Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

About Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

The Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos are a series of mission towns in eastern Bolivia that retain distinctive colonial-era mission churches and town planning. They were established by Jesuit missionaries in the late 17th and 18th centuries and form a cultural landscape.

These towns contain timber and adobe churches with baroque and neoclassical elements, articulated town squares and a living tradition of choral and instrumental music. Visitors explore restored churches, small museums and attend festivals where possible.

Jesuit missionaries founded these settlements as part of mission networks to evangelize and reorganize indigenous communities during the 17th and 18th centuries. After the Jesuit expulsion in the late 18th century, many mission towns persisted and retain architectural and cultural legacies.

The mission towns are located across the Santa Cruz Department in eastern Bolivia, clustered in a broad inland plain and served by regional roads connecting them to larger towns in the department.

Cultural life: Several mission towns continue to stage traditional religious festivals and maintain musical ensembles that reflect the Jesuit-era cultural synthesis.

What to See#

Mission towns: A group of mission towns founded by Jesuit missionaries between the late 17th and 18th centuries that preserve baroque church architecture and town layouts.
Concepción: Concepción is one of the best-preserved mission towns, with an 18th-century church and active musical traditions.
San Ignacio de Velasco: San Ignacio de Velasco features a large timber-and-adobe mission church and remains an active cultural center in the region.

When to Go

Best Time to Visit Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

May-September is comfortable for touring multiple mission sites and rural roads.

Dry season

May-Sept · 20-28°C (68-82°F)

Good weather for visiting multiple mission towns and walking between churches.

Wet season

Nov-Mar · 22-30°C (72-86°F)

Lusher countryside; some roads can be muddier but cultural life is active.

Weather & Climate near Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

Climate

Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in October) and warm winters (coldest in June). Temperatures range from 16°C to 34°C. Abundant rainfall (1342 mm/year), wettest in January with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 69 Moderate

Best Time to Visit

JulyJuneAugust

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

44°

Warmest Month

7°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

Month	Comfort	Temp	Feels	Rain	Sky	Humidity	Wind	UV	Daylight
January	Acceptable	23° - 32°	30°	224 mm	overcast	76%	2.4 m/s	2.6 extreme	12.9h
February	Acceptable	22° - 32°	27°	207 mm	overcast	80%	2.2 m/s	2.5 extreme	12.5h
March	Good	22° - 32°	27°	174 mm	partly cloudy	77%	2.0 m/s	2.5 extreme	12.1h
April	Very Good	21° - 31°	26°	102 mm	partly cloudy	73%	2.2 m/s	2.3 extreme	11.6h
May	Excellent	18° - 30°	24°	56 mm	partly cloudy	69%	2.4 m/s	1.8 very high	11.2h
June	Excellent	16° - 29°	23°	33 mm	some cloud	61%	2.6 m/s	1.4 high	11.0h
July	Ideal	16° - 31°	23°	16 mm	mostly sunny	50%	3.0 m/s	1.6 very high	11.1h
August	Excellent	17° - 33°	25°	30 mm	some cloud	41%	2.9 m/s	1.7 very high	11.5h
September	Excellent	20° - 34°	27°	60 mm	partly cloudy	44%	3.1 m/s	1.6 very high	11.9h
October	Good	22° - 34°	29°	97 mm	partly cloudy	55%	2.8 m/s	2.1 extreme	12.4h
November	Good	22° - 33°	29°	146 mm	partly cloudy	63%	2.6 m/s	2.4 extreme	12.8h
December	Acceptable	22° - 32°	30°	197 mm	overcast	72%	2.6 m/s	2.5 extreme	13.0h

Getting There & Around

How to Get to Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

The missions are spread across Santa Cruz Department; San Ignacio de Velasco and Concepción are common starting points, reachable by regional flights to local airstrips or long road transfers from Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Local buses and private transfers serve mission towns.

Tips for Visiting Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos

Attend a locally produced mass or festival performance if possible-many mission churches host lively religious music blending European and indigenous forms.
Visit smaller mission towns such as San Javier and Concepción to see original painted interiors and old Jesuit layout plans.
Hire a local guide to explain the subtle architectural differences between missions and their conservation challenges.

Jesuit Missions of the Chiquitos