Our Lady of Guadalupe & Cancún
Ten days: five in Mexico City with Mass each day, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Tilma, the Plaza of the Three Cultures, St. Michael’s shrine at Tlaxcala, the Rosary Chapel in Puebla, the Metropolitan Cathedral and Teotihuacan, then four nights all-inclusive on the beach in Playa del Carmen.
Meet your host
Fr. Ivan Ramirez
Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Bristol, Connecticut
Fr. Ivan Ramirez leads this pilgrimage for St. Joseph Parish, traveling with the group and celebrating Mass for the pilgrims along the way.
“¿No estoy yo aquí, que soy tu madre?”
“Am I not here, I who am your Mother?”
Our Lady’s words to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac in December 1531. We pray before the Tilma that bears her image, visit the church at Tulpetlac where she healed his uncle, and celebrate Mass each day in Mexico City.
Day three · The Chapel of the Rosary, Puebla
Mexico City and Playa del Carmen
Ten days: five nights in Mexico City, with day trips to Tlaxcala and Puebla and two visits to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, then four nights all-inclusive at the beach in Playa del Carmen. Days 7 to 9 are free at the resort, with no tour guide and no scheduled touring.
Begins in Mexico City and ends in Playa del Carmen
OvernightVisit
Nights: 5 Mexico City, 4 Playa del Carmen.
Departure & Arrival in Mexico City
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States for our flight to Mexico City. Upon arrival, our Canterbury tour manager will greet us as we collect our bags and accompany us by motorcoach to our hotel. We gather this evening for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Today is devoted to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. On the way, we stop at the Plaza of the Three Cultures in Tlatelolco, where Aztec ruins, the colonial Church of Santiago Tlatelolco, and modern Mexico City stand side by side. It was to this church that St. Juan Diego was walking for Mass and catechism when Our Lady first appeared to him on the hill of Tepeyac, and here, by tradition, that he was baptized. We celebrate Mass in the brilliantly colored modern Basilica, dedicated in 1976, kneeling before the altar displaying the miraculous Tilma, the sackcloth bearing the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary that has been venerated by the faithful for centuries. We also visit the Church of the Hill, the Church of the Well, the Monument of the Offerings, and the Church of the Indians. The afternoon is free to continue exploring the shrine at leisure.
Tlaxcala & Puebla
After breakfast we depart for a full day excursion outside Mexico City. En route we take in the dramatic sight of two magnificent mountain peaks, one snow-capped and the other an active volcano. We arrive first in Tlaxcala to visit the Shrine of San Miguel del Milagro, where St. Michael the Archangel appeared to Diego Lazaro in 1631. We continue to Puebla to visit St. Dominic’s Church and its Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, Baroque masterpieces whose walls and dome are covered in gold leaf and plaster, where we celebrate Mass. We then visit the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, where the incorrupt body of St. Sebastian of Aparicio is venerated. We also visit the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, the oldest public library in the Americas, before enjoying free time to explore Puebla’s charming historic streets, including the famous Candy Street. We gather for dinner in Puebla before returning to our hotel.
Metropolitan Cathedral & Tenochtitlán
This morning we make our way to downtown Mexico City to visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Latin America. We celebrate Mass here and tour its stunning paintings, altarpieces, and statues, including the Tomb of Bishop Zumárraga, the first Bishop of Mexico and a witness to the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our guided tour continues with a visit to the National Palace, the main square known as the Zócalo, and the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlán, known as the Templo Mayor.
Tulpetlac & Pyramids of Teotihuacan
After breakfast we visit the church where Blessed Fr. Miguel Pro, S.J. served before his martyrdom under the Calles Regime. We then depart for Tulpetlac to celebrate Mass at Santa Maria Tulpetlac, also known as the Church of the Fifth Apparition of the Blessed Mother and the site of the miraculous healing of St. Juan Diego’s uncle, Juan Bernardino. We have the opportunity to drink from the miraculous well here before journeying to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan, the Place of the Gods, where we visit the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and other remarkable structures, along with a presentation on the Maguey plant. We also pay a return visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This evening we attend an authentic folk performance at the National Palace of Fine Arts. We gather for our farewell dinner tonight.
Mexico City & Cancún
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for a short direct flight to Cancún. Upon arrival we are transferred to Viva Maya by Wyndham, our all-inclusive oceanfront resort in Playa del Carmen, where we enjoy a lovely dinner and our first overnight stay on the coast.
