Parismina

Barra del Parismina
Parismina main street
Coordinates: 10°18′23″N 83°21′12″W / 10.30639°N 83.35333°W / 10.30639; -83.35333Coordinates: 10°18′23″N 83°21′12″W / 10.30639°N 83.35333°W / 10.30639; -83.35333
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Limón Province
Canton	Siquirres Canton
District	Siquirres District
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population
• Total	400
Time zone	Central Standard Time (UTC-6)
Postal Code	70301
Area code(s)	+ 506
Website	http://www.parismina.com

Barra del Parismina is a village of about 400 people located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, at the mouth of the Reventazón River. Parismina is about half way between Tortuguero and Limón on the Tortuguero canals. There is no road to Parismina; it is accessible only by boat or plane and while some cars and motorcycles exist within the village, the paved surface is the runway. Parismina is part of the Canton of Siquirres in the Limón Province. Eco-tourism and sport fishing are the foundation of the village economy.

The residents of Parismina have a unique culture which includes a local dialect, many Caribbean traditions and cuisine and a traditional Rastafarian influence.

At least three whole guest houses/hotels and a few restaurants and bars are available in the town of Parismina. A number of high end fishing lodges specializing in Tarpon and Snook are located short boat rides away and provide the villagers with their main source of income. Residents benefit from a health care center which operates two days a week, a police station and both a primary and secondary education schools.

Parismina enjoys a public water system with safe drinking water and sanitation. Most houses have electricity installed and most streets have lights. No banks or post office are to be found in the village. As such, residents and tourists alike make the trip to Siquirres occasionally to carry out administrative and financial duties.

Four different species of sea turtles nest on the beaches at Parismina. Several of these are hovering on the brink of extinction, particularly the leatherback sea turtle. A large number of leatherbacks and green sea turtles nest in the black sand dunes of the beaches near Parismina; Hawksbill turtles are occasionally found and Loggerheads have been reported, but are rarely seen.

While the turtles used to be hunted as a food source by inhabitants, a recent increase in poaching has been seriously threatening the population. In April 2001, local residents along with the Costa Rican Coast Guard, initiated Asociación Salvemos las Tortugas de Parismina, or Save the Turtles of Parismina (ASTOP). A community-based, non profit, conservation organization dedicated to protecting sea turtles and their eggs from poaching while initiating sustainable development and providing a viable alternative economy to poaching in the village.