Our Lady Of Guadalupe Pilgrimage Extraordinaire Special USD$2378 (Excl. Air)
Pilgrimage To Marian Shrine & Sanctuary of Our Lady Of Guadalupe, Mexico (15-23 Mar 2023)
Shrine of Guadalupe · Mexico City Historic Centre · Coyoacan · Xochimilco · San Juan Teotihuacan (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) · Santa Maria Tulpetlac · San Miguel Milagro (or Cholula) · Puebla
SAMPLE DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY & Flight Arrival/Departure Schedule (May change slightly)
Day 1 (15 Mar 2023): Depart from home airport
Board your early morning flight at your hometown airport for MNL Manila, Philippines and YVR Vancouver, Canada & USA pilgrims and for CAN/USA pilgrims arrive late afternoon in Mexico City, Mexico. Our pilgrimage tour leader, local professional bilingual tour guide and/or driver will meet you and escort you to the hotel. You will have a rest and have free time to explore Mexico City or Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and have evening Mass before dinner on your own.
Day 2 (16 Mar): Mexico City
For Manila pilgrims arrive early afternoon in Mexico City, Mexico. Our pilgrimage tour leader, local professional bilingual tour guide and/or driver will meet you and escort you to the hotel. You will have a rest and have free time to explore Mexico City or Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and have evening Mass before dinner on your own. For CAN & USA pilgrims, Extra Bonus Day free time to explore Mexico City or Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and have evening Mass before a sumptuous dinner.
Day 3 (17 Mar): Mexico City (1 Hr Excursion North) - Mass at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a fun-filled day is ahead - Excursion to SAN JUAN TEOTIHUACAN & SANTA MARIA TULPETLAC (Church of the Fifth Apparition, Pope Pius XII had granted plenary indulgence to those who visit this church, sins forgiven with penitence John20:23 - You DO NOT want to miss this apparition site)
After early breakfast, our tour guide will pick us up in air-conditioned coach at the hotel and we will journey north back in time and make our way to San Juan Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to mythology, this site was chosen to be the center of the universe, and from then it became a prominent political and religious center from the second century until the ninth century. While in San Juan Teotihuacan, we will have a guided tour and explore the ancient Mayan ruins at this famous archaeological site. We will discover architectural treasures in the UNESCO-listed zone of Teotihuacan, also known as the City of the Gods, and then climb the magnificent Sun and Moon pyramids for fantastic views of the ancient city and marvel at the vast Avenue of the Dead, the mile-long (2.5 km) road that divided the city and stretched from the Moon Plaza in the north to the Great Compound in the south. We will visit the butterfly temple, walk the Avenue of the Dead, explore the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, and Temple of the Feathered Serpent, the third largest pyramid at Teotihuacan. We will learn about how the Aztecs used to work the obsidian stone and the multiple use of the Maguey Plant. While in San Juan Teotihuacan, we will enjoy a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant. After Teotihuacan, we begin our pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of the Americas) and transit back south and will stopover at Santa Maria Tulpetlac, commonly known as the Church of the Fifth Apparition, where the Blessed Virgin Maria de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Bernardino, Juan Diego's uncle, and cured him, making this the first miracle, and asked that her image be called "Santa Maria de Guadalupe" (Holy Mary of Guadalupe). The church was built over the remains of Juan Bernardino’s home. Although a very simple building, this is one of the holiest churches in Mexico City. Pope Pius XII had granted a plenary indulgence to those who visit this church, and gave the name Tulpetlac. In 1945 Pope Pius XII proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe patroness of the Americas. The Church of the Fifth Apparition had been designated as the World Center of Healing by Pope John Paul II. There is also a healing well located under the altar in the church. You actually get the water from a faucet in front and to the right of the altar. At the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Spanish Baroque work of art built in the 16th century in response to Our Lady's request to the visionary, St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. We will marvel at the brilliantly colored Basilica of Guadalupe and kneel in front of the "Tilma", where Our Lady's image was miraculously imprinted. Attend Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Your fun-filled busy day will culminate with a delicious dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 (18 Mar): Mexico City (2.5 Hrs Excursion East) - Excursion to SAN MIGUEL DEL MILAGRO, NATIVITAS, TLAXCALA (or CHOLULA) & PUEBLA
