San Ignacio, Argentina

Start with pickup from your hotel in Puerto Iguazu. Travel through the beautiful natural landscape of the region, passing small towns before reaching the imposing ruins of San Ignacio Miní located 240 kilometers from the city of Puerto Iguazu.  Enjoy a guided tour which explores the history of this area. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jesuit mission was built by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 17th century. The ruins were discovered in 1897 and restored between 1940 and 1948. Learn about the construction, life, and customs of the Guarani aborigines and the Jesuit occupiers of the region.  Visit the mines of precious stones in the city of Wanda. The mines are a series of caves where you can enter to see the raw gems within. Discover the miners’ hands-on approach to ensuring that full geodes are kept as whole as possible. See multiple types of precious stones such as amethyst, milky quartz, clear quartz, amongst others.

Begin your day trip with a convenient pickup from your hotel in Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil. Sit back and relax during the 250-kilometer (155-mile) ride to the Ruins of San Ignacio Jesuit Mission in Argentina, listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 1984.   Walk around the ruins of the mission, which was founded in 1632 by the Jesuits in the Americas during the period of Spanish colonization. Learn about its history how it was built in what can be called the "Barranco Guarani" as one of 30 missions built by the Jesuits in a territory that currently comprises Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Appreciate the detailed architecture in carved stone, with sculptural details of baroque origin, interpreted and developed by indigenous artists of the time. Enjoy a spectacle of light and sound along the tour, which animates the ruins and brings the history of the site to life.   On your way back to the city, you will stop for a one-hour tour at the Wanda Mines, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Foz do Iguaçu in Argentina. Find hidden gems in the walls of the 300-meter tunnels, such as agate, amethyst, topaz, jasper and different types of quartz. Admire these semi-precious stones in different parts of the mine as well as in workshops and exhibition halls. You will also see other agricultural and forestry developments.   After the mines, you will visit the store, which sells accessories and jewelry made from stones extracted from the mines. See a collection of local specimens exhibited at the Stone Museum and get the chance to buy raw or processed samples from specialist shops.   After a full day of exploring and sightseeing, enjoy a comfortable ride back to your hotel in Foz do Iguaçu.

Benefit from pickup at your hotel in Puerto Iguazu, then relax on the 250-kilometer drive to the ruins of San Ignacio Miní. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage listed Jesuit mission and admire the beautiful architecture. The stone buildings are carved with designs of Baroque origin, interpreted and developed by indigenous artists of the time. Watch an animated show, with sounds and lights, producing a beautiful spectacle.   Continue to the Wanda Mines. In 300-meters of tunnels, semi-precious stones such as agate, amethyst, topaz, jasper and different types of quartz are all mined here. Discover the mine, its workshops and the exhibition halls.  See the collection of local gems, exhibited at the Stone Museum. The complex houses specialty shops where you can buy raw or processed samples. After the approximately 60-minute tour of the mine, enjoy a comfortable ride back to your hotel.