San Ignacio Miní, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the largest and best preserved of the Jesuit missions in the region.

After Iguazú Falls the Jesuit missions are the major attraction in the province of Misiones. The Jesuits established the missions in the early 1600's and using Guaraní Indian labour they flourished achieving economic and military power before finally being expelled from Argentina. All that remains today are the ruins, the centre piece being San Ignacio Miní. Other notable Jesuit missions, São Miguel in Brazil and Trinidad in Paraguay are quite close and it’s easy to visit all three.

San Ignacio Miní Site

The site of the ruins, built in 1696, are located in the small town of San Ignacio in the province of Misiones in the north east of Argentina. Once entering the site there is a Centro de Interpretacion Regional depicting aspects of Guaraní Indian and mission life. Also a museum with pieces retrieved from the ruins like ceramics and decorative wall carvings.

The centre piece is the San Ignacio church with some impressive decorative detail still intact. Also there are living quarters of Guaraní families and priest’s quarters.

The site has sound and light shows in the evening. Enquire at the tourist office located on the main road into town.

Other Mission Ruins

• Trinidad mission ruins in Paraguay can be accessed from Posadas by road or cross the Parana River by ferry. The ruins are 28km from Encarnacíon.
• São Miguel ruins in Brazil are near the town of Santo Ãngelo. There’s a daily bus to Posadas.
• Santa Ana and Loreto missions are on the way from Posadas to San Ignacio. They are far less visited than San Ignacio Miní and in a lush jungle setting.

The Rise of the Jesuit Missions

In the 17th and 18th centuries the Guaraní Indians were under the rule of the Jesuit missionaries from Portugal. The priests set up reducciones, self governing Indian settlements, based around a Jesuit mission. The reducciones flourished and became powerful economic centres growing erva mate, raising cattle and establishing other industries.

The Jesuits became too powerful for the comfort of Spain and Portugal so military forces were sent to attack the missions in the mid 1700s. The Jesuits were expelled and many Indians killed.

See here for more history of the Jesuits and their missions.

Other Attractions in San Ignacio

Horacio Quiroga, a Uruguayan writer, lived in San Ignacio in the early 20th century and his home is now a museum. It is located in Avenida Horacio Quiroga.

He is famous for his bizarre gothic short stories like Cuentos de Amor, de Locura y de Muerte. Quiroga’s life also had some strange Gothic twists. His father was killed in a shooting accident and ironically Quiroga accidentally shot and killed a friend. His first wife committed suicide as did Quiroga himself in 1937 and both of his children after his death.

Getting There

San Ignacio is 60km from Posadas, the capital of Misiones province. Posadas also has an airport and is one a half hour flight from Buenos Aires.

Accommodation

San Ignacio’s accommodation is limited but comfortable. Throughout Misiones there are some historic and beautifully located Estancias which are accessible by bus and taxi but more conveniently by car. One is Estancia Las Mercedes in Eldorado, 100km south of Iguazú Falls and about 150km north of San Ignacio.

Other Attractions in Misiones

A circuit of the Jesuit missions could be combined with a visit to the spectacular Iguazú Falls and a stay on an Argentine Estancia.