Pilgrimage to Mexico City

A Journey to Our Lady of Guadalupe With Joan Watson

November 5-10, 2025
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About

Join Joan Watson and Verso Ministries on pilgrimage to Mexico City and immerse yourself in the story Our Lady of Gualdalupe and the rich spiritual heritage of Mexico. Around every corner, discover a beautiful tapestry of history, culture, and spirituality. Explore the Zócalo, encounter the lives of saints and martyrs, float through the gardens of Xochilmoco, climb the pyramids of Teotihuacán, and spend time in prayer and reflection at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. From the ruins of the Aztecs to the taquerias of today, this journey of faith and culture will inspire you to embrace Our Lady’s invitation to relationship with Christ and community with those around us.

Trip Details

Group Type

Open to All

Activity Level

Moderate

Length

6 days, 5 nights

Accommodations

Standard

Cost

As low as

$2,576

Deposit:

$500

What's Included

Verso pilgrimage director (Joan Watson)
Local, licensed tour guides
Verso pilgrimage booklets & pilgrim kits
Airport/hotel transfers
Daily Mass
Private transportation on motor coach
All tickets and donations for included activities listed on itinerary
Standard accommodations in double-occupancy rooms
Meals as indicated on itinerary
Preparation & follow-up materials
Audio headsets (if 20 pilgrims or more)
Gratuities for pilgrimage director, guide(s), driver(s), hotel staff, and meals

Itinerary

November 5
Arrival (D)
  • Arrive at Mexico City International Airport and transfer to hotel
  • Welcome Mass at the Church of the Holy Family, where the remains of martyred Miguel Pro are found
  • Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant
  • Overnight in Mexico City
  • Accommodations: Hotel Casa Blanca
  • Meals Included: Dinner
November 6
Zócalo and Xochimilco (B, L, D)
  • Morning Mass at the Convent of St. Francis
  • Embark on a walking tour of the Zócalo and central Mexico City, with views of the ruins of Templo Mayor and National Palace, and visits to the Church of St. Philip Neri and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City
  • While on the tour, stop for a group lunch
  • In the evening, visit the floating Gardens of Mexico, Xochimilco, where you will climb aboard a decorated gondola and float through the flower-laden canals while enjoying dinner
  • Overnight in Mexico City
  • Accommodations: Hotel Casa Blanca
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
November 7
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (B, L)
  • Depart to the Plaza of the 3 Cultures – Tlatelolco – to see the Church of St. James where St. Juan Diego presented the “tilma” of Our Lady to the Bishop as proof of her apparitions
  • Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, followed by an orientation tour
  • Group lunch at a restaurant near the Shrine
  • Free afternoon at the Shrine for exploration and prayer. View the Tilma, pray the stations of the cross, climb Tepeyac hill, and contemplate the story of Our Lady and St. Juan Diego in the two majestic Basilicas.
  • Dinner on your own and free evening
  • Overnight in Mexico City
  • Accommodations: Hotel Casa Blanca
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
November 8
Teotihuacán and Santa Maria Tulpetlac (B, L)
  • Visit the Pyramids of Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the pyramids and discover more about the native history and culture of Mexico
  • Lunch in a local restaurant
  • Mass at the Church of the 5th Apparition in Santa Maria Tulpetlac, where Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Bernardino, Juan Diego’s uncle
  • Return to Mexico City for a free evening and dinner on your own
  • Overnight in Mexico City
  • Accommodations: Hotel Casa Blanca
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
November 9
Free Time and Return to Guadalupe (B, D)
  • Free morning and early afternoon to explore Mexico City. Visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Museum of Anthropology, or one of the city’s other world-class museums, discover authentic artisan markets, stroll through charming parks and neighborhoods, indulge in the fantastic culinary scene, and so much more.
  • Gather at the hotel in the mid-afternoon to return to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for a closing Mass and final opportunity to pray at the Shrine.
  • Farewell dinner in a local restaurant walking distance from the hotel
  • Overnight in Mexico City
  • Accommodations: Hotel Casa Blanca
  • Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
November 10
Departure (B)
  • Transfer to the airport and depart Mexico City
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Register

Led by

Group Leader
Joan Watson
South Bend, IN

Joan fell in love with the Church while studying in Rome and has been committed to sharing those graces ever since. Witnessing the funeral of Pope St. John Paul and the election of Pope Benedict instilled in Joan the passion to evangelize, especially through pilgrimage. With degrees in history and theology from Christendom College and Franciscan University of Steubenville, Joan has worked for the Church and various religious apostolates for seventeen years. She is also a Catholic speaker, writer, and podcaster and loves introducing people to the things she loves. She and her husband live in South Bend, Indiana.

