktails *
6:30 PM
Dinner at Hotel or other restaurant of your choice *
› HACIENDAS, SILVERSMITHS AND SILVER
July 29th | Friday
7:00 AM
Breakfast at hotel
8:00 AM
Leave for Los Castillo Hacienda
8:30 AM
Arrive at Hacienda for birdwatching
10:30 AM
Visit Silversmith workshop at the hacienda *
11:30 AM
Lunch at the hacienda *
1:00 PM
Leave for Spratling Ranch Workshop
3:30 PM
Return to Taxco
4:00 PM
Arrive at hotel, rest, free time for visit shops
6:00 PM
Cocktails at hotel (optional) *
6:30 PM
Dinner at hotel or other restaurant of your choice *
› SILVER MARKET AND TRAVEL HOME
July 30th | Saturday
7:00 AM
Breakfast, pack and have luggage ready for check out
8:30
to
11:30 AM
Visit Silver Market (transportation provided to and from)
12:00 PM
Leave Taxco, check out of hotel, box lunch provided
8:00 PM
Arrival to San Miguel de Allende
This Itinerary is subject to changes without prior notification
* Meals marked with an asterisk are not included in the price
Bring an official ID such as your current Passport and INAPAM ID if you have one
Water bottle or small canteen, can be filled up with purified water in the hotel
Binoculars
Camera
Flashlight
Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella and rain gear
Hiking sticks
Insect repellent
Day pack
Light-weight walking/hiking shoes
A fleece garment can be useful in case of chilly mornings
We recommend packing your binoculars, toiletries and travel documents in your
day pack
A supply of resealable plastic storage bags can be very handy for storing food items from the breakfast, to be used as mid-morning snacks
Please bring a small bag with toilet paper and another sealable bag for your soiled tp
Be sure to carry small change for bathroom fees
DEPARTURE Timing is Critical, Our departure each morning is as early as possible in order to be on site when bird activity is best. All wildlife activity diminishes as the midday heat intensifies.
General information:
Hotel Pueblo Lindo Miguel Hidalgo #30,
Colonia Centro
Taxco, Guerrero, México
If using an American bank account make a check out to Colleen Besman.
If using a check from a Mexican bank account make payment out to: Colleen Besman
Please put your phone number, email address and trip form inside a sealed envelope with your payment, so that we may contact you with further important details.
Sociedad Audubon de México, A. C., based in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, is the only Audubon organization in Mexico. From San Miguel de Allende, we spread out to work with local communities to help preserve and restore bird, wildlife and plant habitat, and to foster biodiversity in general. To make our mission a reality, we develop events, programs, conferences and projects. Learn more about our mission and programs at www.audubonmex.org
