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Visit Mission San Ignacio Kadakaaman in Baja On Your Next Mexican Vacation

By Jim Labelle

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 31Mar2011
Word count: 547
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Tucked into a lush valley in the middle of Baja is the historic Jesuit Mission of San Ignacio Kadakaaman. The history of this remote mission began in 1716, when a Jesuit priest, Padre Piccolo, first visited the area to baptize and convert the local Amerindian population. A mission was constructed in 1728. In 1786, the mission was taken over by a Dominican Friar, Juan Crisostomo Gomez. Friar Gomez expanded construction on the mission, adding thicker walls made out of local volcanic rock and installing an ornate alter that remains in the church to this day.

The church was sadly neglected over the centuries but in 1976, an enthusiastic innovation of the mission was back, which resulted in the mission being beautifully restored to its historic condition. The original, ornately carved wooden doors still hang from the front entrance and the original gilded alter still sits in the front nave of the church. The thick lava stone walls, measuring 4 feet thick, still stand attesting to the incredible masonry used to construct this Spanish relic.

Its scenic location, which is by a lake which is fed year-round by a creek, is also easily accessible, making it a must see for anyone on a road trip in southern Baja. San Ignacio's remote location gives the visitor an enchanting and authentic Mexican experience. San Ignacio is far from the tourist packed beaches of Southern Baja yet they can be reached within half a day's drive. Visitors to San Ignacio will find accommodations in the form of both hotels and RV parks. In fact, the local RV residential park, the Oasis Rio Baja, claims to be the "finest residential park in all Baja," a hefty claim but one you may tend to agree with.

If you drive to San Ignacio to visit the mission, there are a few other sites in the area worth checking out before you leave. Just outside of San Ignacio, tucked into a hidden ravine in a nearby valley, are the prehistoric rock art pictographs of Sierra de San Francisco. Eerie images of humans two feet tall have led to the local legend that the paintings were made by a race of giants that once inhabited the valley. Dating of the paintings has revealed that they were created from 1100 B.C. to A.D. 1300. The paintings were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. To view the paintings, you must apply for a permit and must be accompanied by a guide.

One of the best parts about driving Baja is being able to get out and explore all of the hidden gems of Baja's outback. Going off the beaten bath to towns like San Ignacio will allow you to visit incredible historic sites like the mission San Ignacio Kadakaaman and get a look at real Mexico history. San Ignacio can be reached in a few days drive from the California border. While you won't need a Mexican permit for your car to drive to San Ignacio, you will still need Mexican auto insurance for your car or RV. Other than that, just grab a guidebook, a map and your camera, and you'll be ready to experience one of the most enchanting places in all of Baja, the desert oasis of San Ignacio.

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