The Trek Is On As Two Million Expected In Cartago By Tomorrow

More than two million are expected to decend on the "Viejo Metropolí", the city of Cartago, more specifically the Basilica de los Angeles to pay homage to the Virgen de los Angeles or La Negrita as she is referred to.


The scene at Ochomogo (Cartago) this morning. More than two million are expected to take part in this year's Romeria. Photo by Amelia Rueda

The annual "romeria" or walk to Cartago starts to heat up today as the masses want to be in Cartago on Thursday to take part in official events to honour Costa Rica's patron saint.

Security measures, that include vehicular restrictions and some 3.000 police and volunteers, are in place to care for "romeros".

Officials of the Fuerza Pública (police), the Policia de Tránsito (traffic police) and the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) are lining the route from Curribadat (east side of San José) to the centre of Cartago. This year, Tránsito will be using reversible lanes to ease the flow of traffic from Cartago.



Also, Diego Herrera, the director of the transit police said that the road to Cartago may be closed depending on the flow of people on the streets and is advising people not to drive to Cartago, rather to take public transit to and from if they do not want to make the walk.