Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels

Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles

Costa Rica's most important pilgrimage church, home to the revered La Negrita statue and drawing hundreds of thousands of worshippers each August. Its Byzantine-influenced architecture and ornate interior make it a landmark even for non-pilgrims.

Things to do

• Venerate La Negrita — View the small black stone statue of the Virgin discovered in 1635 on the site, the object of the nation's deepest devotion.
• Descend to the Cripta — Visit the underground crypt where pilgrims touch the rock on which La Negrita was found and collect blessed water.
• Fill bottles at the holy spring — Collect water from the springs behind the basilica, believed by the faithful to have healing properties.
• Admire the Byzantine interior — Take in the ornate columns, painted ceilings and colorful woodwork of the eclectic Byzantine-influenced nave.
• Join the August 2 Romería — Walk part of the roughly 22 km pilgrimage route from San José to Cartago as hundreds of thousands do each year for the Virgin's feast.
• See the ex-voto offerings — Browse the room of tiny silver charms and mementos left by pilgrims thanking the Virgin for answered prayers.
• Explore Cartago's ruins nearby — Walk a few blocks to the roofless Santiago Apóstol ruins, a nearby colonial landmark tied to the city's earthquake history.

Food to try

• Prayer candles and religious souvenirs — Stalls around the plaza sell candles, rosaries and miniature Negrita figures alongside street snacks.
• Chicharrones con yuca — Fried pork and cassava sold from stands along the pilgrimage route and near the basilica.
• Agua dulce and coffee — Warm sugarcane drink and Costa Rican coffee served to pilgrims and visitors from roadside vendors.
• Casado — A hearty plate of rice, beans, plantain, salad and meat found in Cartago's local sodas.
• Tamales cartagineses — Corn-dough tamales wrapped in banana leaf, a staple sold especially during the August festivities.
• Prestiños and cajeta — Sweet fried dough and milk-caramel candies commonly sold as pilgrimage treats.

Local customs & good to know

• Dress respectfully — This is an active pilgrimage church, so cover shoulders and avoid beachwear when entering.
• Expect huge crowds around August 2 — The Día de la Virgen de los Ángeles draws immense crowds and road closures, so plan travel and accommodation well ahead.
• Approach the statue on your knees — Many devout pilgrims traditionally advance the final stretch of the aisle on their knees, so move quietly and let them pass.
• Bring a container for holy water — Pilgrims fill bottles at the spring, so carry your own if you wish to take some.

Nearby

• Cartago — 1 km
• Lankester Botanical Gardens — 4 km
• Ujarrás Ruins — 9 km
• Orosi Valley — 10 km