Stay : The Jesuit Mission Route
The Jesuit missions were founded at the end of the 17th century to evangelize the region. The missions of Chiquitos were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990. Extraordinary celebrations take place at Easter and Christmas, as well as during the International Baroque Music Festival (held every two years from the end of April to the beginning of May). 4-day itinerary from Santa Cruz.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
5 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : The Jesuit Mission Route - 5 days
Day 1: Arrival in Santa Cruz
Steps: Santa Cruz
Arrival by plane in Santa Cruz. The economic capital of the country is located in the eastern plains of the country, at less than 500 meters of altitude. It is also the most populated city of the country with a little more than 1,5 million inhabitants.
Day 2: Church of San Javier on the way to Concepción
Steps: San Javier, Concepción
Santa Cruz - San Javier - Concepción (almost all the road is paved, but some parts are still in bad condition). Departure by car to San Javier, by the road that leads to the Oriente (4 hours of travel and 230 km). Visit to thechurch of San Javier, built in 1752, famous for its wood carvings. The church is still active and has been restored by Unesco. Then continue to Concepción (1 hour drive and 60 km) where you will spend the night. The route crosses admirable landscapes where innumerable greens burst in a wild and exuberant nature, particularly beautiful between November and July. The highlight of the trip is the crossing of the Pirai River by an endless bridge.
IGLESIA DE SAN JAVIER
Day 3: Church of the Concepción and heading to San Ignacio
Steps: Concepción, San Ignacio De Velasco
Concepción - San Ignacio de Velasco (160 km, by track except at the beginning). Visit to the mission of Concepción. Founded in 1708 by the Jesuit Lucas Caballero, it passed to the civil administration sixty years later. Its church is considered the jewel of the region, take time to admire it. Then go to San Ignacio de Velasco, the largest of the villages of the Jesuit Mission Route with its 35,000 inhabitants. Here you are very close to Brazil, whose cultural influence is strongly felt. Count on 4 hours of travel. Visit the mission and spend the night there.
CATEDRAL DE LA INMACULADA CONCEPCIÓN
Day 4: Direction San José de Chiquitos
Steps: Santa Ana De Velasco, San Rafael De Velasco, San Miguel De Velasco
San Ignacio - San Miguel (37 km) - San Rafael (35 km) - Santa Ana (24 km) - San Miguel (24 km) - San José de Chiquitos (130 km). A total of 250 km. Leave early in the morning and spend the night in San José. San Miguel, San Rafael and Santa Ana are small, quiet towns where time seems to stand still. Stroll through their streets, visit the church, let yourself be impregnated by the special atmosphere of this part of Bolivia.
Day 5: Return to Santa Cruz
Steps: San José De Chiquitos
San José de Chiquitos - Santa Cruz. Visit to the mission of San José in the morning. San José is the third oldest mission in Chiquitos, founded in 1696. It is one of the four missions that have kept the original location of their first foundation. The town is quite quiet, similar to the Santa Cruz of a few years ago: wide and dusty streets, like something out of a western movie, with cowboys, ranchers, and a main square that is just as dusty but with a certain charm. Then return to Santa Cruz, which is 290 km away. The new road that connects the two cities is almost entirely paved, and it takes about 4 hours.
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Bolivia
-
Find a hotel
-
Car Rental
-
-5% on travel insurance-15% off travel insurance
-
Find a local agency
