Even though the official day to celebrate is August 2, many Costa Ricans have already started their walk to La Basilica de los Angeles church in Cartago to honor the country’s patron saint La Virgen de los Angeles.
“La Romeria” pilgrimage as it is known, requires the attention and organization of police and health authorities in the country, since its and event that gathers hundreds of thousands of people (some say the number actually reaches almost 2 million) from all parts of the country.

The Costa Rican Public Police Force announced that this year they will have 3500 police officers working before, during and after the Romeria, the officers started their surveillance operations July 14 and will continue through August 5.

Police authorities ask those participating in this religious act not to carry valuable objects or large sums of money, to walk in groups and follow official routes. If children are participating, parents should have them carry their contact information and the child’s identification in a safe place in the event that they lose their way in the crowds. In fact the Children Welfare Agency (PANI) will also be present in the activity giving out bracelets and identification badges for children.

The Red Cross also organized their operations for this activity since July 25 to offer attention to the “Romeros”.

“For these days of Romeria, we will have assistance stands in the ‘Antigua Galera’ , in Tres Rios in front of the Red Cross, in the area of el Fierro, Ochomogo, Taras Plaza, and the Basilica church”, commented Carlos Herrera, national chief of prehospital emergency care.

The operations will be reinforced on August 1st and through the end of the activities in August 2.

Also, the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) will have several stands in the route to Cartago to check the health conditions of dogs and horses. SENASA has insisted that dogs should not be made part of this activity, however, many people insist on taking them and for this reason SENASA will be checking the animals to ensure their optimal conditions, if a pet is found to have injuries of health problems owners could be reported for animal abuse.