Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita

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Sports & AdventureParrita
DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceMule racing at a dedicated track, the
Language["es"]Currency: CRC
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita in Parrita

Parrita's Festival Nacional de las Mulas, running since 1989 after Aristides Porras moved it from an Esterillos airfield, centers on the mulometro racetrack where more than fifty groomed mules compete in speed races backed by cheering spectators, alongside horse championships, tractor rallies and a traditional tope parade honoring the mule's historic working role in the region.

Parrita's mule festival began in 1989 as a race among farm workers held at an airfield in nearby Esterillos before organizer Aristides Porras moved the event to Parrita, where it has grown into a celebration built specifically around the mule's historic role as an indispensable working partner for the region's farmers and ranchers.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Mule racing at a dedicated track, the mulometro, with more than fifty competing animals and spectators actively backing favorites, is a specific spectator format not replicated at other Costa Rican agricultural festivals, most of which center on cattle, horses or crops rather than mules as the racing centerpiece

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival's direct lineage to a 1989 farmworkers' race, later formalized and relocated by organizer Aristides Porras, gives it a documented origin story tied to genuine agricultural labor rather than an invented tourist spectacle

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Mule races at the mulometro track

Water and renewal

Living ritual

judged by speed with animals bathed and groomed beforehand

The sacred route

Living ritual

anchor the festival alongside a traditional tope horse-and-rider parade

The local code

Living ritual

a format tracing to a 1989 farmworkers' race later formalized under organizer Aristides Porras

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Getting to Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita works best when arrival and return routes are decided before the busiest part of the day.

What to wear

Wide-brim sun protection and light, breathable clothing suit the exposed racetrack area under strong Central Pacific coast sun; closed shoes help on dusty or uneven ground around the...

Safety

Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita is easier when spectators give competitors, vehicles and staff room to work.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Parrita you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["es"] · CRC

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map9.52 N, 84.32 WOpen in Google Maps

Parrita, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Nearest airportSJO — Juan Santamaría
TransportGetting to Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita works best when arrival and return routes are decided before the busiest part of the day.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Parrita you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Parrita via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Parrita, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare faresFestival gearWide-brim sun protection and light, breathable clothing suit the exposed racetrack area under strong Central Pacific coast sun; closed shoes help on dusty or uneven ground around the mulometro.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Costa Rica and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita?

Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita is listed for February. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival Nacional de las Mulas en Parrita take place?

The festival is listed in Parrita, Costa Rica. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Parrita, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLadminsi.cultura.cr
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February
Source statusOfficial source linked
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