PILGRIMAGE TO MEXICO

Feb 4 Day 1

Depart Toronto to México City. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Feb 5 Day 2

After breakfast at hotel, depart for Tulpetlac where Juan Diego’s uncle, Juan Bernardino, was cured. This is the church of the fifth apparition (officially, Santa Maria Tulpetlac Church). Private Mass at Santa Maria Tulpetlac Church. Continue to San Juan Teotihuacán. One of the most powerful cultural centers in Mesoamerica, a prominent political and religious center with complexes of monumental buildings such as the Citadel and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, the Calzada de los Muertos and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. In the afternoon, visit of the Three Cultures Square. The square contains the remains of Aztec temples and is flanked by the Catholic church of Santiago de Tlatelolco (built between 1604 and 1610) which contains the baptismal font of Juan Diego. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Feb 6 Day 3

After breakfast, we will start our day with a visit to the Church of the Holy Family Visit, where you will view the tomb of Fr. Miguel Agustin Pro, the Jesuit martyr. In a time of great religious persecutions, Fr. Pro was exiled from Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. However, he returned to Mexico and was aided by a secret ministry who helped him hide from authorities. During his time in Mexico, he assisted many individuals in their spiritual, as well as temporal, needs. He was eventually discovered, arrested and killed by authorities. Pray to this great martyr who remained filled with the joy of serving Our Lord even in the midst of very difficult times. You will also visit the small but very inspiring Museum dedicated in honor of Father Pro. Afterwards, we will continue our day to the the Shrine of our Lady Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. This church has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Catholics, and its history dates back to 1531, when a devout, poor Indian man named Juan Diego (an Aztec convert to Christianity) received a vision of the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill near what is now Mexico City. We will have a day full of spiritual experiences: kneel in front of the centuries old tilma where Our Lady was miraculously printed, climb Tepeyac hill, visit the Old Basilica, the New Basílica, the Chapel of the Indians and the Chapel of the Well. Private Mass in one of the Chapels of the Basilica Campus. Some free time for devotions in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Feb 7 Day 4

After breakfast, we will board our bus to travel to Puebla, one of the most beautiful Mexican colonial cities which were founded by the Spaniards in 1531 to shelter people who traveled from Veracruz to Mexico City. Sightseeing of Historical Center, including the St. Francis of Assisi Church, the magnificent Cathedral, and the Santo Domingo Church where we will admire the Chapel of the Rosary with its tile and gold leaf covered walls and its jeweled Virgin. Mass. Finish visiting historical center and continue to the nun´s kitchen at the former Convent of Santa Rosa de Lima, a unique example of Talavera inside decoration. The kitchen of the Convent of Santa Rosa, built in 17th century as beguinage of Dominicans, is considered the most beautiful in the state, here the famous mole poblano was originally created by Sister Andrea de la Asunción, a flavor that has become the most typical of Mexican dishes. Free time for lunch on our own. We will also visit Talavera workshop, a style of majolica pottery recognizable by a milky-white glaze. Authentic Talavera pottery may only come from the city of Puebla, Atlixco, Cholula, and Tecali thanks to both the quality of the natural clay and the traditional production process. Some free time for shopping at colorful shops where you will find many typical goods and sweets. Return to México City for dinner and overnight.

Feb 8 Day 5

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel in Mexico City and start our morning with the visit of the Historical Center. We will start with a visit the Metropolitan Cathedral located at the Zocalo, the main square. Inside you will visit the Chapel of the Miraculous Cross of Poison. Then we will see the National Palace (from the outside). This extraordinary palace has been occupied by the ruling class of Mexico since the Aztec Empire’s rule. Time to walk the beautiful pedestrian alley of Francisco y Madero. From start to end, it is home to noteworthy buildings from both colonial and contemporary times such as: Casa de los Azulejos, or “House of Tiles”, the Temple of San Francisco who was the headquarters of the first twelve Franciscan monks sent to Mexico to evangelize in the viceroyalty of New Spain. we will have our dinner in Mexico city.

Feb 9 Day 6

Board our flight home.

TOUR ALL IN PRICE CA$2,990.00  INCLUDES:

• air transportation.
• hotel accommodation first class or superior tourist class based on double occupancy.
• 2 meals daily breakfast and dinner.
• all sightseeing as per itinerary with English speaking guide.
• all tips in restaurants and hotels.
• airport taxes and surcharges.
• tips to bus driver and guides.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR:
-Meals not specified, insurance, documentation.
-Single supplement CA$450.

