Pilgrimages
Due to Mexico’s large Christian devotion, the country offers a great heritage to organize great programs tour. Let us take you on a unique journey to your inner self and to the most important holy places of Mexico. In Mexico City as well as throughout the whole country you can find a large number of original churches, abbeys, temples, cathedrals and basilicas.
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No doubts the most important sanctuary for Mexican is Basilica of Our lady of Guadalupe, a Roman Catholic Church. Due to the several churches and related buildings, this place is also known as “La Villa de Guadalupe”. Being one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Catholicism, the basilica is visited by several million people every year, especially around 12 December, Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Feast day.
Most important pilgrimage sanctuaries
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If you are interested in visiting the most important pilgrimage centers of Mexico, we are able to design your personalized pilgrim tour for you. We invite you to take part in our religious programs, visiting the following sanctuaries:
• Sanctuary of Chalma
Chalma is a small community in the Mexico State, 1 day tour away from Mexico City which is almost completely dedicated to pilgrims. The Sanctuary of Chalma is known as the second-most important pilgrimage site of the country after the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is dedicated to an image, described by many people as the “black Christ”. Usually, the pilgrims follow patterns of the prehispanic rituals, including walking on narrow paths to the town of Chalma, wearing flowers, bathing themselves in the waters of a fresh-water spring and dancing at the sanctuary. Mass pilgrimages occur during the first Friday of Lent, Holy Week and Pentecost, as these dates are the most associated with the death of Christ, and on 1 July, which is the feast day of the Christ of Chalma.
• Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan
This basilica together with the abbey of our Lady of Expectation of Zapopan is a Franciscan sanctuary built in the heart of Zapopan in the state of Jalisco. It is considered the fourth most important pilgrimage center in the country. On October 12 of each year, there is a procession of lay Catholics, pre-Columbian dancers, mendicants, priests and seminarians who carry a statue of the Virgin Mary from the cathedral to the basilica and it ends with traditional dances and evening fireworks. Next to that, the church invites to visit its collection of art that includes its own architectural features, paintings and sculptures.
• Sanctuary and the Basilica of Ocotlán
Close to Mexico City, we recommend to visit of the Sanctuary and the Basilica of Ocotlán, in the state of Tlaxcala, located on a hill overlooking the city. The Virgin of Ocotlán is a statue of the Virgin Mary and the patron saint of the Tlaxcala and the neighboring state of Puebla. There are various processions throughout the year where people can demonstrate their devotion to the virgin. She leaves its niche on three fixed dates: New Year’s Day and the first and third Mondays in May.
• Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos
In the state of Jalisco and in the north of the city of Guadalajara is situated another very famous pilgrimage shrine of Mexico – The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos. There is a great pilgrimage at the end of January and beginning of February every year, which often is attended by more than a million people, many of them walking. During this festival you will be able to buy pilgrimage icons from temporary stalls, listen to bands of musicians playing and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere.