Private UNESCO Missions Tour in San Antonio

Overview

This is the most engaging, historically accurate and entertaining missions tour you will find in San Antonio. Guaranteed.

You will learn what life was like at the missions, construction and architectural influences, and the relationship between the Franciscan Friars, soldiers and the Payaya, Coahuiltecan and other indigenous tribes. This is a nuanced and beautifully presented experience about colonialization, but also interdependence. At the end of this tour, you will be impressed with the largest concentration of Spanish missions in the US!

Please consider purchasing our "Missions and More" tour, as it includes all four missions PLUS two more centuries of San Antonio history and diverse cultures. See reviews for that tour please.

Locally owned/operated by professional guide and history teacher, stand-up comic (with Kevin Hart:), performer and world traveler Michael Robinson.

City: San Antonio

Thu 18 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $125.00

Make a reservation

Thu 18 Dec

Starting at $125.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Transportation

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Mission Espada

Southern-most mission of the five in San Antonio, this location is the start of your tour and will lay the foundational context for the rest of the tour. You will walk into the interior of this mission, hear interesting information about its' inhabitants and the Friars, as well as, the construction and layout of the mission. You will also have an opportunity to walk into the church that looks as it did in the 1700's.

Mission San Juan

Just five minutes from the first stop at Mission Espada, this mission has a fully renovated church that is not only charming, but impressive in its' reconstruction and the highlight of this stop. Hear about the inhabitants at this location, the construction of this mission, and what life was like for them. You will visit a small museum that has wonderful displays of materials used by the inhabitants, the use water for agriculture, among interesting other information.

Mission San Jose

The "Queen of the Missions" is the largest and most renovated mission in San Antonio, the finest example of Baroque architecture in Texas. Here, you will learn about its' function as a mission, as well as, the impressive revitalization by the WPA in the 1930's. You will experience the living quarters of all groups that lived and worked at the mission, have an exclusive interior guided tour of the Church, and learn so much more! Over 2000 of architectural, religious and cultural influences, and a reverence for the indigenous labor that made Mission San Jose the "Queen".

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion is hands down the most charming of all the missions. Hear about its' inhabitants, what life was life at this location, and learn about the creation of its' duel bell tower church, the oldest stone church in the US! You will see a 250 year old fresco, a fascinating ocular display, and the interior of the church where you will be humbled by its' beauty. You will see some other architectural highlights here, but those a secret and I can't wait to tell you all about them!

The Espada Aqueduct

Drive past and learn about the oldest Spanish Aqueduct in the US. Learn about its' construction, where the technologies to build the structure come from, its' function and placement and connection to the acequia system to irrigate labores (farmlands).

Show 2 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (90)

Lyn S

Sep 2021

Michael is awesome! He is very knowledgeable and personable. The tour included four missions. I learned about the history of each mission. We stopped to chat with Park Service employees who showed us what they found while working on restoring a wall. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone.

Response from Host

Sep 2021

Lyn, it was such a pleasure spending time with you and showing you these fascinating missions. Wish you all the best and thanks for your kind words. Michael

Mary M

Sep 2021

Perry with Gray Line was the best! He was full of stories & historical info! It was a beautiful tour & anyone visiting San Antonio should take advantage of the history of this area! Thank-you Perry for the great excursion!

Response from Host

Sep 2021

Oops! Wrong company, but I am sure Perry is a wonderful person;)

David T

Sep 2021

Best tour we’ve ever done in San Antonio by far! Michael was a great balance of professional, informative, personable and fun. It was great seeing and learning about a part of San Antonio we had somehow missed in the past. Michael also went above and beyond the standard tour guide, offering advice for other restaurants and activities for us to consider to make our San Antonio trip fun and memorable. Mission accomplished!

Response from Host

Sep 2021

"...Better than alllll the rest..." - Tina Turner. David thanks so much for your kind words and it was a great time with y'all on the missions trail. Best to you both!