Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bus 28 (AR$3.50) goes to the airport from San Lorenzo (between La Rioja and Entre
Ríos). A
remise
costs about AR$60. There are various car-rental agencies at the airport
and in town.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
VISITING THE PARAGUAYAN MISSIONS
From Posadas (or San Ignacio) there's a very rewarding day trip to two of the Jesuit
missions in Paraguay. The ruined but majestic churches at Trinidad and Jesús de
Tavarangüe have been carefully restored and preserve some fabulous stonework.
From Posadas, cross by bus to Encarnación and get off at the bus terminal. From
here, buses (most marked Ciudad del Este) run roughly half-hourly to Trinidad
(G7000, 50 to 60 minutes). Get the driver to let you off at the turnoff to the ruins;
it's then a 700m walk.
The
Trinidad ruins
( 7am-7pm Apr-Sep, 7am-5:30pm Oct-Mar)
are spectacular, with the
red-brown stone of the church contrasting strongly with the flower-studded green
grass and surrounding hillscapes. There is much decoration preserved: scalloped
niches still hold timeworn sculptures, and the font and elaborate baroque pulpit
are impressive. Doorways are capped with fine, carved decoration. You can climb
to the top of one of the walls; an earlier church and bell tower have also been re-
stored. There's a hotel and restaurant by the ruins.
Walk back to the main road and turn right. At the gas station 200m further on is
the turnoff to
Jesús de Tavarangüe
, 12km away. Shared taxis (G7500) wait here to
fill, and buses pass every two hours. You can get a taxi to take you to Jesús de Tav-
arangüe, wait for you and bring you back to the turnoff for about G30,000.
The restored
church
( 7am-7pm Apr-Sep, 7am-5:30pm Oct-Mar)
was never finished.
The spectacular trefoil arches (a nod to Spain's Moorish past) and carved motifs of
crossed swords and keys make it perhaps the most picturesque of all the Jesuit ru-
ins. The treble-naved church, with green grass underfoot, is on a similarly monu-
mental scale as Trinidad. You can climb the tower for views of the surrounding
countryside.
Back on the main road, buses back to Encarnación stop by the gas station.
Buses back to Posadas leave from the bus stop outside the bus terminal, opposite
the school.
A joint ticket for the ruins at Trinidad, Jesús and San Cosme (southwest of En-
carnación) is G25,000; it's valid for three days.
You may need a visa to enter Paraguay. Currently, Americans, Canadians, Aus-
tralians and New Zealanders do; Israelis, Brits and other EU citizens don't. A single-
entry visa from the Paraguayan consulate in Posadas can be ready in about an
hour. You'll need passport photos, a copy of your passport, proof of an onward tick-