HOW TO BOOK:
A non refundable deposit of $300.00 per person is required at time of booking. Insurance with premium(if desired) must be purchased at the time of booking.

BALANCE OF PAYMENT
Balance due is payable 75 days prior to departure For late bookings /within 75 days/ full payment is due immediately.

CANCELLATION:
If cancellation is necessary, please advise QS Travel & Tours immediately in writing. Cancellation charges are as follows:
75 days before departure ……………………………………….$300.00 per person
Between 74 and 46 days before departure …………….. 50% of the total cost
45 days or less …………………………………………………… 100% of the total cost

IF YOU CHANGE YOUR BOOKING:
A $50 administration charge will be applied for changes you make to your booking outside the 90 days to departure period. Please note name changes are not allowed and such will be treated as cancellations.

IF QS TRAVEL & TOURS CHANGES YOUR BOOKING:
QS Travel & Tours will advise you of any change we feel significantly alters the holiday which you have purchased from us. Occasionally, changes might occur close to departure time. In such cases, you will be notified as early as possible. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the local tour operator may have to make last minute changes in hotel or schedule. In case the standard of the accommodation is changed, QS Travel & Tours will offer the choice of a full and immediate refund or comparable alternate travel services acceptable to you.

UNUSED SERVICES:
No refund or adjustment can be made for any portion of holiday not used.

GOOD VALUE AND EXPECTATIONS:
The Ministry of Consumer Relations requires that Ontarians traveling abroad be advised that they may encounter different living standards and practices than those at home.

FLIGHT CONNECTIONS:
In the event of a change in our flight times, with or without notice, we cannot accept responsibility for any special connecting fares which you might purchase and which cannot be changed without penalty.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION:
A valid Canadian passport is required for all visits outside of Canada. It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to ensure proper and valid documentation. Failure to provide valid documentation may result in denied boarding of the aircraft and cancellation of your flight arrangements without refund. If you are holding a passport other than Canadian, please contact QS Travel & Tours to determine whether or not a visa is required for entry into the country you will be visiting.

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
One piece of luggage of 23kg per person plus a carry-on-bag /weighting not more than 5 kg/

FLIGHT TIMES
All flight times are subject to change with or without prior notice to the
passengers or his/her agent. QS Travel & Tours does not accept liability for missed connection or any expenses resulting from an off schedule, rescheduled or late flight operations.

PRICES
Prices in this brochure are given in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Prices are correct at the time of going to press. In the event of any change beyond QS Travel & Tours control, including but not limited to increase in the price of fuel, currency fluctuations affecting our costs, or increases in government taxes or levies. QS Travel & Tours reserves the right to surcharge the passenger/s up to 7% of a tour cost.

LIABILITY
QS Travel & Tours Inc. is a tour operator and has made the advertised holiday arrangements with the airline/s/, hotel/s/, cruiseship/s/, other operator/s/ and other. Each of these organizations has its own specific terms and conditions for doing business and you will be bound by them. QS Travel & Tours accepts no responsibility for /A/ the acts or omissions of any party/ies/ other than QS Travel & Tours employees./B/failure by the passenger to be properly documented; /C/ failure by the passenger to comply with departure or joining or baggage requirements;/D/ aircraft delays, government actions, priests change their commitments as spiritual directors, etc, act/s/ of God or any factor beyond our direct control; /E/ cancellation or delay to any tour or holiday or change to the itinerary; /F/ expenses resulting from lost or damaged baggage. QS Travel & Tours accepts no responsibility for additional expenses due to delays or changes in air, rail, road, sea or other service, quarantine, sickness, war, weather or other causes All such expenses will have to be borne by the passengers. QS Travel & Tours reserves the right to refuse any person as a member of these tours at its sole discretion. QS Travel & Tours reserves the right to cancel any or all departure/s/ with or without prior notice and QS Travel & Tours sole responsibility shall be to refund all monies paid for such cancelled departures. The laws and courts which govern this contract are those of the Province of Ontario.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
When you book you QS Travel & Tours, an agreement is made between you and QS Travel & Tours and others who will provide services. Please read carefully the information on this page for it sets out the conditions governing the provision of these holidays.

TRAVEL INSURANCE 
Please contact our agents for insurance quote.
Insurance rates subject to change any time.
Once purchased insurance premiums are not refundable.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:
Tel. 905.412.2242; 1.800.565.3619
Email: group@qstours.com