Wanda Mines (Minas de Wanda) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Wanda Mines. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full-Day Tour

• Full-Day Tour to the San Ignacio Mission Ruins and Wanda Mines

• Ruins of San Ignacio and Wanda Mines

• Excursion to San Ignacio Mini Jesuit Ruins from Puerto Iguazu

There is a small fee to access the mines. Guided tours of the Wanda Mines start at US$28 per person and include round-trip transfers from Puerto Iguazu. Full-day tours that visit both the Wanda Mines and the nearby San Ignacio ruins start at US$57.

Yes, the Wanda Mines are one of the few places in South America where you can venture into a working gemstone mine and learn how agate, amethyst, quartz, and topaz are mined. Exploring the mines is only possible by guided tour, and it's worth booking a trip that includes hotel pickup and transport.

Per one customer who booked the Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full-Day Tour, "Amazing experience. I was told it was impossible to do it all in one day, but this tour shows you everything. The boat ride will get you soaked as they put you under waterfalls. The photography is unbelievable. The guides were extremely helpful, especially with my limited Spanish. They walked me up to the ticket counters and helped me buy my tickets. Explained everything to me and made sure I was included, as I was the only English speaker."

The Wanda Mines are situated outside the small town of Wanda, near the banks of the Paraná River and the border with Paraguay. You'll find the mines around 31 miles (50 kilometers) south of Puerto Iguazu along National Route 12, a 50-minute drive.

The Wanda Mines have one of Argentina’s largest reserves of amethysts, but they also contain several other gemstones and semiprecious stones. Topaz, quartz, jasper, rock crystal, and agate are all present, and you can learn more about the geological processes that form the various gemstones.

The Wanda Mines are open daily all year round from early morning to about sunset, with extended opening times in the peak summer months of January and February. There is a small admission fee to visit Wanda Mines (about 500 Argentine pesos), which includes a guided mine tour.

Yes, guided tours are available at Wanda Mines, including English-language guides. You’ll get to visit part of the open-air mines, where you can admire the different gemstones, learn about the geological processes that create each type of gemstone, and see the mining equipment in action.

Yes. Wanda Mines is more than just a mine; it also produces a range of jewelry crafted with gemstones and semiprecious stones from the mine. After visiting the mine, head to the gift shop, where you can purchase various stones, souvenirs, and hand-crafted jewelry, including necklaces, rings, and earrings.

The Wanda Mines make an easy side-trip for travelers visiting the UNESCO-listed Iguazu Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world. A popular choice is to combine a tour of the Wanda Mines with the nearby 17th-century Jesuit ruins of San Ignacio Mission, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Wanda Mines. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Puerto Iguazu:

• Iguazu Falls

• Devil's Throat

• Three Borders Landmark

• Rafain Churrascaria Show

• La Aripuca

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Puerto Iguazu.