PILGRIMAGE TOUR TO MEXICO

DAY 1 Monday Nov 4
Depart Toronto.

DAY 2 Tuesday Nov 5
Arrive MEXICO CITY, the capital of Mexico, known as Ciudad de Mexico or CDMX since 2013, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. After breakfast, we leave for Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, world’s most visited shrine, Patroness of the Americas, Empress of Latin America and Patroness of the Unborn, at the foot of Tepeyac Hill where she appeared four times to the Aztec peasant convert Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin in December 1531 and also once to his uncle Juan Bernardino. We venerate the image of our Lady as imprinted on Juan Diego’s now over 400 years old TILMA. Then, to the Square of the Three Cultures (refers to the three periods of Mexican history: pre-Hispanic, Spanish colonial and independent modern) in TLATELOLCO to visit the Church of Santiago built as a symbol of Spanish conquest in 1521 and where Juan Diego was baptized. We continue to TULPETLAC to visit the Church of the Fifth Apparition of Our Lady to Juan Bernardino. Lunch. Then, sit back and enjoy a panoramic tour of downtown Mexico City, to the tree-lined Paseo de la Reforma, modeled after Champs-Elysees in Paris with monumental glorietas (roundabouts), El Angel, the gilded icon of Mexico City patterned after Nike the Greek goddess of victory for Mexico’s 1910 Centennial of War of Independence from Spain, the huge Zocalo (Plaza de la Constitucion), the heart of the city with the Cathedral, Templo Mayor, National Palace to Chapultepec Park with the Museum of Anthropology, the Pinos, the Presidential palace, the Castle, Alameda Park, Monumento a la Revolucion. Dinner and overnight in Mexico City.

DAY 3 Wednesday Nov 6
We visit north of Zocalo on Plaza Santo Domingo, steeped in history, the Church of Santo Domingo, first built by the Dominicans in 1576, has several chapels: to the Virgin of the Rosary, to Our Lady of Covadonga who appeared to Dom Pelayo king of Asturias, defeated the Moors in 722, start of Reconquista of Spain and the statue of Christ carrying the Cross known as the Lord of the Rebozo (Lord of the Shawl) from the story of a nun on a convent who gave a beggar at the door, food and a shawl; when she died the next day, the shawl was found on this statue of Christ to which the nun prayed for 30 years, moved to this church when the convent closed and people would pray in front of the statue and leave a shawl. Then, we visit the Parroquia de Sagrada Familia for the relic of Blessed Miguel Pro, priest-martyr of the Cristero War against anticlerical movement, famous for his supreme courage and his cry of “ VIVA CRISTO REY” upon execution without trial. Then, on to the Church of San Jose del Altillo to visit the tomb of Blessed Maria Concepcion Cabrera Arias de Armida known as Conchita, great mystic of the 20thc, wife, mother, widow, with her voluminous writings, founder of several apostolates under “Works of the Cross.” Dinner. For a taste of the music, dance, traditions, costumes of regions of Mexico with the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico at Palacio de Bellas Artes, a magnificent, colossal Art Nouveau, Neoclassical cultural center with pre-Hispanic details, a theatre, museums, elegant cafeteria, bookshop. Overnight in Mexico City

DAY 4 Thursday Nov 7
On the way to TLAXCALA, chief ally of Hernan Cortes in the conquest of Mexico, we visit the Shrine of San Miguel del Milagro, the site of the incredible apparition of St. Michael the Archangel to the 17-year-old Diego de San Lazaro on April 25, 1631 during the procession with the message to get water from the ravine that will bring healing to the plague victims in town. Not far is the ornate Churrigueresque Basilica of Our Lady of Ocotlan, with the story of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to Juan Diego Bernardino in 1541 to go to the spring near the pine grove to restore health. The Franciscan monks went to look for the source but found instead a burning pine (species of ocotlan) that is not consumed and when split was found an intact image of the Virgin and placed on the altar of the shrine they built. Then, towering ahead above the plains are four great volcanoes esp. Popocatepetl, the Aztec’s “Smoking Mountain” and Iztaccihuatl, their “White Lady” as we find our way to the valley of PUEBLA, a prosperous colonial town of 2 million, called “City of Angels” for its perfectly aligned downtown layout believed to be designed by angels, “most traditional, staunchest Catholics” in all Mexico, a United Nations Patrimony of Humanities site, for its history, Renaissance-Baroque architecture, overflows with abundant, impressive religious structures of so many ex-convents, monasteries, churches, known also for its ubiquitous, famous glazed blue and white Talavera tiles from local clay and volcanic soil, proud of having invented the complex mole sauce of chilis, nuts and chocolate, headquarter and largest Volkswagen factory. Brief stop at the Parian, the market. We visit the spectacular Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Puebla, founded by Philip II of Spain, consecrated in 1649, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Church of Santo Domingo with the incredible 17thc Mexican Baroque with gilded stucco and onyx stonework, Chapel of the Holy Rosary. Next on to CHOLULA means “Place Where The Waters Spring From,” a small town with the world’s largest pyramid, the Piramide Tepanata, seven structures superimposed, 8 km tunnels dug underneath, can walk in. On the very top is the 16thc Santuario de Nuestra Senora del Remedios built with carved stone and 24-carat gilt lamella. Visit the amazing 17thc Church of Santa Maria Tonantzintla, with an explosion of Baroque local Amerindian decor, ornate plastic faces, masks, fruits, flowers, birds. Dinner and overnight in Puebla.

DAY 5 Friday Nov 8
We go to the massive Zocalo, the largest, most famous main square in downtown Mexico City for the Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the outside, we view the National Palace for government offices, as Mexico’s President, with the highlight on Mexican artist Diego Rivera’s murals on the History of Mexico from Conquest to Independence to Revolution. Then we visit Secretaria de Educacion Publica, an ex-convent from 1594 with Rivera’s murals on diverse influences on Mexico. Now comes a highly recommended, in itself “reason enough to visit Mexico City,” world-class, most outstanding, greatest archaeological collections, not to be missed, definitely a CDMX highlight, so, let’s take time for the National Museum of Anthropology. Next we go to COYOACAN to visit the 16thc Parroquia San Juan Bautista with lavish, ornate interior. Pass by Museum of renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, wife of Diego Rivera. For a fun experience, we go to XOCHIMILCO, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, famous for its floating gardens on canals, a ride in trajineras (boats) while serenaded by mariachis. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 Saturday Nov 9
Guided tour of the Old and New Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Tepeyac Hill to include the Chapel of the Indians, Chapel of the Well, Capilla del Pocito, Capilla del Cerrito de los Angeles. Lunch. Then we go to TEOTIHUACAN, an impressive preChristian city of the ancient world, abandoned, then taken over and held sacred by the Aztecs, excavations in 1906 slowly revealed a colossal, best preserved major archaeological site, a 2-mile long Avenue of the Dead that leads to the spectacular Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, temples, palaces, chambers, tunnels. Not known who built it. Farewell dinner in Mexico city.

DAY 7 Sunday Nov 10
Flight back to Canada after a most exciting and great discovery of the wonders of Mexico. Thank God always for everything.

TOUR ALL IN PRICE CA$3,290.00  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