Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage Tour

Go to your local airport to board your flight(s) to Mexico City. Upon arrival, you will collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the Arrival Hall where you will be greeted by a tour guide and driver.  Transfer to your hotel – usually, the Le Meridien pictured on the left which is a highly rated four-star Mariott property.  Enjoy some free time before celebrating Mass and dinner. Overnight in Mexico City.

After breakfast, you will depart for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, by way of the Plaza of the Three Cultures. You will first visit the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco where St. Juan Diego was baptized. The plaza is important as it symbolizes the blend of the pre-Hispanic, and Hispanic cultures that make up Mexico. Continue to the Basilica Shrine of Guadalupe, built in response to Our Lady’s request to the visionary, St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. Upon arrival at the Shrine, you will celebrate Mass as you marvel at the brilliantly colored Basilica. After Mass, join other pilgrims as you kneel before the Tilma, where Our Lady’s image was miraculously imprinted.

Following this visit, you will make your way to San Juan Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to mythology, this site was chosen to be the center of the universe, and from then on, it became a prominent political and religious center from the second century until the ninth century. While in San Juan Teotihuacan, you will enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant, followed by a guided tour of the Archaeological zone. View the Sun and Moon pyramids and learn how the Aztecs used to work the obsidian stone and the multiple uses of the Maguey Plant. Your busy day will culminate with a delicious dinner and an overnight.

A fun-filled day is planned. Enjoy a spectacular drive to what is known as Mexico’s most beautiful city – Puebla. On your ride, you will climb to over 10,000 feet above sea level and view two magnificent peaks; one that is covered with snow and the other that is an active volcano. Upon arrival in Puebla, a typical cultural lunch is waiting. After lunch, visit Puebla’s magnificent St. Dominic’s Church, and its Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, with a sumptuous decoration of onyx, gilded plasterwork, paintings, and tiles covered with 22-carat gold leaf make the chapel unique, considered the eighth wonder of the New World and named a “reliquary of America” by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1979.  Next, we will visit the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, where you will view the incorrupt body of Franciscan Friar Blessed Sebastián of Aparicio who had a great reputation for holiness and was named, the Angel of Mexico.  Sebastian is a patron saint of travelers.   Return to Mexico City for dinner and overnight.

This morning, your day will begin with breakfast, followed by Mass at the Holy Family Church, where you will view the tomb of Fr. Miguel Agustin Pro, the Jesuit martyr. In a time of religious persecution, Fr. Pro was exiled from Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. However, he returned to Mexico and was aided by a secret ministry that helped him hide from authorities. During his time in Mexico, he assisted many individuals in their spiritual, as well as temporal, needs. He was eventually discovered, arrested, and killed by authorities. While at the Holy Family Church, you may pray to this great martyr who remained filled with the joy of serving Our Lord even amid difficult times. You will also visit the small but very inspiring Museum dedicated in honor of Father Pro.  After this visit, you will tour the oldest and largest cathedral in  Latin America, the Metropolitan Cathedral. Throughout your time in the cathedral, you will be overwhelmed by the beautiful paintings, altarpieces, and statues. Your tour continues with a transfer to the National Palace. This magnificent palace has been a building of the ruling class of Mexico since the Aztec Empire’s rule. During this visit, you will be able to view some amazing murals painted by Diego Rivera. You will then visit the Plaza of Santo Domingo. This plaza contains a Holy place that is architecturally exquisite; the Church of Santo Domingo.    The church was built by the Dominican Friars in 1576, and inside is the chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary.   This church also contains the tomb of explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. He is well known for having explored the Southwest region of the United States and discovering the Grand Canyon.  Additionally, you will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Covadonga, the headquarters of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. The Shrine is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Asturias in Spain. Return to your hotel to enjoy a delicious dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to the Church of the 5th Apparition, where the Blessed Virgin Maria de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Bernardino, Juan Diego’s uncle. Here you can find a well of healing water that locals drink from. Next, a return visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe to attend Mass.  Free time in the afternoon to pray or shop before dinner and overnight in Mexico.

After breakfast and fond farewells to new friends, you will transfer to the airport for the return flights home.