Playa del Carmen
This morning marks the beginning of three days of rest and recreation at our beachfront resort, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks included, along with a selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. This portion of the trip is unescorted, without a priest or tour guide, offering time to relax on the beach, enjoy the resort’s amenities, and give thanks for all we have experienced on pilgrimage thus far.
Playa del Carmen
We continue to enjoy our stay at the resort, with the day free for rest, recreation, and time by the sea.
Playa del Carmen
Our final full day at the resort is ours to spend as we wish, whether relaxing on the beach, enjoying the pool, or simply resting before our journey home begins.
Playa del Carmen, Return Home
With a renewed sense of pilgrimage and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we transfer to Cancún International Airport for our return flight home to the United States.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels
Five nights at the Galería Plaza Reforma, or a hotel of the same standard, in the Zona Rosa just off the Paseo de la Reforma, then four nights all-inclusive at Viva Maya by Wyndham, or a hotel of the same standard, on the beach in Playa del Carmen. Accommodations subject to availability.
“The entire trip from start to finish went smoothly. We felt very safe and well cared for.”
“We enjoyed superb hotels, hearty meals, and daily Mass at the missions.”
“Each site was thought out about why and how to pray there.”
Questions pilgrims ask
Short answers to what most people want to know before they put down a deposit.
It is a touring pilgrimage by motorcoach for the first five days, then three free days at the beach resort. Expect about 1 to 2 miles of walking on a typical touring day, across the shrine grounds at Tepeyac, on cobblestone streets in Puebla and the historic center, and across the archaeological site at Teotihuacan. Mexico City sits at about 7,350 feet, so take the first day gently and drink plenty of water.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $1,299, or share a room. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by the final payment date, 90 days before departure, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own.
Checked bag fees, donations at Masses, souvenirs and laundry. Lunch is included on touring days in Mexico City, and all meals, drinks and snacks are included at the resort. Tips for hotel, restaurant and luggage staff are included; tips for your guides and drivers are at your discretion: as a guide, $8 to $10 per person per day for your tour guide and $6 to $8 for your driver. Travel insurance if you choose it, and a 3% fee if you pay by card. Abroad, we recommend paying for most things by credit card, which is accepted almost everywhere and comes with protection that cash does not; bring a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (pesos in Mexico), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to 90 days before departure, everything you have paid is returned except $200. Your final payment, due 90 days before departure, is non-refundable once paid. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
Fr. Ivan Ramirez, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Bristol, Connecticut, leads the group from his parish.
More answers in the FAQ below and in our Support Center, or call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Price per person
Price per person, with group flights from New York JFK or Boston included.
Ground only, without airfare: $499 less per person.
Shared rooms are always doubles with two beds. If you would like us to match you with a roommate, tell us when you book and we will do our best. Please note that if we cannot find you a match by the final payment date, the single room supplement will apply.
Couples, families, friends, singles, all are welcome!
Some pilgrims come as a couple, some bring the whole family, some come with a friend from the parish, and plenty come on their own. Everyone is welcome.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure and is non-refundable once paid. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Pray before the Tilma with Fr. Ivan Ramirez.
Mexico City and Our Lady of Guadalupe, then four nights on the beach in Playa del Carmen. Dates to be confirmed for June 2027. Reserve with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Call +1 (800) 653-0017 to hold your place with a $450 deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in Mexico City. Mass is celebrated each day of the pilgrimage portion, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Puebla, at the Metropolitan Cathedral and at Tulpetlac. Days 7 to 9 at the resort are free, with no scheduled touring.
The pilgrimage is planned for June 2027, and the exact dates are being confirmed. Call us on +1 (800) 653-0017 and we will tell you the moment they are set.
This is not a walking pilgrimage, but expect to be on your feet for a few hours each day at the shrines, on cobblestone streets in Puebla and the historic center, and across the archaeological site at Teotihuacan. Mexico City sits at about 7,350 feet, so take the first day gently and drink plenty of water.
Rates are per person based on two pilgrims sharing a room. If you are traveling alone we will do our best to match you with a roommate; if we cannot find you a match by the final payment date, the single room supplement will apply. We stay at one hotel in Mexico City for five nights and one all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen for four.
Yes. US citizens need a valid passport to travel to Mexico. No visa is needed for a tourist visit. We confirm the current entry requirements with every pilgrim before departure.
Yes. Group flights from New York JFK or Boston are included in the price, and you can choose the ground-only rate and book your own flights instead. Tell us at registration so we can match your arrival to the group in Mexico City and your departure from Cancún.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near, and your chaplain is there to guide you spiritually on the journey.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.