San Ignacio Mini - Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis
San Ignacio Mini - Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis
San Ignacio Mini - Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis
4.5
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One of five Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses missions in Argentina and Brazil.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
400 reviews
Excellent
232
Very good
146
Average
20
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Greg F
Auckland Central, New Zealand1,167 contributions
Jan 2020
We hired a driver to take us from Puerto Iguazu. IT cost us 7500 ARS or 120 USD for the whole trip including the stop at Wanda Mines. Entrance fees were separate.
After the drive of about 3.5 hours, we reached the small town of San Ignacio Mini.
The Ruins are architecturally impressive as a part of the old mission still stands. There is a small museum to explain (in English as well) the history behind the Jesuit missions and the native Guarani people. It is important part of understanding the history of the area (Misiones) that you are visiting.
I would say 2 hours would suffice to walk through the ruins and visit the museum. There are restaurants and souvenir shops across the road from the ruins for a quick lunch stop as well.
Entrance to the ruins 700 ARS per person.
Overall I would say it is an important site, though it comes with a significant drive time and it would be nice in include other stops along the way ( Eg: Wanda Mines) or do it on your way to Corrientes or Posada, in order to make it worth the trip.
We had an excellent and informative driver (even though he spoke only Spanish) and he tried his best to make sure we enjoyed the drive.
You can contact Hector on +54-9-3757619369
After the drive of about 3.5 hours, we reached the small town of San Ignacio Mini.
The Ruins are architecturally impressive as a part of the old mission still stands. There is a small museum to explain (in English as well) the history behind the Jesuit missions and the native Guarani people. It is important part of understanding the history of the area (Misiones) that you are visiting.
I would say 2 hours would suffice to walk through the ruins and visit the museum. There are restaurants and souvenir shops across the road from the ruins for a quick lunch stop as well.
Entrance to the ruins 700 ARS per person.
Overall I would say it is an important site, though it comes with a significant drive time and it would be nice in include other stops along the way ( Eg: Wanda Mines) or do it on your way to Corrientes or Posada, in order to make it worth the trip.
We had an excellent and informative driver (even though he spoke only Spanish) and he tried his best to make sure we enjoyed the drive.
You can contact Hector on +54-9-3757619369
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Berthaki
Arequipa, Peru278 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
The best organized Jesuit reduction in Misiones. It has a small but very interesting museum where you can learn about the history of the reductions, the works the Jesuits did with the Guaranis, and how the place is being preserved as a world heritage. Be sure to carry your sunblock and insect repellent with you, even if it's less "wild" than other reductions, it's a good idea to be protected. There is a local guide that accompanies you at the beginning of the visit, he will give you valuable historical details.
Written 20 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LauraZgZ
Spain17 contributions
I was there in 2008 and I have a wonderful day. It's a beautiful place with lots of history. The ruins are incredible and not because they are in good state but for the quality and beauty of the stone carving. The details, designs and engraved in the stone are really wondrous. I recomend that if you really want to enjoy the ruins and take beautiful pictures, you visit them early in the morning because later there will come all the buses full of tourists. The visit will take around 1 hour or 2 depending of how much time you want to expend in the museum or taking pictures.
If you decide to stay the rest of the day in San Ignacio there are no many options left for turists save going to the beach of a lake that is close to the village. It's a really beautiful place where you can swim (after you have paid the beach club fees that are not expensive at all) and have an incredible landscape. The problem of the place is probably the location. Despite what the natives say it takes around 45 minutes to get there by foot... So!! If you finally decide to go walk there you will need comfortable shoes and a high sun protection. In the way you will see the rainforest in both sides of the path and if you are lucky enough it will be possible to see some true guaraníes dressed in their original clothes and buy them some handicrafts like necklaces, bracelets, blowpipes...!!
Really memorable!!
If you decide to stay the rest of the day in San Ignacio there are no many options left for turists save going to the beach of a lake that is close to the village. It's a really beautiful place where you can swim (after you have paid the beach club fees that are not expensive at all) and have an incredible landscape. The problem of the place is probably the location. Despite what the natives say it takes around 45 minutes to get there by foot... So!! If you finally decide to go walk there you will need comfortable shoes and a high sun protection. In the way you will see the rainforest in both sides of the path and if you are lucky enough it will be possible to see some true guaraníes dressed in their original clothes and buy them some handicrafts like necklaces, bracelets, blowpipes...!!
