FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Have questions? We have answers. Find everything you need to know about our upcoming Pilgrimage below.

What is a pilgrimage?

Most definitions of a pilgrimage will say it is a journey to a sacred place for a religious purpose. For centuries, Catholics have gone to sacred places like the Catacumbs, Holy Land, Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Marian apparition sites, shrines dedicated to saints, etc. to ask for special requests, give thanks, or for veneration due to a special devotion.  We can say it is one of the most ancient traditions in our Catholic Church. There is something special in a pilgrimage, we are «on our way» to a sacred place, and this gives us the opportunity to imagine being «in our way» to Heaven! 

Everything in a pilgrimage has a purpose: the walking, the prayers, lighting candles at each church, offering up the heat, the cold, the hunger… all for the love of God. We seek God throught all of this. We want to unite ourselves to Jesus every day, following His example of prayer in the desert. We want to get all the graces He has for us and we want to gain all the indulgences we can for the souls in purgatory or our loved ones. 

This pilgrimage is an encounter with Jesus through the presence of Our Blessed Mother in her advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She wants you to know she is your Mother! And she is waiting for you «in her sacred little house» that she requested.

To understand and appreciate Our Lady of Guadalupe, you will learn about the Mexicas (or Aztecs) and their worldview, the impact of the Conquest by Hernan Cortes, and the fight for the people between the conquistadors and the religious orders.  The evangelization was not easy because the «conquistadors» (those who came searching power and money) did not believe the Mexican natives had a soul, therefore they did not want the Church to baptize them. At a crucial point, Our Lady comes to rescue a nation, looking like them; she told them: «Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my protection?…» 

You will visit archeological sites in the city that the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire buit as the New Spain, and all the amazing work of the different Religious Orders like the Franciscans, the Dominicans, The Agustinians, the Jesuits… you will be a proud Catholic after seen what the Catholic Church did for Mexico as a response to Our Lady’s requests!

There are two available discounts:

  • Full payment discount, save $50 USD
  • “Bring a Soul” Program: earn a $40 USD credit for every new pilgrim you refer (up to 3 referrals)

The total cost depends on the cost of the flight and the discounts you might get by booking early or through «bring a soul program».  As a reference:

If you depart from Philadelphia, an estimate for the flight with Aeromexico as of this writing (6/6/2026) is:

Cost:  $781 non-stop, round trip

Departure: Mon, Dec 7

  • Aeromexico – Delta AM 609
    9:05 AM Philadelphia International Airport (PHL),Aeromexico – Delta AM 609; Travel time 5 hr 30 min.
  • 1:35 PM Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX).

Return: Sun, Dec 13

  • 1:45 PM Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX), Aeromexico – Delta AM 608; Travel time 4 hr 49 min.
  • 7:34 PM Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  1. So, with this example, if you add $781 + $1450, the total would be $2,231.  If you pay in full we will subtract $50:  $781 + $1,450 – $50, for a total of $2,181.  
  2. If you bring three pilgrims, we will subtract $40 per person if you bring three pilgrims: $781 + $1,450 – $120, for a total of $2,111. 

If you depart from State College, an estimate for the flight with American Airlines as of this writing (6/6/2026) is:

Cost $831 round trip

Departure: Mon, Dec 7

  • 6:35 AM State College Regional Airport (SCE) Travel time 1hr 42 min
  • 8:17 AM Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), American Economy Embraer ERJ-45AA 5850; 1hr 7 min layover Charlotte (CLT).
  • 9:24 AM Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT); Travel time 4hr 21 min.
  • 12:45 PM Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX); 

Return: Sun, Dec 13

  • 8:00 AM Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX); Travel time 4 hr 15 min.
  • 1:15 PM Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
    AmericanEconomyBoeing 737MAX 8 PassengerAA 2884
    1 hr 26 min layoverCharlotte (CLT).
  • 2:41 PM Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Travel time: 1 hr 47 min
    4:28 PM State College Regional Airport (SCE).

