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Photograph to come · The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida at dusk

Our Lady of Aparecida and the Shrines of Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Recreio, Aparecida, Guaratinguetá and São Paulo

Ten days in Brazil, from the Christ the Redeemer statue above Rio de Janeiro to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil, and the Benedictine and Jesuit foundations of São Paulo.

Departures

Current Tours to Brazil

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

All current pilgrimages
    The Route

    Four stops between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo

    Rio de Janeiro, Aparecida, Guaratinguetá and São Paulo.

    Itinerary · AM_BR-10D-01

    The Aparecida Itinerary

    This ten-day route gives three full days to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida and reaches the birthplace of the first Brazilian-born saint. 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 1–4

    Rio de Janeiro

    Photograph to come · Christ the Redeemer above Rio de Janeiro
    Photograph to come · Christ the Redeemer above Rio de Janeiro
    Day 1

    Depart for Brazil

    Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. Dinner and breakfast are served during the flight, and the group travels together from the first evening.
    Day 2

    Arrival in Rio de Janeiro

    Our local escort meets the group on arrival and travels with us to our hotel. After check-in there is time to rest before a welcome dinner at a traditional churrascaria opens the pilgrimage.Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
    Day 3

    Christ the Redeemer and the churches of Rio

    We climb Corcovado to the Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer and celebrate Mass in the chapel of Our Lady of Aparecida built into the pedestal, entrusting the pilgrimage to her from its first days. In the old city we visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian and the sixteenth-century Monastery of St. Benedict.Dinner and overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
    Day 4

    Our Lady of Fátima at Recreio

    At Recreio we pray at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, which holds the only exact replica in Brazil of the Chapel of the Apparitions. We celebrate Mass and pray the Rosary there, and the afternoon follows the coastal districts of the city with time for reflection.Dinner and overnight in Rio de Janeiro.
    DAYS 5–7

    Aparecida and Guaratinguetá

    Photograph to come · The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
    Photograph to come · The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
    Day 5

    The road to Aparecida

    We travel by motorcoach through the Paraíba Valley to Aparecida, the spiritual heart of Brazil, with a stop along the way. On arrival we check in near the Shrine and walk the Sanctuary grounds to get our bearings before tomorrow.Dinner and overnight in Aparecida.
    Day 6

    The National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida

    The whole day belongs to South America’s largest Marian shrine. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica and venerate the image found by fishermen in the Paraíba in 1717, now enthroned as Patroness of Brazil. Afterwards the Shrine museum, the Chapel of Candles, the Way of the Cross at Morro do Cruzeiro and the Passarela da Fé.Dinner and overnight in Aparecida.
    Day 7

    Porto Itaguaçu and St. Anthony Galvão

    A boat carries us along the Paraíba to Porto Itaguaçu, where the image was drawn from the water in 1717. At Guaratinguetá we celebrate Mass at the Sanctuary of St. Anthony Galvão, the Franciscan friar who was the first Brazilian-born saint, and return to Aparecida for a free afternoon.Dinner and overnight in Aparecida.
    DAYS 8–9

    São Paulo

    Photograph to come · The Monastery of St. Benedict, São Paulo
    Photograph to come · The Monastery of St. Benedict, São Paulo
    Day 8

    São Paulo and the Monastery of St. Benedict

    We travel on to São Paulo. In the historic centre the Benedictine monks of the Monastery of St. Benedict have kept Gregorian chant unbroken, and we celebrate Mass sung in that tradition. The rest of the afternoon is free after check-in.Dinner and overnight in São Paulo.
    Day 9

    Jesuit origins and the Catedral da Sé

    At Pateo do Collegio we stand where the city and the faith were founded together in 1554 by St. José de Anchieta, then visit the Museum of Sacred Art. We celebrate Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Catedral da Sé, before a farewell dinner closes the pilgrimage.Dinner and overnight in São Paulo.
    DAY 10

    The journey home

    Photograph to come · The Passarela da Fé at Aparecida
    Photograph to come · The Passarela da Fé at Aparecida
    Day 10

    The journey home

    With hearts renewed by the intercession of Our Lady of Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil, we transfer to Guarulhos for our flight 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®
    Porto Itaguaçu, AparecidaWhere fishermen are said to have drawn a broken image of the Immaculate Conception from the Paraíba in 1717, the body first and then the head, and after a night of empty nets filled their boat. Brazil’s national devotion begins here.
    Photograph to come · The Paraná riverside at Porto Itaguaçu
    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 chapel of Our Lady of Aparecida inside the pedestal of Christ the Redeemer
    The chapel of Our Lady of Aparecida in the pedestal of Christ the Redeemer
    Photograph to come · The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima at Recreio
    The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima at Recreio
    Photograph to come · The original image of Our Lady of Aparecida above the high altar
    The original image of Our Lady of Aparecida
    Photograph to come · The Chapel of Candles at the National Shrine
    The Chapel of Candles at the National Shrine
    Photograph to come · The Sanctuary of St. Anthony Galvão, Guaratinguetá
    The Sanctuary of St. Anthony Galvão, Guaratinguetá
    Photograph to come · The Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo, the Catedral da Sé
    The Metropolitan Cathedral of São Paulo, the Catedral da Sé

    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. Brazil sits mostly in the southern hemisphere, so its summer runs from December through February and its winter from June through August. Rio de Janeiro is hot and humid in high summer and mildest between May and September, and the Paraíba Valley inland is cooler than the coast. 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 Brazil?

    United States citizens need a passport and an eVisa for Brazil, applied for online before travel. This route stays within one country throughout. 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

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