Pilgrimage - Launched Feb. 23, 2017 - Full multimedia experience: audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - In 1954, doctors told Nicolás García that he was terminally ill and that the ailments from which he suffered were slowly killing him. Seeking salvation, the young cowboy embarked upon a pilgrimage to the mountaintop shrine of Christ the King in Silao, Mexico. Believing that his spiritual quest had played a role in his recovery, Mr. García endeavored to make the trip a yearly tradition. What began as one man’s journey of faith, grew the following year to include a handful of those closest to him, before attracting more than 80 riders within a couple of years. Today thousands of cowboys take part in the three-day pilgrimage to the mountaintop shrine of Christ the King in Silao, Mexico, stopping to pray at shrines and churches along the way.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 4, 2017 - San Martin De Terreros, Guanajuato, Mexico - Mexican cowboys ride along a stretch of highway through the high desert to join the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey cowboy pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses come from all over to take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 4, 2017 - San Martin De Terreros, Guanajuato, Mexico - Mexican cowboys during Catholic mass at the San Martin de Terreros church during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - San Jose Del Rodeo, Guanajuato, Mexico - Hundreds of Mexican cowboys begin a day long ride at sunrise during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 4, 2017 - San Martin De Terreros, Guanajuato, Mexico - A roadside shrine covered with religious banners as Mexican cowboys gather to join the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey cowboy pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - El Tejaban, Guanajuato, Mexico - Mexican cowboys gather at a shrine for prayer during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - San Jose Del Rodeo, Guanajuato, Mexico - Hundreds of Mexican cowboys are silhouetted by the rising sun during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - La Trinidad, Guanajuato, Mexico - A Mexican cowboy holds balloons given him by villagers as hundreds of horsemen ride during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - La Trinidad, Guanajuato, Mexico - Hundreds of Mexican cowboys ride through the high desert during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 6, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - A Mexican cowboy waits for the start of Catholic mass on Cubilete Mountain at the end of the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - San JosŽ Del Rodeo, Guanajuato, Mexico - Hundreds of Mexican cowboys are silhouetted by the rising sun during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage January 5, 2017 in San JosŽ del Rodeo, Guanajuato, Mexico. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - La Trinidad, Guanajuato, Mexico - Villagers hand out free sandwiches to hundreds of Mexican cowboys as they ride past during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage January 5, 2017 in La Trinidad, Guanajuato, Mexico. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - La Trinidad, Guanajuato, Mexico - Volunteers watch as hundreds of Mexican cowboys ride past during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage January 5, 2017 in La Trinidad, Guanajuato, Mexico. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - San Jose Del Rodeo, Guanajuato, Mexico - Mexican cowboys stop to water their horses during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey stopping along the way at shrines and churches.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 6, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - A Mexican cowgirl waits for the start of Catholic mass on Cubilete Mountain at the end of the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - Hundreds of Mexican cowboys snake along the road up Cubilete Mountain on the final leg of the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 5, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - Hundreds of Mexican cowboys snake along the road up Cubilete Mountain on the final leg of the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 6, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - Mexican cowboys celebrating and taking photos to remember, after reaching the statue of Cristo Rey, on the top of Cubilete Mountain during the 2017 Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. They are three of thousands of Vaqueros (Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the annual three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Christo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 6, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - Young Mexican cowboys begin the final ride to the Cristo Rey shrine on Cubilete Mountain during the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 6, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - Mexican cowboys arrive for the Catholic mass on Cubilete Mountain at the end of the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Christo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 6, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - Mexican cowboys arrive for the Catholic mass on Cubilete Mountain at the end of the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horses take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

January 6, 2017 - Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - Catholic priests begin the procession at the start of mass for thousands of Mexican cowboys marking Three Kings Day and the end of the annual Cabalgata de Cristo Rey pilgrimage. Thousands of Mexican cowboys and horse take part in the three-day ride to the mountaintop shrine of Cristo Rey.
© Richard Ellis/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire