Ruins of San Ignacio and the Wanda Mines

Puerto Iguazu is synonymous of natural charm, not only because of the Iguazu Falls. This magnificent place in the province of Misiones has much to offer, highlighting among its attractions the Ruins of San Ignacio and the Wanda Mines, two ideal places to combine on a day of adventure. To get further details about what the experience can be, we share data of interest about each one.

RUINS OF SAN IGNACIO MINÍ IN IGUAZU

Legally called Ruinas de San Ignacio Miní (name given to Argentina’s best-preserved Jesuit mission), this place is full of religious culture. To get to know it, a tour is made with a guide who will show you the history of the Jesuit Roque González Santa Cruz. He is a religious who, in the seventeenth century, founded a mission aimed at evangelizing the native population.

Visually, it’s fascinating. The buildings of the property maintain their very good conditions, so you can clearly appreciate the architecture of the Guarani Baroque style. During the activity, you will visit the Central Square, surrounded by the church, the House of the Fathers, the cemetery, the Cabildo and houses. All this was built with the characteristic local stone, the red spray.

In addition to the Ruins, you can visit the Interpretation Center. It has nine rooms among which it reproduces how the habitat of the Aboriginal Guarani group was until the arrival of the Jesuits, as well as the arrival of these conquerors itself and the cultural symbiosis that resulted from the coexistence of both groups.

Also, in San Ignacio you can witness a spectacle of light, image and sound that revives life in the missions between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries through stories accompanied by games of lights, music and images projected on curtains of mist of water.

At the end of the tour with the guide, free time is given to tour on its own account. This site that was declared by UNESCO –in 1984– as a World Heritage Site.

WANDA MINES, HOME TO SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES

The Wanda Mines are a very important source of semiprecious stones exploited by Polish miners. Most of the stones found correspond to topaz, amethyst, quartz or agates.

The site was discovered in 1976 on the side of the Paraná River. Since then, it is dedicated to the stone extraction for jewelry making and tourism, the latter thanks to Wanda’s mines being outdoors and open pits.

In brief, visitors can tour the caves, having the wonderful possibility to witness the time of material extraction, a unique event that is performed by controlled explosions and bites. As if that were not enough, the visit to the mine workshop is also carried out. There you learn the different types of processes and work that are made on the ore in order to design the jewels or leaving them ready for sale.

Best of all, it’s very easy to get there. Wanda Mines are just 40 kilometers from Puerto Iguazu facilitating the arrival of tourism from Puerto Iguazu.

THE PERFECT DUO FOR A DAY OF ADVENTURE IN IGUAZU

As you can see, every place has its special magic. The best thing is that to visit each one you don’t need more than half a day, from there, that the Ruins of San Ignacio and Minas de Wanda present the thee as the perfect duo for a day of adventure in Iguazu. In this sense, we invite you to consult the 10 best activities to do in Iguazu .

So if you have already planned a day between the Argentine side and the Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls and still have another day off at the Port, we recommend this combination. To do this, you can contact our travel specialists who, in addition to advising you, can offer you the transfer. Ifyou wish, you can ask for the option of a complete travel package for this destination in the province of Misiones.

From Moebiusviajes.com.ar we make your stay an unforgettable experience, offering you travel itineraries with everything you need: air tickets, transfers, excursions and accommodations. Take advantage and see our article on the 10 best hotels in Iguazu .