San Ignacio Ruins: Exploring the Legacy of the Jesuit Missions
Private tour
In 2013, Pope Francis became the first Jesuit Pope in history, and for that reason, the National Catholic Reporter wrote an article entitled: “To understand Pope Francis, look to the Jesuits”.
And in 2015, US President Obama stated in his speech honoring the bicentennial of Jesuit University Georgetown: “Simply put, this country and this world benefit from your commitment to Jesuit principles, to being men and women for others.”
There is absolutely no doubt when it comes to the importance and worldwide influence of the Jesuits. This is the world’s largest male religious order, engaged in Catholic evangelization in 112 nations spread across six continents.
Established in the 16th century in Europe, the Jesuit order garnered such power, that is was suppressed by the end of the 18th century; later to be restored. In the 17th century, the Jesuit Missions arrived in South America and achieved, by means of the “Cross,” what the Spaniard laymen couldn’t do with the sword: group and work with the Guaranies, the local natives. To achieve this, the Jesuit priests learned their language, their habits, and their way of life. When working with these indigenous tribes, they demanded that they convert to Catholicism all the while encouraging them to maintain their culture (that is, not to adopt European customs) and protected them from oppression and slaughter by the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors. By training and arming the Guarani, the Indigenous-Jesuit alliance became one of the fiercest fighting forces in the Americas. The 1986 movie “The Mission,” starring Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons, is based on this very story.
We’ll visit the San Ignacio Mini Jesuit Ruins, one of the best-preserved ruins of the Jesuit mission’s legacy. Built in 1632, the ruins have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its historical importance. Lost in the dense vegetation, the remains we’ll visit were found in 1897, and restored in 1940. This Jesuit mission involved the Guarani tribe, which inhabited what is today Paraguay, southern Brazil, and northeastern Argentina. Thanks to the effort of the Jesuits, over 100,000 lives were saved, and today the Guarani culture is still very much alive. In fact, 95% of Paraguay’s population today is of Guarani lineage, and Guarani is one of the country’s official languages, in addition to Spanish.
To this day surrounded by dense vegetation with its shades and hues of green and brown, this mystic place will offer us the opportunity of learning more about the history of the native inhabitants of Misiones. Whether a fan of history or not, this experience is sure to peak your interest, as you learn all about the Jesuit missionary settlements which have, for 150 years, provided a utopian (albeit controversial) alternative for the native Indians who would otherwise have been victims of the natives’ slaughter taking place elsewhere on the continent.
In terms of tour logistics: we’ll leave Iguazu and head to the South of the province of Misiones, and towards the San Ignacio Mini ruins. Before our visit to the San Ignacio ruins, we’ll stop by the Interpretation Center where you’ll find plenty of historical information about the arrival of the Spaniards, the habitat of the Guarani people, symbols of evangelization, and plenty more. From here, you’ll move on to the ruins.
We’ll stay at the San Ignacio ruins for approximately an hour and a half, allowing for plenty of time to take in the history as well as fill your camera with memories of history and culture.
Our day of history and culture, with the backdrop of tropical forest and age-old ruins, will draw to an end as we head back to our hotel in Iguazu.
Tour details
- Duration
- full day. The ride from Iguazu to the San Ignacio ruins is about 165 miles (265 kilometers) long and takes approximately 3 hours and half each way. Time for lunch is included, but the cost of lunch is not. Your tour guide will suggest places for lunch.
- Guide
- private guide
- Vehicle
- private vehicle
- Included
- entrance fee to visit the Jesuit ruins
Important: the tour’s exact itinerary and duration may change subject to weather conditions and decisions of the tour guide to optimize your tour experience.