Jesuit Missions Tour from Asunción
Trinidad and Jesús de Tavarangüé in one day, with a bilingual guide and the entrance tickets already in the price.
At a glance
Everything You Need to Know
A full day to the two best-preserved Jesuit reductions in South America, and back to Asunción the same night.
| What you visit | La Santísima Trinidad del Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangüé, in Itapúa |
| Distance from Asunción | About 290 km each way, towards Encarnación |
| Driving time | Roughly 4 to 5 hours each way |
| Guide | Bilingual guide in Portuguese and English, included |
| Entrance tickets | Included — one ticket covers Trinidad, Jesús and San Cosme |
| Ruins open | 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, every day of the year |
| Price | From USD 797 per vehicle, up to 3 passengers |
| Vehicle | Private air-conditioned Hyundai H1, up to 7 passengers |
| Not included | Meals, drinks and personal expenses |
Hour by hour
The Itinerary
Times are indicative and confirmed when you book — the ruins open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM, so there is room to adjust.
- 5:00 AM
Pickup in Asunción
Private pickup at your hotel and departure south-east towards Itapúa.
- ~10:00 AM
La Santísima Trinidad del Paraná
The largest and best-preserved of the reductions, founded in 1706. The main plaza, the carved-stone church, the bell tower and the indigenous quarters.
- ~12:30 PM
Jesús de Tavarangüé
Founded in 1685 and never finished — which is precisely what makes it interesting. Its three Moorish-arched portals are unique in the region.
- ~2:00 PM
Lunch
In the area, at a restaurant we can suggest. The meal is not included.
- ~3:30 PM
Begin the return
Back north-west towards Asunción.
- ~8:30 PM
Drop-off at your hotel
In Asunción, the same day.
What you are looking at
A Cultural Republic in Red Sandstone
Thirty missions, a hundred and fifty years, and a form of society that existed nowhere else.
Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, missionaries of the Society of Jesus founded across Paraguay a system of reductions — settlements where Jesuits and Guaraní peoples lived together under a single organisation built around faith, music, agriculture and craft. At their height they held tens of thousands of people and produced sculpture, instruments and printed books, in Guaraní.
La Santísima Trinidad del Paraná, founded in 1706, is the largest and most complete. Its monumental plaza, the carved stone of the main church, the workshops and the rows of indigenous houses are still legible as a town rather than as rubble.
Jesús de Tavarangüé, founded in 1685, was still under construction when the Jesuits were expelled from the Spanish empire in 1767. The work stopped where it stood. Its three Moorish-arched portals have no equivalent anywhere else in the region.
UNESCO inscribed both as World Heritage Sites in 1993, for what it called their outstanding universal value.
It is a very different day out from the Iguazu Falls tour: quieter, older, and about understanding Paraguay rather than being overwhelmed by it. If you have a spare afternoon rather than a full day, the Asunción city tour is the shorter option.
What’s included
Guide and Tickets In, Meals Out
Unlike our other tours, the entrance tickets and the guide are part of the price here.
Included
- Private round-trip transport, Asunción to Itapúa and back
- Professional driver for the whole day
- Bilingual guide in Portuguese and English
- Entrance tickets to the Trinidad and Jesús ruins
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, your group only
- Fuel, tolls and all vehicle costs
Not included
- Meals and drinks
- Optional activities in Encarnación or the surrounding area
- Personal expenses and tips
- The night-time light and video mapping show at Trinidad
Pricing
How Much It Costs
Per vehicle rather than per person, with the guide and both entrance tickets already included.
| Group size | Total price | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 passengers | USD 797 | USD 266 at 3 people |
| 4 passengers | USD 866 | USD 217 |
| 5 passengers | USD 935 | USD 187 |
| 6 passengers | USD 1,004 | USD 167 |
| 7 passengers | USD 1,073 | USD 153 |
USD 797 for up to 3 passengers, plus USD 69 for each additional passenger up to 7.
30% deposit to hold the date · card, transfer, wallet or crypto.
Practical information
Hours, Tickets and the Night Show
These are the site’s own numbers. Your tickets are included, but it is worth knowing what they cover.
| Open | 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, every day |
| Visitor centre | 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, at Trinidad |
| One ticket, three sites | Trinidad, Jesús de Tavarangüé and San Cosme y Damián |
| Ticket validity | 72 hours from purchase |
| Standard fee | Gs 40.000 foreign visitors · Gs 25.000 Paraguayans |
| Children | Free up to 12 years old |
| Night show | Light and video mapping at Trinidad, Wednesday to Sunday |
The ticket also covers San Cosme y Damián, the mission that housed the Jesuits’ astronomical observatory. It is a detour of about an hour and a half from Trinidad and does not fit in the day tour, but if you are staying in Encarnación the ticket is still valid for 72 hours.