Pricing

As low as

$2,576

Package Cost

$2,576

Optional Add-ons

Single room supplement (limited availability)
$414/person
Travel protection
*Quote provided following registration

Pricing listed per person in double-occupancy rooms and does not include airfare.
The number of available single-occupancy rooms is limited.

Want to be matched with a roommate? After registering as a single, you will be able to indicate on your Pilgrim Portal that you wish to be matched. Our Pilgrim Support team will facilitate that process, and as soon as we are able to match you, we will switch you to the double occupancy package. The deposit is the same either way!

*Travel protection price is calculated based on a variety of factors and optional plans are provided by Travel Insured International.

Rates assume a minimum of 20 full-paying pilgrims.

 

  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Passport, visa, or luggage fees
  • Any personal purchases
  • Any meals not indicated on itinerary
  • Any required COVID tests or vaccinations
  • Recommended travel protection with Cancel for Any Reason coverage
  • Anything else not explicitly mentioned as included

Pilgrims Should Arrange Their Own Airfare

Arrival Information

  • Arrive by: November 5, 2025
  • Arrival time: Arrive by 12:00 PM
  • Arrival airport: Benito Juarez Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
  • Arrival transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred to the hotel from the airport.

Departure Information

  • Depart on: November 10, 2025
  • Departure time: Depart at or after 8:00 a.m.
  • Departure airport: Benito Juarez Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
  • Departure transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred to the airport based on flight departure times.

 

Want help arranging your flights?

Standard Accommodations

Deposit due upon registration – $500/person
Final balance due 120 days prior to departure – Final balance

Please note: Payment plans can be arranged if needed. Please contact us if you would like to pay in several installments.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be submitted to Verso Ministries in written form and received via email or mail. Any refunds, as applicable, will be processed based on the date stamp of email or mail received. Cancellation fees are for individual pilgrims and fees will be charged per person per booking.

Cancellations are possible at any time, but refunds are subject to cancellation fees at the rates listed here.

  • Within 2 weeks of deposit: Free Cancellation*
  • 91 days or more from departure: Deposit is retained ($500)
  • 90-61 days prior to departure: 25% of total trip cost is non-refundable
  • 60-31 days prior to departure: 50% of total trip cost is non-refundable
  • 30 days or less prior to departure: 100% of total trip cost is non-refundable

*Free cancellation (if deposit is made more than 180 days prior to departure)

Any cancellation charges incurred from other suppliers or vendors (flight, lodging, ground transportation, tickets, etc.) may come in addition to the administrative fees listed here. All group flight airline tickets, optional excursions, trip options, pre/post extensions, private transfers, and additional hotel nights are non-refundable 100 days or less prior to departure unless otherwise noted.

Register

FAQ

The sooner you register for the pilgrimage, the better! There is no risk for 14-days after you register should you then have to cancel (must register 180 days or more prior to departure). So let’s say you register for a pilgrimage, but then realize you can no longer attend, as long as you cancel your pilgrimage within 14-days of registering and registered more than 180s days prior to the departure, then we will fully refund your deposit no questions asked. Just send us a written confirmation of your cancellation and we will take care of the rest. Plus, the sooner you register the sooner your journey begins. Register today!

There is no risk! Your deposit will be fully refunded as long as you cancel within 14-days of registering and you have registered more than 180 days or more prior to departure. With no risk, why wait? Get registered today!

Registration closes when the pilgrimage reaches the maximum number of pilgrims. If the pilgrimage is filled when you register, you will be added to our waiting list, and contacted in the event that space on the pilgrimage becomes available. Don’t miss your chance, register now and begin your journey.

We recommend that all pilgrims consider purchasing travel protection. We partner with Travel Insured International (TII) to offer travel protection.

According to TII, travel protection helps protect you and those you are traveling with from unforeseen emergencies, which always seem to happen at the worst possible time. In the event of emergencies, both before and during your travels, as well other circumstances, like travel delay, lost baggage, missed connection(s), and much more, travel protection can help.

