+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Old Mission Santa Barbara at sunset

United States Pilgrimages

San Francisco, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego

Ten days along the California mission trail, from San Francisco south to San Diego, following the chain of missions St. Junípero Serra and his Franciscan brothers founded along the coast.

Departures

Current Tours to the United States

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

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Eleven stops along the California coast

From San Francisco we travel south through Sonoma, San Juan Bautista, Carmel-by-the-Sea, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Garden Grove, San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside to San Diego.

Itinerary · AM_US-10D-02

Our Standard California Missions Pilgrimage

Ten days on the mission trail, with three nights in San Francisco, a night on the central coast at San Luis Obispo, three nights in Los Angeles and two in San Diego. 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 1–3

San Francisco and Sonoma

Mission San Juan Bautista and its rose garden
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, San Francisco
Day 1

Arrival in San Francisco

Our local escort meets us on arrival and accompanies us by motorcoach to the hotel.Welcome dinner and overnight in San Francisco.
Day 2

San Francisco

A panoramic tour takes in the Civic Center, Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. The cathedral we visit is the third to carry the name; the first still stands as Old St. Mary’s.Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. Dinner and overnight in San Francisco.
Day 3

Sonoma County

We visit La Porziuncola Nuova, a replica of the chapel St. Francis restored at Assisi, then cross the Golden Gate into Sonoma to Mission San Francisco Solano, set opposite the site of the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt.Mass at Mission San Francisco Solano. Dinner and overnight in San Francisco.
Days 4–5

The Central Coast

The fountain and facade of Old Mission Santa Barbara
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Day 4

San Juan Bautista and Carmel-by-the-Sea

Mission San Juan Bautista, the Mission of Music, keeps the only surviving original Spanish plaza. At Carmel we visit San Carlos Borromeo, where St. Junípero Serra is entombed beneath the sanctuary.Mass at the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi. Dinner and overnight in San Luis Obispo.
Day 5

San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara

A guided tour of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, then Old Mission Santa Barbara, named for a young woman martyred by her own father for her faith.Mass at Old Mission Santa Barbara. Dinner and overnight in Los Angeles.
Days 6–7

Los Angeles and Orange County

Christ Cathedral and its arboretum at Garden Grove
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles
Day 6

Los Angeles

A private tour of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, which enshrines relics of St. Vibiana and a fragment of the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, followed by Beverly Hills and Hollywood.Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Dinner and overnight in Los Angeles.
Day 7

Garden Grove and the Carmelite Sisters

Christ Cathedral, once the Crystal Cathedral and now the seat of the Diocese of Orange, then the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart, and Mission San Fernando Rey de España.Mission San Gabriel Arcángel remains closed after fire damage and is not visited. Mass at Christ Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Los Angeles.
Days 8–10

South to San Diego

The campanile of Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá
Day 8

San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside

San Juan Capistrano, the Jewel of the Missions, then time at Dana Point before Mission San Luis Rey, the King of the Missions, named for St. Louis IX of France.Mass at Mission San Luis Rey. Dinner and overnight in San Diego.
Day 9

San Diego

We drive through Mission Bay Park and past Balboa Park to Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, the Mother of the California Missions. The afternoon is free.Mass at Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá. Farewell dinner and overnight in San Diego.
Day 10

Departure

After a final breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flights home, carrying the witness of the missionaries who first brought the faith to California.

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®
Mission San Luis Rey at Oceanside in the evening light
Carmel-by-the-SeaSt. Junípero Serra is entombed beneath the sanctuary of San Carlos Borromeo, the mission he made his headquarters and the place he chose to be buried.
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
The statue of St. Junipero Serra before a California mission
The statue of St. Junípero Serra
The white facade of Mission San Luis Rey at Oceanside
Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside
The painted nave of Mission San Diego de Alcala
Inside Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala from its garden
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá
Mission San Luis Rey at sunset
Mission San Luis Rey at sunset
The garden walk at Mission San Juan Bautista
Mission San Juan Bautista, the Mission of Music

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 the California mission trail?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, with mild days along the whole coast and thinner crowds at the missions. Summer brings warm inland weather and coastal fog in San Francisco most mornings. Winter is quiet and green, with the chance of rain in the north.

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 for this pilgrimage?

No. This pilgrimage takes place entirely within the United States, so United States citizens travel on a government-issued photo ID. Pilgrims travelling from outside the country should check their own entry requirements.

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 the United States?

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?

    You May Also Be Interested In