Basilica of Guadalupe Free Tour

Meeting at the statue of Pope John Paul II by the entrance, this tour explores the Basílica de Guadalupe, the shrine built on Tepeyac Hill where, according to tradition, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in 1531. It's one of the most visited Catholic sites in the world, and your guide explains why: the image believed to be imprinted on Juan Diego's cloak, still displayed above the altar of the modern basilica.

The visit also takes in the Old Basilica, slowly sinking and tilting into the soft lake-bed soil beneath it, and the quieter chapels on the hillside above. Beyond the religious significance, you'll learn how the Virgin of Guadalupe became tied to Mexican national identity itself, invoked everywhere from independence banners to modern street murals.