  1. So, with this second example, if you add $831 + $1450, the total would be $2,281. If you pay in full we will subtract $50:  $831 + $1,450 – $50, for a total of $2,231. 
  2. If you bring three pilgrims, we will subtract $40 per person if you bring 3 pilgrims: $781 + $1,450 – $120, for a total of $2,161.
  1. Six nights at a boutique hostel, (shared room) – a hotel option is also available.
  2. Two meals every day in Mexico City (breakfast and lunch).
  3. Daily Mass and Confession by our chaplain.
  4. All local transportation, including pickup and drop off at the MEX International Airport (conditions apply).
  5. All entrance fees and tour fees.
  6. Pilgrims’ guide.
  7. Two days visiting the Basilica of Our Lady, and…
  8. A farewell Mexican dinner
  1. Airline tickets.
  2. Baggage fees.
  3. Meals during travel.
  4. Special drinks during breakfast and lunch (soda, coffee, tea, lemonade, etc.).
  5. Travel Insurance.
  6. Personal needs (like phone calls, laundry, etc.).
  7. Tips for service providers.
  8. Souvenirs.
  9. Incidentals at the hotel or hostel (e.g., personal items, etc.).

We meet and drop off pilgrims at the Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) in Mexico City.

  • Pilgrims with confirmed arrival will be picked up Monday, December 7, between the following local times: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm or 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

  • If your flight has a delay or you are arriving at a different time, let us know to arrange transportation for you. The ride will cost $25 USD (approximately).

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All U.S. citizens must possess a valid U.S. Passport Book to enter Mexico by air. Very importantly, although Mexican authorities only require your passport to be valid for the duration of your stay, most airlines and international safety standards strongly recommend that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates (meaning your passport should not expire before June 2027). U.S. citizens do not require a tourist visa to enter Mexico for stays under 180 days.

The suggested spending money depends on several factors like tips, church donations, paying for a public restroom, souvenirs, etc. A suggestion for church donation at each Mass could be $5-$10 USD, tips for dinner at a restaurant could be 10-15%, many bathrooms have fees of about $1 USD… so $70-100 might suffice.

You can do it at the airport in Mexico City or withdraw at an ATM (debit cards are often the least expensive way to get cash).  We can also exchange money for you at no extra cost, but let us know about a month before the trip. We encourage you to check the exchange rates in November so you can make a decision on where to get your Mexican pesos. 

Options for accommodations are the following:

Hostel (included in the cost) 

  • Shared rooms with bunk beds are for 4, 6, or 8 pilgrims. Men or women only in each room.
  • Private rooms for up to 4 people available upon request. Add $200 for the upgrade per room.

Hotel options (Not included in the cost)

  • If you choose the hotel, $80 dollars of the Hostel cost will be subtracted to enable you to book your own room at  the hotel.

  • If you would like us to book for you, we incur a $10 booking fee per room.
  • Hotel Catedral is around the corner of the hotal, which make it very convenient for pickups.

  • Hotel Zócalo is a block away.

  1. Mass, Liturgy of the Hours as a group for morning and evening prayers, and Rosary. Optional: Divine Mercy Chaplet and Holy Hour.
  2. 15-30 minutes daily of personal prayer time.
  3. Quiet time after night prayer.
  4. Media fast: phones put away except for designated photographers and emergencies.
  5. Keep the schedule and communicate personal needs to pilgrimage leaders.
  • The Way of Saint Juan Diego lasts about four hours walking through Mexico City (a van will be available for pilgrims who need assistance).
  • Simple meals for breakfast and lunch, dinner on your own (except our last day).
  • Quiet time after ~10:00pm.
  • Early rising and honoring the schedule.
  • Drinking only bottled water as Mexican water is not potable for individuals who are not used to it.

To make your registration as secure and flexible as possible, we accept multiple payment options through encrypted and industry-standard platforms:

1. Credit & Debit Cards (Stripe): Pay instantly on our website. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

2. Direct Bank Transfers (Remitly / Western Union): If you prefer to make a direct transfer to avoid credit card fees, you can choose this option to deposit directly into our official Mexican bank account (Banco Azteca). Our account details and transfer instructions will display during registration.

Still Have Unanswered Questions?

Our administrative and spiritual care team is here to walk beside you at any prepare stage.

ramirezmezaisrael@gmail.com

WhatsApp +52 5580278303