San Ignacio Ruins & Wanda Mines Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore UNESCO-listed San Ignacio Miní ruins
- Discover ancient Jesuit architecture
- Learn about indigenous Guarani culture
- Marvel at semi-precious stones at Wanda Mines
- Enjoy scenic landscapes of Misiones province
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Puerto Iguazu
- Guided tour of San Ignacio Miní ruins
- Visit to Wanda Mines
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: We will start our tour early in the morning from hotels in Puerto Iguazú. On this day trip, passengers will have the opportunity to explore the main beauties of the province.
Departing from Puerto Iguazú, just 45 km away, we arrive at the city of Wanda where we can admire the Precious Stone Mines. Explore the beauty of agates, jasper, original topaz, and more within the Wanda Mines, and don't miss the opportunity to take pictures inside the gems! These exquisite varieties can be observed and purchased, allowing tourists to capture the allure of these precious stones. The gems extracted from the mines are transformed into dazzling pieces of jewelry. Immerse yourself in this legendary destination, named after a Polish princess who cherished the enchanting beauty of the stones found here.
During the 220 km journey to the Ruins of San Ignacio, we will see the diversity of landscapes and different plantations of tea, yerba mate, conifers, etc. Here, we will visit the facilities of a mill where yerba mate is processed using the most artisanal method.
Upon arriving in San Ignacio, we will visit the San Ignacio Ruins, a historic site founded in 1632 by the Jesuits. The restored stone structures showcase the architecture and layout of one of the region’s most important mission settlements, reflecting the interaction between Guaraní communities and the work carried out in the missions.
Pass by: At the end of the day, we will return to the hotel in Puerto Iguazú where the tour ends.
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is conducted in Spanish; English-speaking guides may not be available.
- The tour involves walking on uneven surfaces; consider your mobility when booking.
- Meals and beverages are not included; plan accordingly for food and drinks.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent for protection.
- Carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Infants Required On Laps
Good to know
- The tour is conducted in Spanish. Only a brief explanation will be given in English at strategic stops.
Traveler reviews
Wanda Mines and Mission Tour
Loved the whole experience! The Wanda Mines were extremely interesting since we already had several amethysts. Nice to see where they may have come from. The ride the Mission was longer than expected but still very interesting. At the ruins we stumbled upon an English-speaking guide and had him all to ourselves, since we were the only English speakers on the tour. he was very informative. On the way home we stopped at a Mate outlet. There was a presentation and the facility gave out samples of their Mate and snacks. The whole experience was well worth it!
More like a Taxi Service
There is not really a guide in the bus. You are sort of dropped off at locations and guided there. I was the only English speaker, which is not a problem but I was at the mercy of the kindness of other tourists to translate. It rained a lot that day. It would have been good if they had umbrellas on hand.
Not for people who only speak English
**If you are English speaking ONLY, please read** When booking this excursion on Trip Advisor, I was under the impression that the tour was in English. Only about 10 minutes of the mine tour was spoken in English. The rest of the tour was spoken in Spanish. Everything we saw was lovely, just wish we knew the history behind what we were looking at. The trip took a little longer than 12 hours due to the several stops that had to be made picking up and dropping off other group members. We were pleased with the comfortability of the vehicle as it had AC and how pleasant the driver was. He was sympathetic to us as we were certainly the odd ones out. In the description of the tour, food and drinks are listed as excluded, which is true, but what wasn't listed was having the opportunity to stop at a cafe for food and drinks. We were pleasantly surprised by this but ended up packing lunch because we thought there would be no other options for food and drinks. Lastly, THE TRIP WAS MOSTLY DRIVING and felt like a waste of a day. For people who would rather enjoy the outdoors and not be cooped up in a vehicle, this excursion is not for you.
Interesting excursions, misleading advertising
The good: the destinations are very interesting, especially the Ruins of San Ignacio. Pure history. The bad: advertising is misleading, because among the services included it says “Professional Guide” and, at least in our case, that was not the case. We only traveled with the driver, and in both destinations we had to pay separately - at discretion, without fee- the two local guides, very good both. On this particular excursion they were a transport company, not a tourism company.
Needed english speaking guide
I requested an english speaking guide and did not get one and no one in the tour spoke english.at Wanda mines the lady that showed us the mine did speak English. At the ruins I did not understand anything the guide spoke. I was on my own