Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitania (Chiquitos)
Jesuit Missions in the Chiquitania, Bolivia
The Chiquitania received its name from the native inhabitants of this area, the chiquitos or chiquitanos. This is the place where the Jesuit reductions settled in the second half of the XVII century (from 1691 until 1760). They remain in time as an extraordinary legacy because they are the only Jesuit missions in South America which were not destroyed after the Jesuits were expulsed from the Spanish colonies. They are not ruins but villages full of life, with people who still go to mass in the same majestic churches or to enjoy the same baroque music concerts, in the same way they used to do when the Jesuit ruled these missions three centuries ago.
The villages, churches and culture of the former Jesuit missions of Chiquitos are unique, they have survived largely intact.
Six of these former missions were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.
The churches were designed and built (between 1719-1759) by the Swiss Jesuit and architect Fr. Martin Schmid and restored under the supervision of the Swiss Jesuit and architect Hans Roth in 1972. Listen (in Spanish) to a short story about Hans Roth.
The following are the Missions we visit in our Jesuit route:
San Javier
The baroque style church (built between 1749 y 1752, and restored between 1987 and 1993) is part of the first Jesuit mission in Chiquitos founded in 1691 as San Francisco Xavier de los Piñocas. The edification invites you to enjoy the artistic beauty of its architecture with carved ornaments in the columns and drawings in wood with yellow brown and black colors. Every year on June 28-30 the Yarituses festival takes place in San Javier.
Concepción
It has a Jesuit baroque style church built between 1752 and 1753, restored and reopened in1982. It is built with 3 main structures, row of columns carved in wood, altars and paintings made by the local native people. This church is considered as the jewel of the region, watching it at sunset is an unforgettable view.
San Ignacio
The baroque style church (built between 1749 y 1752, and restored between1987 and 1993) is part of the first Jesuit mission in Chiquitos founded in 1691. The edification invites to enjoy the artistic beauty of its architecture with carved ornaments in the columns and drawings in wood with yellow brown and black colors.
San Ana
Santa Ana de Velasco, founded in 1755, was founded by one individual, the Jesuit missionary Fr. Julián Nogler. It is also the only settlement that has its complete original church still intact. The church was built after the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767. Santa Ana is a quiet little town with barely 280 souls and with a timeless feel to it.
San Miguel
San Miguel was founded in 1721 and is a small town, with less than 5,000 inhabitants. Like its sister communities of Santa Ana and San Rafael, San Miguel is a quiet spot where time seems to have stood still for the past three centuries. Its church is considered the most historically accurate of all the restored Jesuit churches.
San Rafael
San Rafael, the second oldest mission settlement, was established in 1696. Translated once in 1701 and again in 1750, it shares many of the same characteristics that nearby Santa Ana de Velasco and San Miguel de Velasco possess: a timeless charm, tranquil lifestyle, and fidelity to its Jesuit-inspired traditions.
San José
San José de Chiquitos, the third-oldest Jesuit mission in the Chiquitania, was founded in 1696. It is one of only four missions that has retained its original location. The town is quite peaceful, much like what Santa Cruz was many years ago: wide, dusty streets straight out of a Hollywood western movie, complete with cowboys, ranchers, and a dusty but charming main square with a beautiful church. You can also visit this old Jesuit town during our tours to San José and Santiago de Chiquitos.
Ruta Verde offers you this route combining art, architecture, culture, music and nature. A unique outing by places where history has been conserved for more than 3 centuries, an opportunity to know and admire the ¨mestizo¨ baroque style, product of the European influence mixed with the artisan and artistic work of the indigenous people.
An alternative/extra route in the Chiquitania area with spectacular landscapes and lovely picturesque villages is the so called South-East Chiquitano region. The trips include visits to San José and Santiago de Chiquitos, Roboré, Chochis and Aguas Calientes thermal river.
FESTIVALS in the Jesuit missions:
- International Baroque Reinassance Music Festival, held every other year, 2 weeks of music in the old Jesuit towns. The next one will be held on April, 2026 (While specific dates for the next music festival in 2026 have not yet been announced, it typically occurs in April. As soon as the dates are confirmed, we’ll be sure to update this site promptly). In the meantime, if you’re interested in experiencing a unique event taking place amidst the stunning Jesuit missions of the Chiquitania region, we would recommend attending:
- Yarituses festival, held every year on June 28-30 in San Javier.
- Festival de Temporada de Música Misional y Teatro, in the old Jesuit towns, every last weekend of August. The next one will take place on August 29- September 1, 2024.
- Orchid Festival, every October in Concepción.
The majestic churches designed by the Swiss architect, musician and Jesuit Martin Schmidt have been declared Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO
REFERENCE PROGRAM
ONE DAY PROGRAM
Early in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel in Santa Cruz with private transport to take you to San Javier (225 km/140miles).
