Parish officials in Paraíso suspended the traditional pilgrimage to the Ujarrás Valley, after multiple beehives were found along the planned route and authorities warned of a risk to participants. The decision followed a recommendation from the Municipal Emergency Commission of Paraíso after recent bee-related incidents in the area and inspections that located several hives along the way including near evacuation zones.
The annual walk to the ruins of Ujarrás is one of Cartago’s best-known religious traditions. The event has 129 years of tradition and usually brings together around 3,000 people each year for the route from downtown Paraíso to Ujarrás.
With the full pilgrimage called off, organizers kept a reduced schedule inside the community. A procession carrying the image of the Virgin moved through local streets starting at 7:30 a.m., and a solemn Mass was held at the parish church at 10 a.m. A concert by the Benemérita Banda de San José also remained on the day’s program.
The cancellation came after bee attacks were reported in recent days and after authorities concluded that a large outdoor gathering on the original route posed too much risk. Firefighters attended the emergency and advised against crowds forming around the swarms.
Even with this year’s route suspended, Ujarrás remains a major symbol of Costa Rican religious tradition. The devotion tied to the Virgin of Ujarrás stretches back centuries, and 2026 marks 70 years since the pontifical coronation of the image, giving this year’s observance added meaning for many faithful in Cartago.
The change did not erase the religious observance, but it did shift it into a smaller and more controlled format. In a region where outdoor events can quickly be affected by natural hazards, the decision fit the standard public safety response when emergency officials identify a direct threat along a route.
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