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The Shrine at Guadalupe is considered the holiest place in the Western Hemisphere. President John F. Kennedy and French President Charles de Gaulle testified to this during state visits to Mexico.  Saint John Paul II preached to millions of the faithful from this holy Shrine during his 1979 visit to Mexico.  The Basilica commemorates the Virgin Mary's appearance to a humble Indian and honors her request that a Shrine be built in Her honor.  In December of 1531, Juan Diego informed a skeptical bishop of his encounter with Mary.  A few days later, Juan returned to the site of the vision and once again Our Mother appeared.  The humble man relayed the bishop's request for proof of Her visitation, whereupon the Virgin instructed Juan to gather roses from the frozen, rocky terrain and present them to the bishop.  Remarkably for the cool season, he found a great number of roses strewn all around.  Gathering the roses in sackcloth, he hurriedly took them to the bishop.  When he opened the cloak to present the roses to the cleric, it was not Only * the blooms that amazed the bishop. Stamped on the humble cloth was an image of the Virgin!  The same miraculous image exists for you to see, hanging in splendor above the main altar.

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
Round-trip air from New York

  (Low add on fare available from US airports please inquire for fare: call 800-206-TOUR (8687) or e-mail sales@206tours.com)
All Airlines Fuel Surcharges & Airport Taxes
12 nights at centrally located first class hotels as follows: (or similar)
           5 nights:  Galeria Plaza or Casa Blanca or Royal Zona Rosa, Mexico City, Mexico

         7 nights:  El Dorado Royale or NOW Jade, Riveria Maya, Mexico
Buffet breakfast daily at your hotels
Lunch on four days in local restaurants

Dinner daily at your hotels or local restaurants

All meals, snacks and beverages in Riviera Maya

Wine and mineral water with your dinners
Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
Assistance of a professional local Catholic guide(s)
Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction
Mass daily & Spiritual activities
Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents

Not Included: Travel Insurance optional (www.206tours.com/insurance), Supplemental Cancellation Protection @ $299 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide & driver ($ 7-9 per day). Items of a personal nature.

Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:

Day 1 - USA - Mexico City
Depart from New York or from your hometown for Mexico City.  On arriving, we'll meet our guide for our five-day adventure.  Transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 02 - Excursion to Coyoacan & University City
After breakfast we depart for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas. Celebrate Mass in the brilliantly colored, modern Basilica dedicated in 1976. Join your prayers with those of other pilgrims as you kneel before the altar displaying the astounding Tilma, the sackcloth bearing the image of the Holy Virgin. We will enjoy free time for prayer and reflection at the shrine.  Next drive South, to San Angel for Mass at San Jacinto Church. Next we visit the former convent and church of El Carmen and the Church of Santa Catarina in suburban Coyoacan. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.


Day 03 - Mexico City
After breakfast we transfer to La Votiva Church to celebrate Mass. We continue to  the Museum for Anthropology, itself an architectural wonder that houses artifacts from Mexico's pre-Columbian civilizations.. We will enjoy lunch at the Museum's Restaurant.  Drive to Historical Mexico City to visit the Zocalo where we will see the National Palace and visit the Metropolitan Cathedral.  Continue to travel to the Plaza of Santo Domingo, the first church built by the Dominicans in 1576. Housed within is the first rosary shrine in Mexico, Our Lady of the Rosary; and a second shrine, Our Lady of Covadonga (the headquarters of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary founded in 1538).  Drive back thru Polanco and Lomas residential-commercial zones to visit the Church of our Lady of Covadonga in Palmas Boulevard. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.


Day 04 - Excursion to Tlaxcala, Ocotlan, Cholula & Puebla
Enjoy the ride through the mountains as we travel to Tlaxcala and the Shrine of San Miguel Del Milagro. Upon arrival our priest will celebrate Holy Mass at the site where St. Michael the Archangel appeared to Diego Lazaro in 1631, directing him to the Grotto and to a well of miraculous curative waters.  We continue to Ocotlan to visit the beautiful church and see the miraculous image of Our Lady burnt into a tree trunk after she appeared to Juan Diego Bernardino in 1541. Perfectly preserved, the image in a tree resides in the Basilica of Our Lady of Ocotlan.  Next we stop at Cholula where we will visit the 7 Super-imposed Pyramids of Quetalcoatl. We continue on to Puebla, where we will enjoy lunch at Hotel Colonial in the heart of Puebla's Historic Center. After lunch we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Puebla, visiting the Cathedral, the Rosary Chapel, and other places of interest. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.


Day 05 - Guadalupe
After breakfast we travel by way of the Plaza of the Three Cultures to visit the baptismal place of Juan Diego. As we drive you will be enchanted by the artful blending of pre-Hispanic and Hispanic cultures. Our destination is the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas. Celebrate Mass in the brilliantly colored, modern Basilica dedicated in 1976. Join your prayers with those of other pilgrims as you kneel before the altar displaying the astounding Tilma, the sackcloth bearing the image of the Holy Virgin. Continue to San Juan Teotihuacan, a UNESCO's world Heritage site before we enjoy lunch nearby. This afternoon we will enjoy a guided tour of the Archaeological zone, visiting the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and local arts and crafts markets. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. This evening allows for an optional performance at the Palace of Fine Arts of the acclaimed Mexican Folklore Ballet (additional $115 per person including roundtrip transfers)


Day 6 - Mexico City - Cancun
After breakfast we transfer to airport for your short flight to Cancun Airport. Upon arrival in Cancun you will be transferred to your hotel on the Riviera Maya.

Days 7 to 12 - Riviera Maya
Enjoy Six days of rest, relaxation, and recreation at your beachfront resort. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are included. Unlimited premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will also be included.
*Your time in Riviera Maya will be on your own for rest and relaxation. You will not be accompanied by a priest or tour guide for this portion of your trip.

Day 13 -Cancun - USA
After breakfast you will transfer to Cancun Airport for your return flights home to the USA.

Additional Information & Travel Tips

What to Know Before You Go to Mexico

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