The Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná is probably the best landmark to see in Paraguay. The well-preserved ruins are conveniently located an hour away by public bus from Encarnación, a quiet city across the Argentina border, making it also accessible.
The Jesuit missionaries were crucial in converting and protecting the indigenous Guarani people during the colonization and Christianization of South America. Arriving mostly in the 16th century, they built self-sufficient towns in remote areas, educating local people and setting rules that shaped future society in terms of culture or public order. Construction of the Trinidad site expanded over the next 150 years, covering 13 hectares of land. The Jesuits were expelled from Paraguay in 1767, but the ruins remain, preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site showcases a unique blend of European and indigenous architectural styles, including a large church and bell tower built from local red sandstone.
Back in the 1700s, life in the mission started at 4 a.m. The local leaders, called Alcaldes, would walk through the streets with drums to wake everyone for morning prayer. Today, that activity has faded to a quiet echo of memory. Few tourists visit the site, and if you arrive early enough, you might have the entire 13 hectares to yourself. It’s mostly silent except for the million birds that have taken over management, making their own rules. During my visit, I saw one couple from a distance, a family later on, and a small group while I sipped tereré on the terrace of a restaurant near the site entrance.
How to get to La Santisima Trinidad de Paraná:
You can easily take a bus from Encarnación’s small bus terminal to Trinidad. The earliest bus leaves at 8 a.m., which is perfect for avoiding the afternoon inferno. The driver will tell you when to get off—it’s one stop after the city gates at a crossroad. From there, it’s a pleasant 15-minute walk to the visitor center.
Entry fees and other sites:
The entrance fee includes access to all three Jesuit mission sites in the area. However, the other two missions are much farther away (12 km and 102 km), so visiting them requires an expensive taxi ride. I recommend not binging on historical sites and focusing on the Trinidad site.
There’s a video about the site included with the ticket, but even though it was in English, I couldn’t understand anything due to the poor sound quality.
Returning to Encarnación:
To catch a bus back to Encarnación, you’ll need to flag down one of the buses returning from Ciudad del Este. There’s a clearly marked bus stop with a bench and a roof where you can wait.
