Pilgrimage trip to Mexico

Tour Length:     9 days
Tour Type:         Pilgrimage with participation in Indulgence in Guadelupe Sanctuary.
Date:                   10th to 18th December 2010
Price:                  $890,00 USD per person

Route:    Mexico City, Guadelupe Sanctuary, Tlatelolco, Zocalo, Xochimilco, Teotihuacan, Chapultepec, Tenango del Aire, Cholula, Puebla, Cacahuamilpa, Taxco, Acapulco.

We cordially invite you to the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Gudalupe combined with handling the largest celebration of indulgence in the world, this year 478 anniversary of the miraculous apparition of Our Lady of the Indian Juan Diego.

You will participate in a solemn Holy Mass (called Roz Mass), processions, dances and prayers. You will have great opportunity to understand the importance of worship of Virgen de Guadelupe and also understand the phenomenon known as syncretism, when Indian ceremonies and dances mix with prayer of worshippers.
Guadelupe Sanctuary is the most often visited place after Mecca. 18 millions pilgrims from all over the world come here every year. To give you the opportunity to participate in this spiritual event we prepared several programs: from the short ones with a completion in Acapulco to long ones including tour throughout Mexico.
During the trip you will explore the Empire of Aztecs, Indian works, the biggest pyramids in America. You will learn about terrifying ceremonies in the country where the sun used to be God. The most common things which we link with Mexico are: salt, tequila and lime, huge size sombreros and music of mariachi bands. You will go beyond that and learn about the history of dramatic encounter of two cultures: Indian and Spanish conqueror. We will visit the rarest examples of colonial time architecture and the most interesting historical monuments in Mexico City.

During the trip you will be amazed by a variety of beautiful landscapes, coexisting traditions, hospitality of local people from places like: Taxco or Puebla; and the ambience of an unending fiesta in this most famous resort in Mexico, Acapulco, with golden sand beaches, palm trees, tropical sun, wild lagoons and calm sound of the ocean.

Day 1: Mexico City 10.12.2010
Flight to Mexico. Our guide will welcome you at the airport. Transfer to a hotel, repose after the journey, dinner.

Day 2: Chapultepec - Zocalo - Xochimilco  11.12.2010
Breakfast. Transfer to Bosque de Chapultepec, the biggest park in the city, we will visit the Museum of Anthropology with a rich collection of pre-Columbian art. In Mexico City you will explore, among others: Fine Art Palace, Metropolitana Cathedral, Presidential Palace with frescos of Diego Rivera. Then we'll go to the south of the city, to learn about cultural heritage of Xochimilco. During a short boat cruise on the "floating gardens" of Xochimilco combined with tequila tasting and the sounds of mariachi music guide will tell you about the origins of Mexico City.

Day 3: Odpust w Guadalupe 12.12.2010
After breakfast we will go to Tlatelolco quarter and visit the Plaza of the three cultures- the place of the last clash between Indians and Spanish conquerors. Next visiting place will be the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. We will see the whole sanctuary with old basilica, modern basilica, Indian chapel, chapel on the hill and Guadeloupian Gardens. You will learn about the history of the apparitions of Our Lady to the Indian, Juan Diego, who was beatified by the Holy Father John Paul II in 2002. You will participate in main Indulgence celebrations like Roses Mass. You will experience Mexican fiesta, folklore and the power of faith in the atheistic Country. fterwards we will go to Teotihuacan, 50 km away from Mexico City. In the archeological site we will visit the largest pyramidal structures built in Pre-Columbian “city of Gods” (the pyramid of the sun and the pyramid of the moon). We will walk The Path of Dead Gods and visit the Aztecs atelier of the magic stone – obsidian.
We will have a dinner in a local, colonial style restaurant and come back to the hotel in the evening.

