Rio Parismina Lodge - Costa Rica
Large Caribbean Tarpon
Rio Parismina Lodge opened in 1990 and is situated on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast, where enormous schools of marauding tarpon search for baitfish to satisfy their endless appetite. We've hosted trips here for 19-years in a row. The Lodge opened in 1990 and remains under the same ownership and management.
Fishing at Rio Parismina
Choose between the Caribbean for abundant, large tarpon or the Tortuguero National Park jungle waterways and streams for snook, guapote, machaca, and mojarra. Two anglers per guide. Rio Parismina Lodge has four IGFA world records for snook.
Casting a plug or fly into a school of feeding tarpon is just the start of one of the greatest experiences an angler can have here.
Perhaps no other fish will take a lure so softly and then explode into wild, acrobatic leaps to throw the hook.
Fishing Season: The peak fishing months are from Mid-March through mid-May and September through mid-November. The rivers are clearer from January through April. Tarpon fishing is good during both seasons.
Snook fishing is best in the fall. The tarpon and snook do not migrate and are here year-round.
Boats: The Lodge has 21-foot, modified V-hull, Ocean Craft boats with T-tops, fighting chair, marine radios, fish finders, and adequately powered and well-maintained motors. Custome-designed boats for safety in crossing the bar. You'll fish the jungle rivers in flat-bottom Jon boats. Two anglers per boat and guide.
Guides: English-speaking guides. Larry often referred to Rio Parismina as having the best guides and boats on the Caribbean.
We’ve had clients land over thirty 60 to 150-pound tarpon during a seven-day stay.
Fishing Equipment: The Lodge provides good tarpon outfits and ultra-light spin outfits for jungle fishing. The Lodge furnishes tackle. You’ll pay for the lures you use. Some people bring their own fishing outfit and lures. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License: You’ll purchase a $15.00 fishing license at the Lodge.
View 5:37 YouTube video of Rio Parismina's world-record grouper.
Typical Fishing Day:
At 5:00 a.m. each morning, you’ll awaken to a gentle knock on your door. At about 5:30 a.m., a cooked breakfast is served with fresh fruit. At 6:00 a.m., you head out to the boats.
Before noon, you’ll return to the Lodge for a hearty lunch. At about 2:00 p.m., you’ll return to your choice of fishing - tarpon or jungle streams. You’ll finish fishing right before dark and return to the Lodge to freshen up.
At 6:00 p.m., guests meet in the clubhouse or near the pool for appetizers and a glass of wine or a drink from the open bar.
At 7:00 p.m., delicious family-style dinners are served with wine and followed by a special dessert. After dinner, guests play cards, games, chat on their laptops in the clubhouse, or participate in the weekly crocodile tour.
About Rio Parismina Lodge
Lodge Season: The Lodge is open mid-January through May and mid-August through November.
Rio Parismina Lodge sits on 50 acres of lush jungle on the banks of the famous Rio Parismina River at the edge of the Tortuguero National Park. Wonderful meals, swimming pool, free Wi-Fi in the dining area, and free daily laundry service.
Larry regarded it as one of the best-run lodges in the world. Larry and his wife, Ethel, hosted groups here for over ten years in a row.
Rio Parismina Lodge
The Lodge's Runway
You'll take a 30-minute charter flight from San Jose to the Lodge's paved runway in the small village of Parismina. While the guides take care of your luggage, you'll take a short walk through the village to the river. From here, you'll take a two-minute boat ride across the Parismina River to the Lodge.
Dining Area - Clubhouse
The morning you arrive at the Lodge, you'll enjoy a cooked breakfast while Fernando, the lodge manager, gives an orientation. Then you'll head to the boats for your first day of tarpon fishing.
Comfortable Bedrooms
The Lodge accommodates up to 24 guests. All of the bedrooms are spacious and have an en-suite bathroom with a large shower, screened windows with drapes, a ceiling fan, a walk-in closet with a clothing bar, and spacious shelves for all your gear. Most of the bedrooms have twin-sized beds; however, there are two bedrooms with larger beds available.
Beautiful Lodge Setting
Each morning at 5:00 a.m., you'll awaken to a gentle knock on your door. A cup of tea, coffee, or orange juice is delivered outside your room each morning for you to enjoy on the covered porch. Take in the early morning birdsong and the floral-nipped air.
The Swimming Pool and Sun-Heated Jacuzzi
While the anglers are out fishing, non-anglers have the pool to themselves.
The Lodge's fleet of 21-foot modified V-hull ocean craft boats
There is a raised, paved walkway from the dock to the Lodge.
"Bow to the King" is a common phrase here.
You'll want to be in good shape for tarpon fishing.
Photo Opportunities Abound
Judy feeds the monkeys each morning at the Lodge.
Large Caribbean Tarpon
Handled with care. A quick picture of an XL tarpon.
Covered Hammock Pavilion
The covered hammock pavilion is the perfect resting spot after a day of fishing.
Getting to the Lodge:
You'll arrive in San Jose, and a lodge member will greet you at the hotel and drive you to the DoubleTree Cariari Hotel. (The hotel night is not included in the package.) The next morning at 5:00 a.m., a lodge representative will drive you to the local airport in San Jose. You'll take a 30-minute charter flight to Rio Parismina airstrip (the roundtrip charter flight is included in the package). You’re limited to one 30-pound bag and a rod case for the charter flight to the Lodge. You’ll be met at the landing strip by Judy, the Lodge owner, and members of the Lodge staff. After a walk through the small village of Parismina, you'll take a short boat ride across the Parismina River to the Lodge.
Meals, Alcohol, Communications:
Delicious Meals: Breakfast is typically eggs cooked-to-order, and either bacon or sausage, “fresh fruit,” and a choice of cereals. Lunch and dinner are served family-style and are a combination of local cuisine and Tex-Mex. If desired, your fresh-caught snook can be cooked for dinner. Delicious desserts such as flan, brownies with ice cream, and more. The Lodge works with dietary restrictions.
Alcohol: The open bar is open throughout the day and included in the package. Wine is served with lunch and dinner.
Communications: There is Wi-Fi in the dining area and cell service. Service can be spotty at times. Guests need to contact their own cell service provider beforehand and know what their plan is.
2023 USD Rates:
Two anglers per room and boat:
7-nights at Lodge and 7-days guided fishing $6,950.00 per person
4-nights at Lodge and 4-days guided fishing $4,300.00 per person
3-nights at Lodge and 3-days guided fishing $3,450.00 per person
One angler per room and boat:
(The Lodge does not pair single-occupancy guests with other anglers.)
7-nights at Lodge and 7-days guided fishing $7,400.00 per person
4-nights at Lodge and 4-days guided fishing $4,500.00 per person
3-nights at Lodge and 3-days guided fishing $3,700.00 per person
Non-angler sharing room:
7-nights at Lodge and 7-days $3,800.00 per person
4-nights at Lodge and 4-days $2,800.00 per person
3-nights at Lodge and 3-days $2,500.00 per person
Packages Include:
Airport reception in San Jose, ground transportation between the airport and hotel, ground transfer from the hotel to the air charter, regularly scheduled roundtrip air service between San Jose, Costa Rica, and Rio Parismina; lodging, Wi-Fi- in clubhouse, meals, and open bar at the Lodge (sodas, beer, and domestic liquors); complimentary wine with lunch and dinner, guided fishing, use of rods and reels for all species, daily laundry service, and taxes.
