Trinidad

Trinidad is a small village in Paraguay featuring the ruins of a Jesuit Mission. It´s 30 k m from Encarnación along Ruta 6.

There are frequent buses from Encarnación going north to Buena Vista, Santa Rita and Ciudad del Este that all pass Trinidad. 1.25 US$ from Encarnacion (30 min), 10 US$ from Ciudad del Este (4 h)

• Santísima Trinidad de Paraná (Jesuit Ruins), (Get off the bus at Trinidad (Ruins) and walk up the street branching off for about 500 m. There's a small visitor information centre on the left side just before you reach the ruins). 7 am to 7 pm (summer), 7 am to 5.30 pm (winter). The Jesuit ruins are in such a shape you can still imagine the splendour it once possessed. It´ll take one to two hours to see the whole area. The ruins are a UNESCO world heritage site whc.unesco.org. 25,000 Guarani (This includes entrance to nearby Jesus ruins and San Cosme ruins. You cannot buy a ticket only for Trinidad.

Read about it's history before travelling to the Jesuit Misions.It will enhance the whole experience. Since there's little information available on the site.

Artisans sometimes sell crafts in tents just outside the fence surrounding Trinidad.

There are a few options along the street connecting Ruta 6 and the ruins.

• Hotel a las Ruinas, Ruta 6, Km 30, Trinidad (Next to the Jesuit Ruins, 500 m off the main road (Ruta 6)). There are 5 rooms (some with aircon) in a lush garden, also has a pool. It's also a restaurant. The only hotel in Trinidad. 15/20 US$ for fan/aircon.
• You can also camp for free right near the ruins. Ask when you buy your ticket.

On the main road where the busses between Encarnacion and Ciudad del Este pass, there is a service station just east of the turnoff to Trinidad where transportation to the ruins at Jesus de Tavarangue (11.6 km from the service station) can be found. A small bus runs approximately hourly for a cost of 4000 Gs. These ruins are accessed with the same ticket purchased to enter Trinidad.

• The most atmospheric ruins I have every visited. Absolutely amazing!! Catch a bus from Encarnacion and ask the bus driver to let you of in Trinidad (Jesuit Ruinas). If you did want to carry on to Jesus, busses don't run on a Sunday. • Emma D.