Really memorable!!
Written 29 January 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colinasita
Philipsburg, St Martin / St Maarten880 contributions
Jul 2011
If you appreciate history you would definitely appreciate the sights of San Ignacio Mini.
Although not in the best conditions you can begin to envision what it was like upon hearing the stories. That's if you manage to get a English-speaking tour guide to explain everything.
You start out in a tiny museum and move on to the entrance of the ruins. And WHAT a BEAUTIFUL entrance it is!
The grounds are huge and well maintained.
Entrance fee was Arg$12,-
Worth the price!
Although not in the best conditions you can begin to envision what it was like upon hearing the stories. That's if you manage to get a English-speaking tour guide to explain everything.
You start out in a tiny museum and move on to the entrance of the ruins. And WHAT a BEAUTIFUL entrance it is!
The grounds are huge and well maintained.
Entrance fee was Arg$12,-
Worth the price!
Written 14 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen F
White Plains, New York43 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
The history of the Jesuits in Argentina is fascinating and I'm glad we visited. But the tour guide was very weak and I was happy I had spent an hour on Google before going.
Written 25 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcelo V
Buenos Aires, Argentina7 contributions
Nov 2014
If you care about history or not do not miss a chance to visit San Ignacio. What the Jesuits built, some 30 reservations 11 of them in Misiones Argentina was an impressive achievement. Bringing Christianity to the guarani natives, at the same time they thought them trades how to produce goods and build a society. Also thought them to fight the Portuguese slave hunters, the bandeirantes.they even best them on the field too.Having been kicked out of the Spanish colonies in the 1700's the missions began to decay. The ruins are 250 kmts from iguazu and 50 from Posadas. Coming from iguazu it a whole day trip. But normally you'll also visit the Wanda mines along, also a good choice. Pretty good food at San Ignacio. Very good bilingual guides.
Written 21 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David W
San Jose de Mayo, Uruguay7 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
On a recent visit to Iguazu we allocated a day trip to visit the Jesuit Ruins of San Ignacio Mini. We travelled there by taxi from Iguazu, a 240 km trip down. The trip took us through some beautiful countryside dominated by jungle and sawmill operations - non-offensive. San Ignacio Mini is just a part of an amazing story about the Jesuits and the Guarrani indians.back in the early to mid 18th Century. The story brought to life through the film "The Mission", and this attraction was a must see for us. The grounds are well maintained, haunting, and beautiful. The guardians of the site have provided good visual and sound displays to describe life at the venue and the story. We spent 5 hours there wandering around the ruins and left enriched by the experience.
Written 23 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gosienka
Warszawa50 contributions
I was in the Jesuit reductions in San Ignacio in February 2010. In
summer in the heat. I could see for yourself how
The Jesuits have done a tremendous job and Guarani Indians. Today
were, unfortunately, only ruins. I recommend visiting this place.
summer in the heat. I could see for yourself how
The Jesuits have done a tremendous job and Guarani Indians. Today
were, unfortunately, only ruins. I recommend visiting this place.
Written 1 May 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew
York, UK210 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
We called here on a hot March day, and visited the ruins at about 5pm. Tickets were 160ARS per person, and include access to this site, as well as several other Jesuit sites within about 50km.
The ticket does not include the sound and light show (also 160ARS per person), tickets for which go on sale at 7pm. This is because they don't run the show if it's raining.
The small museum at the entrance is good and very informative (look for the English information on smaller white plaques next to the Spanish).
The ruins themselves have been partially restored, which allows you to imagine what the site was once like without having rebuilt it from scratch. I liked that.
There are several information points throughout that have written and spoken info in multiple languages, including English. Some of the recordings don't work, but those that do are very useful.
