RS · Brazil

Região das Missões

Jesuit-Guarani ruins, museums and rural routes in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul.

South

In the photo: Portal dos 30 Povos, in the historic center of Santo Ângelo, Região das Missões.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Região das Missões brings together the heritage of the former Jesuit-Guarani settlements and the current life of municipalities in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. Sandstone ruins, sacred sculptures, museums and religious festivals help to learn about this history from different perspectives. Fields, rural communities and the Rio Uruguai are also part of the landscape.

The trip can combine local tours with an organized pilgrimage, but these are experiences that require specific access and preparation. The archaeological sites preserve remains of buildings and require respect for the visitation areas. The walk along the old mission connections crosses dirt roads and includes support services that need to be arranged before departure.

This destination brings together 8 cities: Santo Ângelo, São Borja, Garruchos, São Nicolau, São Luiz Gonzaga, Caibaté, São Miguel das Missões, Entre-Ijuís.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Região das Missões is The star marks the nearest capital, Porto Alegre.

Mapa: @svg-maps/brazil, CC BY 4.0

How to get there: Região das Missões

Land access depends on the city chosen as a base in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul. To arrive by plane, check available connections to Santo Ângelo and arrange transport to your first stop.

Suggested arrival point: Santo Ângelo

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões Suggested arrival point

Santo Ângelo

Santo Ângelo is a mission-era urban center with the Catedral Angelopolitana and the Museu Municipal Doutor José Olavo Machado linked to the memory of the former reduction. The Museu Ferroviário Jovenil Menezes and the Museu Municipal do Cinema Vivaldino Prado showcase other periods of the city. The pilgrimage arrival takes place in front of the cathedral.

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões

São Borja

São Borja originated as one of the Sete Povos das Missões and preserves political memory at the Museu Getúlio Vargas and the Memorial Casa João Goulart. The Cais do Porto brings the city closer to the Rio Uruguai. The pilgrimage begins in this municipality, which also offers museums and heritage for its own cultural trip.

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões

Garruchos

In Garruchos, the Rio Uruguai and the community of São José Velho form the rural setting of the pilgrimage. The old Passo de Garruchos is part of the history of border crossings. The municipality hosts walkers in farmland and small settlements, with reception and overnight arrangements made in advance.

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões

São Nicolau

São Nicolau preserves traces of its reduction at the Sítio Arqueológico de São Nicolau and mission stones in the construction of the Sobrado Silva. The room Fragmentos de uma Civilização presents the local memory. The arrival of pilgrims finds a town where the historic heritage occupies spaces within the urban core.

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões

São Luiz Gonzaga

São Luiz Gonzaga gathers the mission-era statuary of the Igreja Matriz, the Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes and the Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado. Inland, the Sítio Arqueológico de São Lourenço Mártir preserves another settlement of the Sete Povos. The town displays urban and rural heritage and also hosts the pilgrimage.

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões

Caibaté

Caibaté receives the pilgrimage at the Santuário do Caaró, a place of memory for the mission martyrs. The Romaria ao Caaró brings pilgrims together in the municipality and preserves the religious presence of this history. The documented stop takes place at the rural sanctuary; this does not imply passing through the urban seat of Caibaté.

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões

São Miguel das Missões

São Miguel das Missões preserves the ruins of the Sítio Arqueológico de São Miguel Arcanjo, recognized as a World Heritage Site, and the Museu das Missões, with Guarani sculptures in polychromed wood. The Praça das Missões and the Som e Luz show complement the visit. The pilgrimage crosses this ensemble of memory and landscape.

Rio Grande do Sul · Região das Missões

Entre-Ijuís

Entre-Ijuís preserves the remains of São João Batista and the Capela Nossa Senhora de Altöetting, linked to the memory of Father Antonio Sepp. Parque das Fontes receives pilgrims, and the Forqueta at the confluence of the rivers Ijuí and Ijuizinho reveals the river landscape. The municipality combines mission-era heritage, religious spaces and nature outings.

The local experience

Things to do in Região das Missões

Santo Ângelo · RS · Cathedral

Catedral Angelopolitana

Historic-center temple that marks the arrival of the missionary pilgrimage.

Discover Catedral Angelopolitana

São Borja · RS · Museum

Museu Getúlio Vargas

The residence that houses the museum presents the memory of Getúlio Vargas in his hometown.

Discover Museu Getúlio Vargas

Entre-Ijuís · RS · Archaeological site

Sítio Arqueológico de São João Batista

Remains of the former redução of São João Batista in the municipality of Entre-Ijuís.

Discover Sítio Arqueológico de São João Batista

São Luiz Gonzaga · RS · Archaeological site

Sítio Arqueológico de São Lourenço Mártir

Ruins of one of the Sete Povos in the interior of São Luiz Gonzaga.

Discover Sítio Arqueológico de São Lourenço Mártir

See 20 more places in Região das Missões

São Miguel das Missões · RS · Archaeological site

Sítio Arqueológico de São Miguel Arcanjo

Missionary ruins that are part of the World Heritage in São Miguel das Missões.

