MARIAN APPARATIONS PILGRIMAGE

The Experience

Day 1: Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the United States on an overnight flight to Spain. As you begin this sacred journey, you are invited to enter into a spirit of prayer and anticipation, preparing your heart for the spiritual renewal that awaits in the lands of great Marian devotion.

Day 2: Upon arrival in Barcelona, you are welcomed and transferred to your hotel. After time to settle in and rest from your travels, you gather with your fellow pilgrims for an orientation and welcome dinner. 

This first shared meal allows the group to come together in fellowship and prayer as you begin your journey. Overnight in Barcelona.

Day 3: After breakfast at the hotel, you begin your exploration of Barcelona’s Catholic heritage with a visit to the historic Church of Our Lady of Ransom, closely associated with the Mercedarian order and its mission of mercy and redemption. 

You celebrate Mass and spend time in prayer. 

The remainder of the day is free for personal exploration, whether walking through the Gothic Quarter, visiting sacred spaces, or enjoying quiet reflection. Overnight in Barcelona.

Day 4: Following breakfast, you depart Barcelona by train and travel to Zaragoza. There you visit the magnificent Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, one of Spain’s most treasured Marian shrines, traditionally believed to be the site of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparition to St. James the Greater. 

You celebrate Mass and enjoy a group lunch before continuing by train to Madrid. Upon arrival in Spain’s capital, you check into your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. Overnight in Madrid.

Day 5: After breakfast, you explore the spiritual heart of Madrid. You may visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Almudena, the principal church of the Archdiocese of Madrid, where you can celebrate Mass and admire its beautiful architecture. 

There is also the opportunity to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Apparitions for prayer and reflection. The remainder of the day is open for optional cultural visits and personal discovery. Overnight in Madrid.

Day 6: After breakfast, you depart Madrid and journey to the historic city of Toledo, long known as the “City of Three Cultures” for its Christian, Jewish, and Muslim heritage. 

You visit the Church of Santo Tomé, home to El Greco’s masterpiece “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz,” and explore the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca. 

After time to appreciate the city’s layered history, you continue onward to Seville. Overnight in Seville.

Day 7: Following breakfast, you visit the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Seville, one of the largest cathedrals in the world and the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Within its sacred walls, you celebrate Mass and reflect on the missionary spirit that carried the Gospel across oceans. 

A group lunch is included today, allowing time to enjoy the flavors of Andalusia. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the city’s charming streets and plazas. Overnight in Seville.

Day 8: After breakfast, you depart Spain and travel into Portugal, arriving in the beautiful capital city of Lisbon. 

After checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is free for rest or personal exploration. Overnight in Lisbon. 

Day 9: After breakfast, you travel to Fátima, one of the most significant Marian pilgrimage sites in the world. 

At the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, you visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Chapel of the Apparitions, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. You celebrate Mass and enjoy a group lunch locally. 

Returning to Lisbon in the evening, you gather for a special farewell dinner, celebrating the blessings of your pilgrimage and the friendships formed along the way. Overnight in Lisbon.

Day 10: After breakfast, you transfer to the airport for your return flight home. As you depart, you carry with you the memories, prayers, and spiritual graces received during this pilgrimage through Spain and Portugal. 

Dates, Package Deposit & Payment Schedule

Reservation Dates

• Arrival Date: Monday, August 2, 2027. Group Flights depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Barcelona, Spain.
• Departure Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2027
• Flights are not required to be packaged. However, if making your own flight arrangements, you are forfeiting transportation services from airport to hotel.

Spaves are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Trip Deposit & Payment Schedule

• A payment of $300.00 per person is all that is due to secure your spot for this pilgrimage.
• Monday, March 1, 2027 is the deadline to pay the $300.00 per person registration fee. Any reservations requested after that date can be added, though no special discounts can be applied after April 1, 2027. Fees apply for registrations submitted after March 1, 2027.
• Full payment for your trip is due no later than April 1, 2027. Reservations submitted after this date are due in full and are 100% non-refundable, and space is not guaranteed.
• Payments towards your balance can be made monthly. Hidden Gem Travel sends out monthly statements on the 1st of each month after you have submitted your registration fee, where you can optionally apply a payment. 
• We recommend flying into John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to join the group flight to Barcelona. 
• Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) is where your transportation will meet you to bring you to your first hotel stop.

