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Photograph to come · The Sanctuary of Las Lajas in its canyon

South America Pilgrimages

Quito, Riobamba, Tulcán, Ibarra, Ipiales and Lima

Ten days through the Andes, from the Catholic heart of Quito and the Marian shrines of the Ecuadorean highlands to Las Lajas in its Colombian canyon, and on to Lima for St. Rose and St. Martin de Porres.

Departures

Current Tours to South America

Upcoming departures to South America. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Six stops between Quito and Lima

Quito, Riobamba, Tulcán, Ibarra, Ipiales in Colombia and Lima.

Itinerary · AM_EC-CO-PE-10D-01

Our Standard South America Pilgrimage

This ten-day route is the only one of ours to reach three South American countries, and the only one that crosses into Colombia for the sanctuary of Las Lajas. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

DAYS 1–2

Arrival and Catholic Quito

Photograph to come · The Basílica del Voto Nacional above Quito
The Basílica del Voto Nacional above Quito
Day 1

Arrival in Quito

Our pilgrimage begins as we make our way to Quito. A local guide meets the group on arrival and travels with us to the hotel, where there is time to settle in before we gather for a welcome dinner.Overnight in Quito.
Day 2

Catholic Quito

We open at the Basílica del Voto Nacional, built in fulfilment of a national vow consecrating Ecuador to the Sacred Heart, then pray at the Catedral Metropolitana where García Moreno rests in the crypt. At the Convento de la Inmaculada Concepción we venerate Our Lady of Good Success, and celebrate Mass at La Compañía de Jesús before the tomb of St. Mariana de Jesús.Dinner and overnight in Quito.
DAYS 3–4

El Quinche, Riobamba and Cotopaxi

Photograph to come · La Balbanera, the first church built in Ecuador
La Balbanera, the first church built in Ecuador
Day 3

El Quinche and Riobamba

We pause at the Santuario de Guápulo above its Andean valley, then continue to El Quinche, one of Ecuador’s most loved Marian shrines, where we venerate the statue of the Virgin and celebrate Mass in her honour. The road south to Riobamba opens the high country around us.Dinner and overnight in Riobamba.
Day 4

La Balbanera, the Conceptas and Cotopaxi

Mass at La Balbanera in Colta, the first Catholic church built in Ecuador and a witness to the faith planted here five centuries ago. We continue to the Museo de Arte Religioso de las Madres Conceptas, where cloistered sisters have kept centuries of sacred art, and pause before Cotopaxi on the way north.Dinner and overnight in Quito.
DAYS 5–7

La Gruta de la Paz and Las Lajas

Photograph to come · The Sanctuary of Las Lajas across its canyon
The Sanctuary of Las Lajas across its canyon
Day 5

La Gruta de la Paz and Tulcán

We travel to La Gruta de la Paz, a Marian sanctuary hidden inside a natural cavern along the Apaquí canyon, where the faithful have sought Our Lady’s peace since 1916, and celebrate Mass there. We continue to Tulcán and pray before the gold-leaf altar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the cathedral.Dinner and overnight in Tulcán.
Day 6

Las Lajas and the Tulcán cemetery

We cross into Colombia for the Sanctuary of Las Lajas, built into the canyon wall at the site of a reported apparition of Our Lady to a deaf and mute girl and her mother, and celebrate Mass there. Returning to Ecuador we stop at the cemetery of Tulcán, whose carved cypress hedges are a quiet meditation on eternal life.Dinner and overnight in Ibarra.
Day 7

San Antonio de Ibarra and the flight south

We begin at San Antonio de Ibarra, a town whose woodcarvers have supplied altarpieces and statues to churches across the region for generations. At Hacienda La Compañía, a former Jesuit estate, we celebrate Mass in the seventeenth century chapel among its rose gardens, then fly south to Peru.Dinner and overnight in Lima.
DAYS 8–10

Lima, St. Rose and St. Martin de Porres

Photograph to come · The Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, Lima
The Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, Lima
Day 8

Lima and the Plaza de Armas

Lima was founded on the feast of the Epiphany and named for the Three Wise Men. In the Plaza de Armas we tour the cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace and celebrate Mass, then descend into the catacombs beneath the Monastery of St. Francis where generations of the faithful rest.Dinner and overnight in Lima.
Day 9

Santo Domingo, St. Rose and St. Martin

The whole day is given to the Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, the oldest religious house in Lima. We kneel at the tomb of St. Martin de Porres, the Dominican brother known for his charity to the poor and the sick, whose remains lie in the same crypt as those of St. Rose of Lima, the first canonised saint of the Americas, and celebrate Mass there.Dinner and overnight in Lima.
Day 10

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the intercession of St. Martin de Porres, St. Rose of Lima and St. Mariana de Jesús, we take our leave of Ecuador and Peru and return home.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Las Lajas, IpialesA basilica thrown across a river canyon at the place where Our Lady is said to have appeared to a deaf and mute girl and her mother.
Photograph to come
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Photograph to come · The Church of La Compañía de Jesús, Quito
The Church of La Compañía de Jesús, Quito
Photograph to come · The shrine of Our Lady of El Quinche
The shrine of Our Lady of El Quinche
Photograph to come · Cotopaxi above the Andean plateau
Cotopaxi above the Andean plateau
Photograph to come · La Gruta de la Paz within its cavern
La Gruta de la Paz within its cavern
Photograph to come · The sculpted cypresses of the Tulcán cemetery
The sculpted cypresses of the Tulcán cemetery
Photograph to come · The Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral of Lima
The Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral of Lima

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to South America?

Groups travel all year. The Andean highlands have a drier season from June through September and a wetter one from October through May, and temperature depends far more on altitude than on the month. Lima is mild and often overcast between June and November. The shrines receive pilgrims year round.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Ecuador, Colombia and Peru?

United States citizens need a passport and do not need a visa for a short stay in Ecuador, Colombia or Peru. The route crosses into Colombia for a single day at Ipiales and returns the same evening. Note that international flights are not included in this itinerary, and may be booked independently or through Canterbury Pilgrimages. We confirm the current entry requirements for each group before travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to South America?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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