San Sebastián Pilgrimage (Maracay to Ocumare de la Costa)

The images were taken with my phone SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 Mini

Every month of January, on the last Saturday, the Pilgrimage of San Sebastian takes place. It is a walk from El Limón, in Maracay, to Ocumare de la Costa, crossing the Henri Pittier Park.

The start is at 6 in the morning, when it is still night. More than 6000 people gather early in the morning to undertake the 42-kilometer hike, through a beautiful mountain route, practically all the time in the shade of leafy trees.

Some do it out of religious conviction or fulfilling a promise. Others take the opportunity to do an excellent exercise. Others are attracted by the possibility of crossing the Henri Pittier park on foot.

The first eleven kilometers of the trek, from El Limón to "Rancho Grande", are uphill. They ascend about 600 meters high. The beginning of the tour is at night. Little by little, it begins to dawn. Below you can see the city of Maracay with its lights, farther and farther away. How happy you feel when you get to Rancho Grande, knowing that the climb is over!

Soon, the descent begins, a long descent of about 24 kilometers. The road snakes its way, allowing the coast to be seen from time to time through clearings. The organization of the competition, by the Pilgrimage Foundation of San Sebastian is impeccable. In the 10 checkpoints along the route, the volunteers offer mandarins, nutritional bars, juices, sideburns (watermelons), bananas (cambados), water and words of encouragement.

Finally, after much walking, at kilometer 31, you arrive at La Trilla, a small town that is the first town from the exit. There you start to see the Cumboto River. Some pilgrims take the opportunity to rest a bit, take a bath or simply to soak their tired feet. It can also be the opportunity to eat something more forceful than nutritional bars or fruit, something like a good empanada.

Throughout the journey there is medical attention for anyone who has difficulties. There are also some trucks that are dedicated to pick up exhausted walkers who no longer have the strength to get there or who have blisters on their feet, or simply that they do not give anymore.

One of the greatest satisfactions is when you start to see the first signs of the people. Spectators cheer you up either by applauding, or by indicating that the goal is near.

However, there is nothing more convincing than seeing the arrival banner. That vision makes one forget the fatigue, the pain in the feet and the muscles and gives one the energy for the final meters.

There awaits you the certificate of arrival and most importantly, the satisfaction of having met the goal.

When crossing the final post, one is in front of the beautiful church of Ocumare de la Costa. Good opportunity to offer San Sebastian the certificate received, to pray, or simply to sit in a bank. In front of the church, dozens of walkers are sitting on the floor, resting.

In one of the colonial houses in front of the square, there is the medical care center where some people receive serums and others make a small queue to receive an injection of muscle relaxant. In another house, more than 40 masseurs, organized by "Ambulances of Aragua", offer free massages on the feet and legs to hikers.

It does not matter what motivates you. It can be faith, devotion to San Sebastian, the fulfillment of a promise, the desire to exercise or simply the unique opportunity to cross Henri Pittier Park on foot, without being surrounded by an amount of vehicles and with the help of water and fruit supply stations. Does not matter! Do not miss this unique opportunity every January.

It is a wonderful experience I have had the opportunity to participate accompanied by my sister completing the 45 km from 6am and I arrived at 1:45 the first time, and last year (2017) at 2:00 pm, unfortunately this year I was motivated by my colleagues and I could not participate, but I invite you to live this experience to enjoy a rich climate and good analgesic friends ...