Ability to Travel

Passengers registering for this tour accept the responsibility for being in good health and able to walk and travel on this tour. Because many of the sites are not accessible to the physically challenged, those needing oxygen, wheelchairs, or other ambulatory assistance will find the tour extremely limiting to their experiences.

Persons using C-Pap machines requiring distilled water will need to inform Hidden Gem Travel ahead of time, so we can work with local operators to prepare as it is not always available. We reserve the right to refuse or revoke travel to anyone who is, in the sole judgement of us, incapable of group travel without causing undue demands upon the staff or other tour participants. Accessible rooms are very limited and subject to confirmationn after receiving the registrant's written request.

-Very Important - Please Read-

Reservation Cancelation Policy

If you cancel your reservation before March 1, 2027, you are only responsible for a $100.00 per person cancelation fee. However, you can reduce the number of guests on your reservation until this date for free.

If you cancel your reservation between March 1, 2027, and March 31, 2027, you will be responsible for $300.00 per person cancelation fee and any applicable hotel penalties. This includes reducing any guests from your registration. If you have travel insurance you can file a claim to get a refund based on their terms.

If you cancel your reservation or reduce the travelers on your reservations on or after April 1, 2027, you are responsible for 100% of your reservation total. If you have travel insurance you can file a claim to get a refund based on their terms.

Additionally, the tour company will not allow the following modifications after April 1, 2027:

• Name changes for anyone on your reservation
• Removing a guest from your reservation (reducing the occupancy for your spot on the tour)

The tour company will not provide a travel or credit voucher if you arrive after your scheduled date, check out early, or do not travel on the dates selected on your reservation for any reason.

Hidden Gem Travel is not an agent of the tour company and has no control over the refund policies and other rules mandated by the tour company.

If you do not purchase travel insurance and have to cancel your reservation you may still have to pay a partial penalty up to the full amount of the reservation plus the $100.00 per person cancelation fee.

If you purchased a travel insurance policy and have to cancel you will be refunded by the travel insurance company according to the travel insurance guidelines minus the non-refundable premium paid to the travel insurance company, but you are still responsible for the $100.00 per person cancelation fee.

Once a reservation is booked there is a $100.00 per person cancelation fee with no regard to the reason for the cancelation. The cancelation fee applies to cancelations that result in a re-booking.

Travel Insurance

**If you have any questions about the travel insurance please call Travel Insured at 1-800-243-3174. We (Hidden Gem Travel) are not a licensed insurance company and cannot legally answer any insurance-related questions.**

Not purchasing travel protection could result in the loss of your travel money and/or require more money to correct the situation. Without protection, there is no way to recoup any costs, losses, or expenses incurred.  The price of Travel Protection is NOT included in the price of room selections and is non-refundable once purchased.

Having travel protection is definitely important and we recommend it for everyone. However, the choice to have travel protection is solely up to you, and you are welcome to purchase through any company you like.

Click here to purchase travel insurance.

When you click the link, you will need to answer a few questions about your trip, and you'll be redirected to a page with their policy plans and pricing.

The website offers plans like the "Worldwide Platinum Trip Protector" plan with optional add-ons like CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason), Optional Bed Rest to cover any quarantine expenses, and more. Travel Insured is the company we personally use and we highly recommend them for travel insurance needs.

If you want the CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason) benefit you will have to add it to the policy and you must purchase insurance no later than 20 days after you make your initial payment. CFAR is not available to NY residents.

The basic "Worldwide Platinum Trip Protector" plan which does not include CFAR can be purchased at any time, including more than 20 days after your first payment, but it will not cover the Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Waiver or the Bankruptcy/Default of an airline, cruise line, tour operator or any other travel vendors. However, you can still cancel for a covered reason and potentially receive up to 100% in refunds as long as it's a covered reason.

Depending on the reason for canceling, travel insurance will cover 75-100% of your trip cancelation and many other things like medical services, trip delay, lost luggage, and more.

We strongly suggest you call and verify which policy will be best for your travel needs. You can reach an insurance agent at 1-800-243-3174.