After early breakfast, another fun-filled day is ahead. Depart by air-conditioned coach from Mexico City and discover architectural wonders on this guided day trip to San Miguel del Milagro, a town in Nativitas, Tlaxcala, the site of a 1631 apparition of St Michael the Archangel to Diego Lazaro, (or Cholula) and Puebla. Spectacular drive to what is known as Mexico's most beautify city Puebla. During your journey, you will climb to over 10,000ft above sea level, and view two magnificent peaks; one that is covered with snow and the other that is an active volcano, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes (if weather permits). Inside Cholula’s archaeological zone, feast your eyes on Pirámide Tepanapa, the world’s largest pyramid — even bigger in volume than Cheops in Egypt — the Great Pyramid of Cholula, aka Tlachihualtepetl, towering at 180 feet (55 meters) with a square base of 1,300 feet (396 meters). From the pyramid base, look up to see the Church of Our Lady of the Remedies perched on the summit. Hear about how Hernan Cortes ordered construction of 365 churches on this site, one for every day of the year. You will go to Tonanzintla Town to explore its indigenous church complete with an exquisite Indochristian style. Following this, you will continue with a visit to the centre of Puebla, where you will have lunch. The restaurant offers a unique blend of authentic local cuisine and international fare, and you will be sure to find something to your liking. Once you finish your lunch you will walk and admire particular highlights of the town such as the cathedral, the Chapel of the Rosary, beautiful streets, buildings of French and colonial styles and the traditional handicrafts of Talavera. Then, your guide takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Puebla, a city where buildings are sculpted out of freestone and covered with gorgeous painted ceramic tiles and Mexican Baroque churches. The charming city boasts 70 churches in its historic district alone. Swing by the 16th-century Church of Santo Domingo, whose plain gray and pink exterior belies the opulence inside. Next, visit the Chapel of the Rosary, part of Puebla's Cathedral, the Church of Santo Domingo and once considered the eighth wonder of the art world. Admire the gilded stucco inside this example of Mexican Baroque architecture. Gaze at the serene-blue Convent of Santa Monica, now home of the Museum of Religious Art. If we have time, we may visit the Church of St. Francis of Assisi where you will view the incorrupt body of St. Sebastian of Aparicido. Transit back to Mexico City for overnight. We have a delicious dinner before returning back to the hotel.
Day 5 (19 Mar): Mexico City (1 Hr Excursion South) - Excursion to Floating Gardens of XOCHIMILCO & Stopover at PARQUE CENTENARIO, COYOACAN
After early breakfast, depart with guide to Xochimilco and before returning back to hotel, stopover for dinner at Coyoacan, an old colonial town which is now incorporated into Mexico City, and we will cross also Insurgentes Avenue, the longest in Mexico City, passing by the Insurgentes Theater, popular for its Diego's mosaic mural, icons of Mexican theater stories.
Floating Gardens of Xochimilco is a journey through the ancient canals and artificial islands created by the original peoples over 800 years ago, we sail aboard colorful boats known as “Trajineras”, there is no better way to be surrounded by the folklore of the people of Mexico, in an atmosphere of mariachis, nature, flowers and colors, Xochimilco is a place that has survived over the centuries and has adapted to the city, where nowadays is the favorite place for local and foreign visitors who want a Mexican experience.
Day 6 (20 Mar): Mexico City - Guided City Walking Tours All Major Mexico City Historic Centre Attractions
After early breakfast, we meet our tour leader, tour guide and/or driver and head-off for the best sightseeing tour and guided city walking tour of the Mexico City Historic Centre. During the city walking tour, we will visit the oldest and largest cathedral in all of Latin America, the Metropolitan Cathedral. Throughout your time in the cathedral, you will become overwhelmed by the stunning paintings, altar pieces, and statues. Your tour continues to the National Palace. This extraordinary palace has been a building of the ruling class of Mexico since the Aztec Empire's rule. During this visit we will be able to view some amazing murals painted by Diego Rivera. Continue our day with a visit to the Plaza of Santo Domingo. This plaza contains two Holy places that are architecturally exquisite; the Church of Santo Domingo, the first church built by the Dominicans in 1576 and; the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, the first Rosary Shrine in Mexico and visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Covadonga, the headquarters of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. This Shrine is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Asturias (Spain). The guided city walking tour may include visits to Alameda Park, Benito Juarez Hemicycle, National Palace, Church of San Francisco, Madero Street, Palace of Fine Arts, Templo Mayor, Casa de los Azulejos, Zocalo, La Plaza de la Fundacion, Postal Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, and UNESCO Heritage Festival of The Dead Parade (Nov 1-2). We stop for a nice lunch and continue the city 's Historic Centre sightseeing tour. We have a delicious dinner before returning back to the hotel.
Day 7 (21 Mar , Extra Bonus Full Day): Mass at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
After breakfast, Mass and free time exploring Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Day 8 (22 Mar): Depart Mexico City - Arrive Home (CAN/USA)
Early departure flight, no hotel breakfast. We transfer back to Mexico City MEX Airport early morning for your return flight home.
Arrive Vancouver YVR Airport at 9:30pm.
Day 9 (23 Mar): Arrive Home (Manila)
Arrive Manila MNL Airport at 10:30pm.
Error & Omission applies..