The night-time light and mapping show at Trinidad runs at 8 PM in summer and 7 PM in winter, and is not part of the day tour.
The vehicle
Ten Hours on the Road, Comfortably
It is a long day. The vehicle is private, air-conditioned and yours from the pickup to the drop-off.
What travellers say
Reviews on Google
Real reviews from travellers we have driven, including on the Encarnación route.
★★★★★
Excelente experiencia!! Puntuales, y muy profesionales desde el primer contacto. El vehículo estaba en perfectas condiciones, y el viaje fue cómodo y seguro.
★★★★★
Grandes profesionales, excelente servicio de transporte puerta a puerta. Nos sentimos seguros en su compañía durante nuestro viaje por Paraguay y Foz.
★★★★★
We hired Paraguay Transfers for a round trip from Asuncion to Encarnacion. We were spending two nights in Encarnacion and everything was excellent.
★★★★★
Excelente servicio, autos de primera calidad con muy buen chofer. Muchas gracias.
★★★★★
Excelente servicio, Freddy un gran chófer y Beatriz recontra predispuesta a todas las consultas. Un lujo!
★★★★★
Fantastic coordination and very reliable!
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything worth knowing before you book.
How much is the Jesuit Missions tour from Asunción?
From USD 797 per vehicle for up to three passengers, plus USD 69 for each additional passenger up to seven. Unlike our other tours, that price already includes the bilingual guide and the entrance tickets to the ruins. Meals and personal expenses are not included.
Which missions does the tour visit?
La Santísima Trinidad del Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangüé, both in the Itapúa department. They are the two best-preserved Jesuit reductions in the region and were inscribed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
How long does the tour take?
A full day. Pickup is at 5:00 AM in Asunción and drop-off is around 8:30 PM the same evening. The drive is roughly four to five hours each way, which leaves several hours at the two sites plus a stop for lunch.
How far are the ruins from Asunción?
About 290 km, heading south-east towards Encarnación. Trinidad sits roughly 28 km before Encarnación, and Jesús de Tavarangüé is around 12 km further on from Trinidad.
Are the entrance tickets included?
Yes. One ticket covers Trinidad, Jesús de Tavarangüé and San Cosme y Damián, and it is valid for 72 hours. The standard fee is Gs 40.000 for foreign visitors and Gs 25.000 for Paraguayans, with children up to twelve free — but on this tour you do not pay it separately.
Is there a guide?
Yes, a bilingual guide in Portuguese and English is included for the whole day. That is one of the differences from our other tours, where the driver is a driver rather than a guide.
What are the opening hours of the ruins?
The sites are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day of the year. The visitor centre and museum at Trinidad opens from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM and its entry is already covered by the same ticket.
Can we see the night-time light show?
The light and video mapping show at Trinidad runs Wednesday to Sunday, at 8 PM in summer and 7 PM in winter. It does not fit in the day tour, since we start the return in the afternoon. If you want it, the answer is an overnight in Encarnación and we quote that separately.
Can we stay overnight in Encarnación instead?
Yes. Tell us and we quote the two-day version with a hotel in Encarnación, which also lets you use the ticket for San Cosme y Damián and see the night show at Trinidad.
What is San Cosme y Damián?
The third mission covered by the same ticket, and the one that housed the Jesuits' astronomical observatory. It is about an hour and a half from Trinidad, so it does not fit into a single day from Asunción, but the ticket stays valid for 72 hours if you are staying in the area.
Is it worth it if I am not interested in history?
Honestly, less so than the Iguazu Falls. These are ruins, and what makes them remarkable is what they represent rather than spectacle. If you have one free day and want to be impressed, the falls are the safer choice. If you have several days and want to understand Paraguay, this is the trip that does it.
Do I need a credit card to book?
No, a credit card is not required. To confirm your reservation we only require a 30% deposit, which can be paid via credit card, wire transfer, digital wallet, or crypto. The remaining 70% is paid on the day of the tour.
What is the best time of year to go?
April to June and August to October. The sites are almost entirely open-air with little shade, so the summer months from December to March can be punishing in the middle of the day. The ruins are open every day of the year regardless.
See the Missions in a Day
Tell us your dates and how many of you are travelling, and we confirm availability and the exact price for your group.
Guide and entrance tickets included · 30% deposit, the rest on the day.
See all our tours from Asunción, or our transfers to Encarnación if you prefer to go on your own.