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New ferry service finally starts between Santiago de la Ribera and La Manga del Mar Menor
The so-called ‘sea taxi’ service will once again link the two Mar Menor localities
New water taxis and a ferry service have started on the Mar Menor, joining Santiago de la Ribera with La Manga del Mar Menor after the old ferry closed without warning last December.
The new ferry was announced by San Javier Councillor for Tourism, Estíbaliz Masegosa, on Tuesday July 4, Independence Day.
Two companies will run separate services to join the two places by boat: the company Cruceros Mar Menor will put on a ferry and the company Chapitaxi will have two fast boats.
Santiago de la Ribera to La Manga del Mar Menor by ferry
The Cruceros Mar Menor service will operate as a regular ferry called the ‘Joven Ana Belén’ on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Ferry times and prices
The ferry will depart from the jetty at Santiago de la Ribera, next to the Miramar Restaurant, at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 5pm and 7pm. The ferry will depart from La Manga del Mar Menor’s Puerto de Tomás Maestre port at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm and 8pm.
Tickets can be purchased on board and cost is 6 euros per person each way. Bicycles can be taken aboard for an extra 1 euro.
The capacity on the boat is for up to 120 passengers, and the journey lasts for around 35-40 minutes.
Ferry times have been coordinated with the San Javier summer festivals such as the Jazz Festival and the Festival of Theatre, Music and Dance, with departures and returns compatible with each show.
More information can be found on the Cruceros Mar Menor website, or by phoning +34 696 44 09 09 or +34 686 49 21 65.
Santiago de la Ribera to La Manga del Mar Menor by fast boat
The Chapitaxi services will operate with two fast boats that have capacity for 14 people each and which will run every day of the week.
Fast boat times and prices
The fast boats will depart from Santiago de la Ribera at 10.45am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm, 5.15pm and 6.45pm. The fast boats will depart from La Manga del Mar Menor at 11.30am, 1pm, 4.30pm, 6pm and 7.30pm.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.chapitaxi.com and cost 6.50 euros per person each way. Children under 4 years old go free.
The times of the fast boats will soon be extended and the company has plans to include more stops along the coast of the Mar Menor, operating as a kind of water bus.
Image 1: Cruceros Mar Menor
Images 2 & 3: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
