Misión San Francisco Javier de Viggé-Biaundó

A lovely little village. Beautiful old church and grounds. The streets of the town are lined with orange and lime trees. The olive trees in town were a nice treat. The drive up the mountain was relatively smooth with only a few areas where the road had collapsed down the mountainside. Very scenic.

Always a stop. We went out through the dirt behind the mission. Go see Francisco and give him a sticker or a t shirt. The mission is amazing and the people there are great. Helados across the street.

Photos can't describe the feeling you get when you arrive. The beauty and the history are unsurpassed. The village is a beautiful, tranquil Oasis. The caretakers are so friendly and willing to share and answer any questions. This is something you don't want to miss if you visit Loreto. Be prepared for an hour long, winding clime with breathtaking views of the Sierra Gigante and the bay, as well as some fairly sketchy road conditions... be sure to pay attention to the road.

Beautiful and so full of history. It was like stepping back in time. Tour was informative the town people so friendly.

I gave this four stars because the location itself is about a four star but my experience with the tour guide that took me up there was five star. The church is about 35 km away from the town of Laredo and you have to climb through the mountains on a very twisty turny road and when you get to the town it is a very small place. It has a bar, a couple of restaurants and one or two souvenir stores. That's it. Basically only the locals live there. The church which was built by the Jesuits is fascinating but if I had just dropped in to take a look at the church it would have been a bit of a miss Unless you've done your research.. But once you get the tour guide to give you a complete briefing on the history of the construction, the way things are being renovated, how they survived up there, how they got permission to build the church, etc. It's a fascinating place to go visit in the middle of nowhere 6000 ft above sea level and over 300 years old. It is pretty amazing.

Absolutely breath taking it is an epic landmark of the Americas..you can't miss it if you go to Loreto. I conducted an anthropological research trip to San Javier in Baja, California Sur, to examine the Jesuit mission established in 1699. San Javier is a distinctive example of a Jesuit mission in Mexico, and its significance is closely tied to the historical context of the Jesuits' expulsion from New Spain. Following their expulsion due to support for Native Americans, the Jesuits left a lasting impact on San Javier. Situated in the mountainous region near Loreto, the town provides a unique snapshot of early American colonization. Notably, the landscape includes a 332-year-old olive tree, one of the oldest in the Americas, date palms from North Africa, and orange trees from the Jesuits' plantings. San Javier offers valuable insights into Jesuit missions' architectural and cultural aspects in North Mexico and the USA. The mission's unique ties with Japan and its historical connections add another layer of importance. My exploration of San Javier focused on unraveling its historical layers as a unique example of a Jesuit mission. Examining the architecture, flora, and cultural influences helped provide a clear understanding of its development, especially considering the Jesuits' later expulsion from New Spain.

Not worth the drive. Not much to see and they fleece you for donation. They don't keep up on any restoration or cleaning. Not an unpleasant experience, but you'd be better off going fishing, snorkeling or to some other excursion. The place is a little depressing too!

This place is awesome. Mind blowing to think of what it would look like when it began! Weird mix of local residents and tourists. Walk around all the grounds and explore it. Worth the drive though.

A side trip to San Javier was a perfect addition to vacationing in Loreto. Our rental car was a normal sedan, and we may have felt a bit more comfortable with 4 wheel drive for parts of the road that lead to San Javier, but it's a lovely drive, and there were no actual problems getting there. The simple aesthetic of the church is a delight, and the town is terrific for wandering. There were not many choices for food, but the one restaurant we found nearby was just right. I highly recommend San Javier as a half day trip destination.

We're so glad we took the time for this trek to the mission, which is still used as a church for the San Javier community. Wander around the back to see the olive trees and aqueducts. There's no cellular service in the mountains, and the restaurants are very limited. This is a rustic, amazing historic place that's well worth the beautiful trip to get here.

Founded by Jesuits of the Roman Catholic church in 1699, Mission Javier's purpose was to covert the Cochimi Native Americans to Christianity. The Mission Javier is located in the Sierra de la Giganta Mountains just 32 Km southwest of Loreto. It's a scenic drive which puts you in touch with the high desert plateau ecosystem. Native cacti, wildlife abound near prominent arroyos. The present mission was built in 1744 by Father Miguel de Barco. Currently, the mission is overseen by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History. The mission features an alter piece of Baroque style, carved and gilded doors dedicated to San Francisco Javier whose image is accompanied by five oils with religious images. The exterior is supported by buttresses and is also in the Baroque style. Adjacent to the mission is a graveyard which is interesting. The church is open from 8am-7pm.. Surrounding the mission are date palms, grape orchards, citrus and olive trees. One olive tree is claimed to be 300 years old. A vegetable garden and a stable of horses are sustained by a system of water canals. Village of 130 people has one restaurant (Palapa), and a few stores which function on solar energy. I would consider the trip to be a 1/2 day adventure. While the mission is in the style that can be seen throughout Mexico and the American West, the whole complex of geology, archaeology, ecology and history make this mission exceptional.

Great detour! San Javier is about an hour drive from Loreto on a (mostly) paved road. The drive alone is so beautiful it makes the trip with it - gorgeous mountain views, a beautiful river, and a tip notch view of the sea of Cortez. The mission is in great condition and is a beautiful sight to see and a person was there to explain some history and show us around. Doesn't take much time to explore and there are a few restaurants and shops to check out once you're up there but all in all it could be a half day trip. We are happy we went!

Lives up to its reputation as the "Jewel" of the Baja California missions. In very good shape and one of the largest missions still standing. Nice decorations inside and solid stone construction outside.