San Ignacio

143 km south of Guerrero Negro, on a fertile ravine is the site of the beautiful town of San Ignacio. The access road about 2 km from the transpeninsular highway allows you to enter in a fantasy landscape, a magnificent contrast with the drought of desert and sierras surroundings. The underground river that comes bubbling as it turns into a quiet lagoon bordered with red glass shaded by huge date palm trees. The road continues its flows to the small plaza decorated by leafy Indian trees. Right in front rises the majestic church of San Ignacio de Loyola where converge narrow little streets and antique houses.

The place called by Cochimies 'Kadacaaman' which means 'Red Grass River' was discovered in November 19 of 1716 by the Jesuit father Francisco Maria Piccolo. The founding father of the mission on January 20 of 1728, was responsibility of the Mexican Jesuit Juan Bautista Luyando, whom invested in it part of this patrimony. The church in which construction was utilized blocks of volcanic rock with 4 feet thickness was initiated by the Jesuit Fernando Consag and was concluded by the Dominic Juan Crisostomo Gomez back in 1786. Due to the firmness of it walls the building has remains almost unaltered throughout the years and is one of the most beautiful missionaries church most of Baja California Sur.

Besides of the magnificent facade decorated in carved stone, in the interior, the most outstanding is the great altar of carved wood and gold coat, 7 oil paintings and statue of San Ingacio de Loyola, that are truly jewels of religious art of the 17th century. A stop and visit to the church is a must.

San Ignacio is an excellent option for ecotourism; the untouched beauty of the site and its surrounding areas speak for themselves. The aquatic mantle in the winter turns into a river and runs from 19 to 29 km, and in the summer it becomes a spring with countless fresh water pools, where species such as the Israel Carp, Fresh Water Turtle and the Bull Frog full a biological function; the orchard, the palms and a modern walkway is built specially to enjoy all the beauty of the environment, makes of San Ignacio the ideal place for the rest of the soul.
San Ignacio is also the gate to reach the cave painting's area in the Sierra of San Francisco, field by UNESCO as patrimony of humanity; to visit the site it is necessary to contact the INAH, next to the mission, where you obtain rules and regulations and the proper permits. Additionally San Ignacio counts in its contiguity with a lot of attractions, such as San Ignacio Lagoon, national shelter of the grey whale and spaces to practice sport, fishing, surfing and scuba diving. In all cases it is recommended to take tours guided by experts. To do so request information at your hotel desk.

Holiday for San Ignacio takes place the last week of July, the plaza fills with light, music and fun, under these frame enjoy horseraces, cockfights, dance, fair and fireworks.

San Ignacio has hotels, restaurants, RV Parks, paved runway, bus depot and tours to cave paintings, San Ignacio Lagoon and many other services.