Why Should You Visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe?

THE SHRINE AT GUADALUPE is considered the holiest place in the Western Hemisphere. The Basilica commemorates the Virgin Mary's appearance to a humble Indian and honors her request that a Shrine be built in Her honor. In December of 1531, Juan Diego informed a skeptical bishop of his encounter with Mary. A few days later, Juan returned to the site of the vision and once again Our Mother appeared. The humble man relayed the bishop's request for proof of Her visitation, whereupon the Virgin instructed Juan to gather roses from the frozen, rocky terrain and present them to the bishop. Remarkably for the cool season, he found a great number of roses strewn all around. Gathering the roses in a sackcloth, he hurriedly took them to the bishop. When he opened the cloak to present the roses to the cleric, it was not only the blooms that amazed the bishop. Stamped on the humble cloth was an image of the Virgin! You can see the original tilma of Juan Diego with the miraculous image hanging above the main altar.
Visit also the Chapel of Tepeyac.
Extensive additional information is posted at http://www.sancta.org/ about
• Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Chronology of Events
• Relation of the Apparitions
• Saint Juan Diego
• The mysterious eyes of the Virgin
• The Basilica

How Much Time Do You Need?

If yo are well organized, you can visit the Basilica if your layover in MEX is over 3 hours. (2x 1 hour for metro travel time, 2x20 minutes to reach the metro, 20 minutes security check. Taxi travel may or may not save you time, depending on traffic; the net distance is about 12 km.)

How to Get There?

From Mexico City airport (MEX), take the subway (metro). Please print and take along a copy of the map of Mexico City subway or a relevant portion of the subway map. (You may have a hard time without them.)
Duration: Realistically, consider 1 hour from standing at the metro platform at a station near the Mexico City airport and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (You can save up to 20 minutes if you walk extremely fast and are lucky, not having to wait for the next train.)
• Information about Mexico City airport (MEX) and metro access can be found HERE. A map of the airport with local metro stations is linked HERE. 1 metro ticket for $5 pesos (December 2013) gives you unlimited travel; buy two to save time when coming back. Senior citizens (above 60 years old) travel free during the day.
  If you are in Terminal 1 (National Terminal), you can find the "Terminal Aérea" metro station on line 5 just outside the terminal. You may also print out the map and take it along.
  If you are in Terminal 2, you will have a harder time to locate the "Pantitlán" metro station. There is a shuttle bus that takes you directly to the Pantitlán station; a schematic map is shown HERE. You can also walk the 700 m distance. Once you exit the terminal, walk straight to outside the fenced-off area. Turn left and walk couple of blocks along the street until you reach the "Pantitlán" metro station behind a street market. My advice is to print out the map and take it along.
• Take metro Line 5 north, in the direction POLITECNICO.
• Transfer at "Instituto del Petroleo" to Line 6 in the direction "Martín Carrera" There are many staircases; you will walk for about a kilometer.
• Exit at the station "La Villa-Basílica" (third stop).
• From the "La Villa-Basílica" metro station,
  1. Head west on Cuauhtémoc toward Calzada de Guadalupe (39 m) -- a busy street you see when exiting the metro.
  2. Turn right (north) onto Calzada de Guadalupe. A dedicated pedestrian walkway is in the center of the street.
     You will reach the basilica square after two busy blocks (240 m).
Map of Mexico City subway

Partial map of the Mexico City subway, useful for travel from Mexico City airport to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Local map of the area around the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, including the "La Villa-Basílica" metro station.
Be cautious about taxis: you should not hail a taxi off the street. Instead, phone a taxi from one of the taxi agencies, where you will be assured of a safe licensed taxi with vetted drivers and professional service. They cost a little extra, but they are worth it.

Address and Useful Information About the Basilica:

Address:	Plaza de las Américas 1 Villa de Guadalupe Gustavo A. Madero 07050 Ciudad de México Distrito Federal, Mexico
Phone:	+52-55-5118-0500
Web site:	http://virgendeguadalupe.mx
Location:	GPS coordinates 19.485,-99.118 (19.485N, 99.118W) https://maps.google.com/maps?q=19.485,-99.118
Open:	Daily 6:00-21:00 (The crypt with the miraculous image daily 9:00-17:00)
Daily Mass Schedule:	06:00, 07:00, 07:45, 08:30 (Laudes), 09:00 (Misa Coral), 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 (Rosario Solemne), 18:00, 19:00, 20:00
Admission:	Free admission; museum 50c.
Metro:	"La Villa-Basílica" on line 6

Practical Advice to Pigrims:

General advice
Important telephone numbers
When undertaking a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on your own, maybe during a stop-over at Mexico City airport, you are well advised - as in any big city - to leave all your belongings and valuables behind, and to be watchful of unusual activities or crowding near you.
Taxi service:
You should not hail a taxi off the street. If you need a taxi, dispatch one from one of the taxi agencies, where you will be assured of a safe licensed taxi with a vetted driver and professional service. Write down the license number and compare it with the taxi that picks you up. These taxis cost a little extra, but they are worth it.

Mexico City Airport (MEX):

Mexico City (MEX) airport information
Luggage lockers:

• Lockers are available near lounge A.
• "Where are luggage lockers, please?"
  "Podria decirme donde estan los lockers por favor?"
Airport Information:

• Information desks are located in Domestic Arrivals lounge A and at the International counters in lounge F, in front of gates 19 and 29B.
• A tourist information office, which provides information on Mexico City and can help with your accommodation, is located in lounge B.

   Our Lady of Guadalupe