Visit to the first and oldest mission in the region of Chiquitos, founded by the Jesuits in 1691. Visit to the Jesuit church and its museum. Lunch. We will visit the Mirador “Piedra del Bibosi” (natural lookout point) and the place known as “Piedras de los Apóstoles”, where the “pinocas” (native people) used to dance in honor of their god Nupayaré.
Return to Santa Cruz. (Approximately 4 hours)
Another full day tour option to the Jesuit missions is the San José de Chiquitos one day tour.
TWO DAYS PROGRAM
DAY 1
Early in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel in Santa Cruz with private transport to take you to San Javier (225 km/140miles).
Visit to the first and oldest mission in the region of Chiquitos, founded by the Jesuits in 1691. Visit to the Jesuit church and its museum. Lunch. We will visit the Mirador “Piedra del Bibosi” (natural lookout point) and the place known as “Piedras de los Apóstoles”, where the “pinocas” (native people) used to dance in honor of their god Ñupayaré.
If they are open, we will visit the workshop galleries where artisans show their products. They still work the wood using the same techniques they learned from the Jesuits and enriched with their own versions of art.
In the afternoon we will go to Concepción (founded in 1709), the second mission of our excursion (1 hour from San Javier). On the way we will see palm tree savannahs and we will stop at the Parador Las Piedras de Paquió, a nice picture spot with big granite rock formations.
Check-in at the hotel in Concepción where we will spend the night.
DAY 2
After breakfast we will visit the church of Concepción and its museum. The most complete museum about the Jesuit Missions is located in Concepción. We will have lunch in Concepción and afterwards drive back to Santa Cruz. (Approximately 5 hours)
THREE DAYS PROGRAM
DAY 1
Early in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel in Santa Cruz with private transport to take you to San Javier (225 km/140miles).
The first and oldest Jesuit Mission (1691) was founded with the name “San Francisco Xavier”. After visiting the church and its museum, we will continue our trip towards the second Mission called “Concepción de La Virgen Maria” (Concepción), founded in 1709. On the way we will see palm tree savannahs and we will stop at the Parador Las Piedras del Paquió, a nice picture spot with big granite rock formations.
In Concepción we will visit the museum and the church. Check-in at the hotel in Concepción where we will spend the night.
DAY 2
Today we will drive to San Ignacio (171 km from Concepción). Of the 12 originally founded Jesuit Missions, San Ignacio represents the 7th Mission, founded in 1748 (476 km/296miles from Santa Cruz). San Ignacio has the highest number of inhabitants of all the Missions. We will spend the night in San Ignacio.
*Optional is to visit the Missions Santa Ana, San Rafael and San Miguel this day. In order to do so, we must leave Concepción early in the morning because the schedule won’t allow us to spend a lot of time in Santa Ana, San Rafael and San Miguel.
DAY 3
Return to Santa Cruz (Approximately 8 to 9 hours). We will have lunch in Concepción or San Javier.
FOUR DAYS PROGRAM
DAY 1
Early in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel in Santa Cruz with private transport to take you to San Javier (225 km/140miles).
The first and oldest Jesuit Mission (1691) was founded with the name “San Francisco Xavier”. After visiting the church and its museum, we will continue our trip towards the second Mission called “Concepción de La Virgen Maria” (Concepción), founded in 1709. On the way we will see palm tree savannahs and we will stop at the Parador Las Piedras del Paquió, a nice picture spot with big granite rock formations.
In Concepción we will visit the museum and the church. Check-in at the hotel in Concepción where we will spend the night.
DAY 2
Today we will drive to San Ignacio (171 km from Concepción). Of the 12 originally founded Jesuit Missions, San Ignacio represents the 7th Mission, founded in 1748 (476 km/296miles from Santa Cruz). San Ignacio has the highest number of inhabitants of all the Missions. We will spend the night in San Ignacio.
DAY 3
After breakfast we will take off to the Missions of San Miguel (1721), San Rafael (1695) and Santa Ana (1755). Santa Ana is the penultimate Mission founded before the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767. It is the most native in its art expression.
In these old villages (where it seems time stood still for 300 years) you will be able to enjoy the typical scenery of the Chiquitania, beautiful churches, museums and handicrafts shops and/or workshop galleries where native artisans still carve the wood using the same techniques they learned from the Jesuits and enriched them with their own expressions of art. They create religious images, beautiful carved pillars and music instruments.
After lunch we will continue the trip to the last mission of the route: San José de Chiquitos (1797) where we will have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 4
After breakfast we will visit the church. The architecture of this church differs from the others because it is completely made of stone. Lunch and return to Santa Cruz (approximately 4 to 5 hours).