Parismina

Introducing Parismina

At the southern end of Parque Nacional Tortuguero, and at the mouth of Río Parismina, this friendly village attracts two kinds of travelers: turtle lovers and tarpon lovers. Though not as famed as the beaches of Tortuguero, Parismina is the preferred breeding ground of hundreds of discriminating leatherback, green and hawksbill turtles; and the coastal waters are rife with record-breaking Atlantic tarpon.

Surrounded on all sides by jungle rivers and the Caribbean Sea, Barra de Parismina is accessible only by boat, which has allowed it to preserve a remote ‘island’ atmosphere. Legend has it that the village was founded by a pregnant woman named Mina, who was traveling down the Caribbean coast. When the time came for her to have her baby, her traveling companion told her, ‘Here you give birth, Mina, ’ or ‘Aqui pares, Mina.’ Thus the village was named.

Sportfishing is the traditional tourist draw to Parismina. Top tarpon season is from January to mid-May, while big snook are caught in Río Parismina from September to November.

More recently, with the growth of ecotourism, many travelers come to see (and protect) the endangered sea turtles. Leatherbacks nest on Parismina’s beach between late February and early October, with the peak season in April and May. Green turtles begin nesting in June and the peak season is August and September. Hawksbills are not as common, but they are sometimes seen between February and September.

Last updated: Oct 20, 2009