Day  4: Tenago del Aire – Puebla “the City of Angels “and Cholula  13.12.2010
After breakfast we will drive to the Sanctuary de la Divina Misericordia in Tenqgo del Aire run by Polish Pallotine Priests. We will have a Holy Mass, learn about the history of Tenago del Aire and have a photo session with volcanoes in the background. Afterwards we will drive to Cholula and visit the second biggest pyramid in the world and a church built on the top of it, which is the symbol of religious syncretism and conquest.
Then we will to the City of Angels – Puebla, where we visit a colonial cathedral, Dominican monastery and the chapel with stunning gilded plasters, angels and celestial orchestra. We are also going to visit the old town, Sweet Street and the Parian Square. We will check in at a hotel in the old town with a beautiful view on the very most Mexican Square. Free time, dinner.

Day 5: Cacahuamilpa – Taxco  14.12.2010
Breakfast. Heading towards Cacahuamilpa we will drive along picturesque volcanoes: Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl. In Cacahuamilpa we will visit one of the largest cave systems in the world. It is famous for its stalagmites and chambers carved in the bed of the underwater river. After viewing the caves we will drive to the famous historical place of Mexico – the City of Silver- Taxco. We will have a Holy Mass in the Church of Santa Prisca y San Sebastian, visit the old town and view points. We will learn about the history of silver extraction. After sightseeing we have some time for silverware and jewellery shopping. We will have a dinner in a restaurant with the view across the “silver city” and will return to the hotel.

Day 6: Acapulco, „per³a Pacyfiku“  15.12.2010
After breakfast we will drive to the oldest Mexican resort “daisy of Pacific”- Acapulco. After arrival and checking in to the one of the hotels in Acapulco, we will have some time for recreation on a golden sand beach. Our guide will organize an optional trip “The Diamond Coast” for those willing to participate. We will drive around the bay of Acapulco, pausing at viewpoints. Then we will go to the harbor to take a cruise on the “Bonanza” yacht. During the cruise we can admire houses of celebrities hung on the rocks while listening to live music and enjoying all-inclusive bar. After the cruise we will go to Zocalo to get a flavor of the ambience of this cosmopolitan and lively resort. Afterwards we will move to the Quebrada hill and we will experience a spine-chilling show – divers jumping off 45 meter high cliff. Return to the hotel, dinner.

Day 7: Acapulco, Rambo Tour   16.12.2010
Breakfast, some leisure time on the beach. Our guide will organize an optional trip “Coyuca Lagoon”. We will drive to the Coyuca lagoon surrounded by mountains. It was the scenery from the movie “Rambo”. We will cruise down the river Coyuca through tropical gardens. We will try Iguana and coconut milk fortified with mescal, try the fango therapy (algae mask). We will sunbath at the Revolcadero coast famous for its huge waves. We will come back to the hotel for a dinner and accommodation. 

Day 8: Acapulco - Mexico City  17.12.2010
Breakfast and last moments of relaxing on the beach. Farewell to the guide, the end of the pilgrimage. Departure from Mexico.

Day 9: The end of the pilgrimage 18.12.2010
Return to your country.

1. 4* hotels in Mexico and Taxco
2. 4* hotel in Puebla in the centre of the old town
3. 5* hotel in Acapulco with private beach. All rooms with the view over the bay
4. During whole trip we provide breakfast and dinner with not bottled drinks
5. Transfers by luxury coaches or air conditioned vans
6. You are under care of polish speaking, licensed guide during the whole trip
7. Tickets to all visiting sights and archeological sites
8. Rafting the „swimming gardens” of Xochimlco
9. Tasting of tequila and mezcal
10. Tips for hotel porters, housekeepers and waiters in all hotels and restaurants included in the programme
11. Welcome cocktails in all hotels
12. All our participants will get bottled water every day
13. Optional trips conduction by polish speaking guide
14. Spiritual care for the entire pilgrimage route
15. Daily Holy Mass
16. Professional DVD souvenir from the pilgrimage.

1. Flight and insurence
2. Personal expenditure
3. Optional trips charge
4. Optional charge for a single room $180.00 USD