Some parts of the old plaza are reminiscent of Ta Prohm in Cambodia, in that the jungle We called here on a hot March day, and visited the ruins at about 5pm. Tickets were 160ARS per person, and include access to this site, as well as several other Jesuit sites within about 50km.
The ticket does not include the sound and light show (also 160ARS per person), tickets for which go on sale at 7pm. This is because they don't run the show if it's raining.
The small museum at the entrance is good and very informative (look for the English information on smaller white plaques next to the Spanish).
The ruins themselves have been partially restored, which allows you to imagine what the site was once like without having rebuilt it from scratch. I liked that.
There are several information points throughout that have written and spoken info in multiple languages, including English. Some of the recordings don't work, but those that do are very useful.
Some parts of the old plaza are reminiscent of Ta Prohm in Cambodia, in that the jungle seems to live in harmony with the old ruins.
We ate at the excellent La Aldea Restaurante (I've never been so excited to see an omelette onnthe menu) just to the right of the exit, and then returned for the sound and light show at 8pm.
We were provided with a headset thdt replayed the narration in English, which worked seamlessly. All told, this was a very impressive 50 minutes, and to my mind justified our overnight stop in San Ignacio completely. The group (about 25 in our case) are led through the ruins by a guide with a torch, and presented with a number of cleverly produced 'mini films' which are projected onto the ruins directly, or onto water sprays, giving the impression of ghostly figures moving through the trees.
It is all very well done, educational, and impressive. The finale is quite spectacular, using about a dozen projectors and numerous water sprays to give a 100m wide 3d rendition of the monastary's final days.
I would heartily recommend both parts of the visit, and prioritise the sound and light if you can only do one!
The ticket does not include the sound and light show (also 160ARS per person), tickets for which go on sale at 7pm. This is because they don't run the show if it's raining.
The small museum at the entrance is good and very informative (look for the English information on smaller white plaques next to the Spanish).
The ruins themselves have been partially restored, which allows you to imagine what the site was once like without having rebuilt it from scratch. I liked that.
There are several information points throughout that have written and spoken info in multiple languages, including English. Some of the recordings don't work, but those that do are very useful.
Some parts of the old plaza are reminiscent of Ta Prohm in Cambodia, in that the jungle We called here on a hot March day, and visited the ruins at about 5pm. Tickets were 160ARS per person, and include access to this site, as well as several other Jesuit sites within about 50km.
The ticket does not include the sound and light show (also 160ARS per person), tickets for which go on sale at 7pm. This is because they don't run the show if it's raining.
The small museum at the entrance is good and very informative (look for the English information on smaller white plaques next to the Spanish).
The ruins themselves have been partially restored, which allows you to imagine what the site was once like without having rebuilt it from scratch. I liked that.
There are several information points throughout that have written and spoken info in multiple languages, including English. Some of the recordings don't work, but those that do are very useful.
Some parts of the old plaza are reminiscent of Ta Prohm in Cambodia, in that the jungle seems to live in harmony with the old ruins.
We ate at the excellent La Aldea Restaurante (I've never been so excited to see an omelette onnthe menu) just to the right of the exit, and then returned for the sound and light show at 8pm.
We were provided with a headset thdt replayed the narration in English, which worked seamlessly. All told, this was a very impressive 50 minutes, and to my mind justified our overnight stop in San Ignacio completely. The group (about 25 in our case) are led through the ruins by a guide with a torch, and presented with a number of cleverly produced 'mini films' which are projected onto the ruins directly, or onto water sprays, giving the impression of ghostly figures moving through the trees.
It is all very well done, educational, and impressive. The finale is quite spectacular, using about a dozen projectors and numerous water sprays to give a 100m wide 3d rendition of the monastary's final days.
I would heartily recommend both parts of the visit, and prioritise the sound and light if you can only do one!
Written 3 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D P
Wellington, New Zealand8,079 contributions
Dec 2015
Loved this place, drove 3 hours from Iguazu to get here and it was well worth it!
The ruins were beautiful and there was information written in English which was a plus.
Spent a good 2 hours walking around the vast ruins taking photos.
Would more than recommend.
The ruins were beautiful and there was information written in English which was a plus.