Upon registration you will receive a travel protection quotation from TII. If you have any questions regarding your quotation, please call TII. If you need an updated or new quotation, please contact us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396. We are happy to help!

Including optional add-ons with your pilgrimage can really add to your experience. If you would to add on any optional arrangements, as listed above, please email us at hello@versoministries.com or call us at 574-383-9396.

A pilgrimage, at its simplest, is a trip of faith. Which means a pilgrimage can be anything from a walk around your city to an encounter of Jesus in the Holy Land. For Catholics, it’s a trip of faith that people have been taking for hundreds or even thousands of years, many times in the same exact places you can visit today. It’s an opportunity to experience the spots God has made his presence known most in time and space, whether that’s where Jesus walked, where Mary appeared, or where the saints have lived and worked.

At Verso, we believe in crafting pilgrimages that offer you a view of God’s world and his work in it that you can’t get anywhere else. We believe everything from the holy sites, to the meals, to daily Mass, to your fellow pilgrims are ways God can speak to you, which means we’re intentional about it all. We also believe a pilgrimage isn’t just the days you travel, it’s how you prepare from the moment you sign up, to the days and weeks after you arrive home. Which means it’s our intention to shepherd you through the entire process — before, during, and after — so you can have the best, most transformative experience possible. We’re not just travel experts, we’re experts in Catholic pilgrimage.

We know from experience that preparing for a journey is just as important as the journey itself. Our goal is to make sure you’re physically, logistically, and spiritually ready for your pilgrimage. You’ll receive essential emails that will walk you through the process and give you ways to prepare your mind and heart for what you’ll encounter. A pre-trip webinar will make sure you are in touch with the Verso leader of the trip, can get trip-specific info, and can ask questions. We’ll send you a pilgrim kit that contains a comprehensive booklet for your trip along with some Verso swag (such as a bag, pen, and sticker) that you can bring along with you on your pilgrimage. And of course, we’re always available by phone or email if you have any questions or special needs.

Have a Question?

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Activity Level

Easy
This trip’s activity level is easy. It’s recommended that travelers be in good health to enjoy this itinerary and be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include half or full-day itineraries with 1-3 hours of leisurely walking per day on smooth or slightly inclined terrain. The pace is more relaxed, with opportunities to rest throughout the day.

Moderate
This trip’s activity level is moderate. Travelers must be in good health and be in good physical condition to enjoy this itinerary. Travelers must be able to walk and climb stairs on their own. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries of 3-5 hours of walking at a normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and hills. The pace is faster and more demanding, with some breaks throughout the day.

Difficult
This trip’s activity level is difficult. Travelers must be in good health and physically fit to enjoy this itinerary. Trips at this activity level may include full-day itineraries with up to 5-7 hours of walking at normal to brisk pace per day on varied terrain including uneven surfaces, stairs, and steep hills. The pace is vigorous and demanding, with little down time each day.

Accommodation Level

Simple
For the duration of your trip, enjoy a range of lodging accommodations — from quaint guesthouses to simple-styled hotels. Discover a newfound appreciation for each of these locations which often have a unique character of their own. With your private bathroom and sleeping quarters, these locations will provide you with a clean, comfortable, and cozy place to settle into during your journey.

Standard
Venues at this level will provide you with the best accommodations at a reasonable cost. Not only will you have access to modern amenities and services, but special care is taken to ensure hotels are located in close proximity to the area’s local attractions. Expect your stay at this level to provide you with an added feeling of comfortability and convenience as you experience your pilgrimage.

Premium
Your stay at the premium level will ensure that your travel involves the opportunity to experience some of the most unique and luxurious stays that a destination has to offer. You’ll find that traveling at this level will afford you the opportunity to optimize your experience at each spot. From fine dining to scenic views, anticipate that your pilgrimage will provide you with breathtaking experiences no other location could provide.

How will I know what my stay will be like?
Each of our pilgrimage locations come with their own unique accommodations. From simple to luxurious, you can know that the care and satisfaction of each pilgrim is our greatest priority. While specific amenities will vary, we are sure that each of these handpicked locations will leave you rested, rejuvenated, and ready for each day.

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