On this 4-day tour through the Jesuit Missions of Sonora, we'll explore the temples and towns founded by Eusebio Francisco Kino and other important missionaries in Mexico. It'll be like traveling back in time!
Sonoran Desert Mission Churches 4-Day Tour
Day 1: Hermosillo - Caborca
At the indicated time, we'll meet at the Hermosillo Airport and head to Trincheras. Upon arrival, you'll have some free time to enjoy lunch at any local restaurant. Then, we'll visit the archaeological site of Cerro De Trincheras. We'll explore this village that was inhabited in the 14th and 15th centuries, which was dedicated to the cultivation of corn, beans and cotton.
Later we'll travel to Caborca, a town founded by the missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1693. Here we'll see the Franciscan Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Plaza de Armas and Cerro de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe while learning the history of how the Jesuits came to this land. After the visit, we'll go to the hotel in Caborca so you can leave your bags and have the night free for dinner wherever you'd like.
Day 2: Caborca - Magdalena de Kino
After an energizing breakfast with eggs, chilaquiles and beans, we'll visit Rancho La Proveedora to see ancient petroglyphs. On the way out, we'll give you a picnic bag with a hamburger, French fries and a soft drink, and then we'll start the Ruta de las Misiones (Missions Route). We'll visit Pitiquito, Altar, Oquitoa, Atil, Tubutama and San Ignacio and recall the history of the evangelization of the Pima and Tohono O'odham Indigenous Peoples.
Later we'll head to the Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) of Magdalena de Kino, where we'll take a guided tour of its most emblematic places, such as Casa del Ministro de Guerra, Colegio Colonel Fenochio, the colonial home of Dr. Jacinto Padilla and the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, a beautiful and surprising classical temple.
We'll end the day with a traditional dinner in a local restaurant and then rest at the hotel.
Day 3: Magdalena de Kino
With the first rays of sunshine, we'll enjoy a delicious breakfast and then travel to Cucurpe, a town founded in the 17th century by the missionary Marcos del Río. We'll visit the abandoned mission of Cucurpe, where we'll see the remains of the original church, the bell tower and other arched structures.
We'll then return to Magdalena de Kino and give you an hour and a half of free time for lunch. With our batteries recharged, we'll visit the crypt of Father Kino, the Chapel of San Francisco Javier, Plaza Juarez and the train station.
The day doesn't end here! Next, we travel to the outskirts of town to explore the mission of San Ignacio de Cabórica, a building with masonry details that houses a curious spiral staircase. Finally, we'll return to Magdalena de Kino to enjoy a traditional dinner at any local restaurant of your choosing.
Day 4: Magdalena de Kino - Hermosillo
We'll wake up early to enjoy the last breakfast on the tour before visiting the municipal cemetery and the mausoleum of Luis Donaldo Colosio, former president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Afterward, we'll head to Hermosillo, where the approximate arrival at the airport is at 2 pm.
Accommodation
The tour includes 3 nights of accommodation with breakfast in a double room at the following hotels:
- Caborca (1 night): City Express Caborca (4-star) or similar
- Magdalena de Kino (2 nights): Hotel San José (2-star) or similar