Discover Sítio Arqueológico de São Miguel Arcanjo

São Nicolau · RS · Archaeological site

Sítio Arqueológico de São Nicolau

Remnants of the former mission settlement preserved in the core of São Nicolau.

Discover Sítio Arqueológico de São Nicolau

Entre-Ijuís · RS · Chapel

Capela Nossa Senhora de Altöetting

Octagonal construction in Entre-Ijuís linked to the devotion of Father Antonio Sepp.

Discover Capela Nossa Senhora de Altöetting

São Luiz Gonzaga · RS · Religious space

Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes

Place of devotion associated with the local memory of São Luiz Gonzaga.

Discover Gruta Nossa Senhora de Lourdes

São Borja · RS · Museum

Memorial Casa João Goulart

The house linked to João Goulart gathers the memory of his trajectory in São Borja.

Discover Memorial Casa João Goulart

São Miguel das Missões · RS · Museum

Museu das Missões

Museum of mission-era art with Guarani sculptures in polychromed wood.

Discover Museu das Missões

Santo Ângelo · RS · Museum

Museu Municipal Doutor José Olavo Machado

Municipal collection of Santo Ângelo with historical memory and Jesuit-Guarani heritage.

Discover Museu Municipal Doutor José Olavo Machado

São Nicolau · RS · Historical heritage

Sobrado Silva

Historic building in São Nicolau built with stones from the former reduction.

Discover Sobrado Silva

Entre-Ijuís · RS · Park

Balneário Parque das Fontes

Space in Entre-Ijuís that participates in receiving pilgrims before the final arrival.

Discover Balneário Parque das Fontes

São Miguel das Missões · RS · Cultural experience

Espetáculo Som e Luz

Lighting and narrative about missionary history beside the ruins of São Miguel.

Discover Espetáculo Som e Luz

São Luiz Gonzaga · RS · Church

Igreja Matriz de São Luiz Gonzaga

Temple that preserves statuary linked to the mission heritage.

Discover Igreja Matriz de São Luiz Gonzaga

São Borja · RS · Monument

Mausoléu Getúlio Vargas

Monument designed by Oscar Niemeyer that houses the mortal remains of Getúlio Vargas.

Discover Mausoléu Getúlio Vargas

Santo Ângelo · RS · Museum

Museu Ferroviário Jovenil Menezes

Space next to the former station that presents the railway memory of Santo Ângelo.

Discover Museu Ferroviário Jovenil Menezes

São Nicolau · RS · Memory space

Sala Fragmentos de uma Civilização

Exhibition of São Nicolau mentioned on the pilgrims' route.

Discover Sala Fragmentos de uma Civilização

São Borja · RS · Urban landscape

Cais do Porto

A meeting space in the bairro do Passo, by the Rio Uruguai.

Discover Cais do Porto

Entre-Ijuís · RS · Natural landscape

Forqueta dos rios Ijuí e Ijuizinho

River confluence presented among the visitor sites of Entre-Ijuís.

Discover Forqueta dos rios Ijuí e Ijuizinho

São Nicolau · RS · Church

Igreja Matriz de São Nicolau

Temple in the urban core included among São Nicolau's cultural visits.

Discover Igreja Matriz de São Nicolau

Santo Ângelo · RS · Museum

Museu Municipal do Cinema Vivaldino Prado

Santo Ângelo collection dedicated to the memory of cinema and its equipment.

Discover Museu Municipal do Cinema Vivaldino Prado

São Luiz Gonzaga · RS · Museum

Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado

Municipal facility of historical memory in São Luiz Gonzaga.

Discover Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado

São Miguel das Missões · RS · Public space

Praça das Missões

Square in front of the ruins that offers a view of the historic ensemble of São Miguel.

Discover Praça das Missões

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Consider the rain forecast and the condition of rural roads. Summers can be very hot in the fields; in winter, bring protection against cold and damp. Pilgrimages change demand for lodging.

How many days to stay

A museum-and-ruins itinerary can take several days, depending on the municipalities selected. For the pilgrimage, follow the schedule of the chosen format and allow time before departure to receive the necessary briefings.

Which city to stay in

Choose your base according to the heritage you intend to visit and the stage of the walk. Overnight stays in rural communities require prior arrangement; you should not rely on spontaneous service at each property.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Região das Missões

Is Região das Missões just an archaeological site?

The destination includes different municipalities, four national archaeological sites and other places of memory. Urban museums, rural communities and Guarani expressions broaden the visit.

Is it possible to visit the Missões without doing the pilgrimage?

There are cultural tours by road and local visits to museums, churches and ruins. The walk is a specific activity with its own route and support.

Does the walking route pass through all the municipalities in the region?

The documented pilgrimage between São Borja and Santo Ângelo has set stops. Regional scope does not equate to the list of towns visited by the walker.

How to prepare rural overnight stays in the Missões?

Coordinate the stages and reception with the walk organizers. Check meals, support transport and the equipment needed for the days in the field.

Brazilian routes