OVERVIEW
TRIP LENGTH
3 Days / 2 Nights
SEASON
January/December
ADVENTURE TYPE
Culture
DESTINATION
Jesuit Misions
MIN.AGE
12 years old (children under 12 must be accompanied by a tutor or parent)
TIME OF DEPARTURE
7:00 AM
TRIP BEGINS/ENDS
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Between 1691 and 1760, the Society of Jesus in the Chiquitos territory of eastern Bolivia founded a series of remarkable mission towns largely inspired by the “ideal cities” envisioned by humanist philosophers.
Today the Jesuit Missions, scattered across the Santa Cruz region, symbolize one of the richest touristic destinations in Bolivia as well as one of the most important religious sites in South America. In fact, these reducciones de indios (mission settlements of Christianized indigenous people) remain in time as an extraordinary legacy because they are the only Jesuit missions in South America which were not destroyed after the Jesuits were expelled from Spanish colonies.
The six historic missions that remain intact –San Francisco Javier, Concepción, Santa Ana, San Miguel, San Rafael and San José– today make up a living yet vulnerable heritage in Bolivia. They are not ruins but villages full of life, with people who still go to mass in the same majestic churches and enjoy the same baroque concerts, much in the way they used to three centuries ago. Because of this impressive historic and cultural value, the six missions have been collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990.
Enhance Travel tour has been designed to provide you with an enriching experience and an extraordinary opportunity to discover the amazing wonders offered by these unique sites.
ITINERARY
"Our journey will start in Santa Cruz at 7am. From here we will make our way to San Javier through the beautiful villages that lie in the surroundings: Cotoca, Pailas, Pailón, Los Troncos. San Javier hosts the most ancient Jesuit mission, dating back to 1691.
The town, located in a landscape of hills and forests; its traditional houses with sun dried brick walls are decorated with missionary motifs, creating a perfect environment that highlights the majesty of this place.
We will then head to Concepción (1-and-a-half-hour drive approximately), where we will have lunch: along the way we will appreciate different granite rock formations. Finally, we will make our last journey of the day to San Ignacio, observing during the drive (approx. 4 hours) the lagoons and forest inhabited by wild endemic fauna. Once in San Ignacio, we will enjoy a hearty dinner and rest in our accommodation.
"After breakfast, we will head towards the most isolated towns of the Jesuit Missions, where we may appreciate the most genuine traditions. Here we will visit the churches of San Miguel and San Rafael, where we can observe the decorations and sculptures elaborated by the indigenous population.
We will then continue towards the temple of Santa Ana: this is the smallest church, and the one that best preserves its original missional spirit. After lunch we will make our way back to Concepción, enjoying the marvelous vegetation and birdlife of the landscape. We will arrive to Concepción for dinner and then have a restful night in our accommodation.
Today we will visit the church of Concepción, a true masterpiece of the XVIII century, and the Missionary Museum, where we can gaze at the different carvings in the pillars which support of the churches. Afterwards, we will head off to San Javier and finally make our way back to Santa Cruz, where we will arrive at approximately 7pm.
DATES & RATES
Dates
Rates
Supplementary Information
Notes:
This activity is only available as a private tour; cost varies depending on number of passengers.
Request now a free quotation and start planning your journey with Enhance Travel.
Included:
• Private Transportation
• Qualified local tour guides
• 2-nights’ accommodation
• Meals throughout the tour
Not Included:
Extras not mentioned in the programme
What to bring:
• Loose, thin and long sleeve clothes
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Camera
• Trekking shoes
• Enough cash (local currency)
Comments:
• At any activity, we recommend you to bring enough cash in Bolivianos (BOB), try to usually bring some bills of short value (10 BOB, 20 BOB, 50 BOB)