Spent a good 2 hours walking around the vast ruins taking photos.
Would more than recommend.
Written 3 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lolomeikle
Montevideo, Uruguay
Hola Silvina, en las Ruinas de San Ignacio Mini, el espectáculo de luces te lo cobran aparte? Es decir, vos vas después del medio día a visitar las ruinas y esa entrada que te cobran te sirve para el espectáculo? o hay que pagar aparte y en ese caso cuanto? Muchas gracias
Written 27 August 2017
Hola el espectáculo de luces comienza a las 19 y las ruinas cierran al público 17.30 Sin 2 entradas distintas
Written 27 August 2017
Hi! Is can visiting the ruins be done as a day trip from Puerto Iguazu? If so is it good to go as part of a tour or with a private car? Thanks!
Written 22 August 2017
Can we visit the Missions on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? If they are closed can you still visit without the museum?
thanks
Written 18 April 2017
It's propably open - but I'm not sure. But you cannot enter if it's closed - it's kind of gated.
Written 19 April 2017
Walter R
Leuven, Belgium
Hi,
We'll be in Posadas July 7th and in Iguazú July 10th.
We are looking to visit some places on the "Jesuit Route" in Misiones in between.San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, ,..
Very hard to find information on transport. Any information on the options would help us.
Thank you!
Written 2 April 2017
Plectrumman
York, United Kingdom
Hi Walter. We did this in February, and it's not too tricky to do on a bus. We actually travelled from Resistencia, and caught a bus up to San Ignacio which we used as a base (San Ignacio Mini is excellent, especially the evening S&L show). It's about an hour from Posades to SI.
From there you can get busses to the other two local sites on the same ticket as Mini, or hire a bike from the little place in-between the foot bridge and the bus station on the high way.
There are a few busses from San Ignacio to Puerto Iguazu, which is about 5 hours (buy tickets in SI bus station).
We got an early bus (8.30) as it gave us an extra afternoon in Iguazu - in case it rained (which it did!)
Also consider, from Posadas, taking a day trip into Encarnacion and visiting the Paraguayan missions. We didn't, but they are supposed to be fabulous.
Try the rome2rio web site for good info on public transport.
Have a fab trip - we did!
Written 3 April 2017
I would like to know a good town, outside of Buenas Aires to rent a house for a month?
Written 21 September 2016
How far from Buenos Aires? For menthe best place would definitely be in San Antonio de Areco, no doubt about it
Written 25 October 2016
I am planing on staying on the Brazilian side of Igussa in the town and would like to go on a tour of the Jesuit Missions - do you know if anyone does a pick up and drop off tour from this location?
Written 8 November 2015
para visitar San ignacio, y ver el expectaculo de luz y sonido, ¿ se debe hacer reserva previa? Gracias!!!
Written 31 October 2015
No. Solo concurrir con tiempo
Written 31 October 2015
Podés encontrar información en doble v doble v doble v punto bus guión del medio america punto com o en doble v doble v doble v punto plataforma10 punto com punto ar, te lo copié así por que esta página no permite enlaces a otros sitios web. Espero puedas encontrar la información que necesitás. Saludos
Written 30 September 2015
Thanks for your replies. I appreciate your time & info.
Written 11 March 2015
Hello, we're thinking of traveling using local transportation from Puerto Iguazú to the San Ignacio Missions. We would greatly appreciate any info on prices / availability / ease of this choice over booking a trio via Viator (or any other company one might suggest). Our trip would be the first week of June. Thanks.
Written 8 March 2015
If you are heading out from Iguazu to San Ignacio ,(we did that) I'd recommed you get on board one of this vans that will take you thetre confortably, air conditioning and all.. We paid some 400ARS, That'd be somewhere around usd 35, if I recall per each, were four.They just stop in Iguazy at a few hotels to pick up people but that is it, when they hit the road, the do not stop until SI. The drivers are excellent, speak english and it's about 250kmts from Iguazu. Worth a stop are the Wanda mines, it's along the way. You leave Iguazu at 7am and get back there around 7 pm. Caracolturismo.tur.ar is the name of the company we hired.
Written 9 March 2015
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