Sunday was the start of the Fiesta of the Virgen del Mar, the patroness of the nation’s fishermen.

There was the traditional parade of fishing boats in the harbor with one carrying the image of the Virgin.

President Óscar Arias Sánchez was there to sign a document that will allow the reconstruction of the  capitanía of the port. The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo will pay 50 million of the 75 million ($146,000) cost, and the  Instituto Costarricense de Puertos del Pacífico will pay the rest.  The port hosts a number of cruise ship passengers each year.

Arias also participated in the inauguration of the lighthouse at the Iglesia del Barrio El Carmen. The Virgen del Mar is what the port residents call the Virgen del Carmen.

The festival dates back to 1913 when a boat, the Galileo, was believed lost at sea. The populace prayed for the crew, and the fishermen showed up having been rescued by another vessel.

After his official duties, Arias joined others at the  Catedral de Puntarenas where the Conferencia Episcopal de Costa Rica inaugurated the Fiesta de la Virgen del Mar, which will run through Sunday.

Arias spoke briefly at the religious service and encouraged Costa Rica to raise its anchors to join in the economic policies he has planned.