Ferry available for Tinian Hot Pepper Festival

For bikers and others heading to the 14th Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 17-18, 2018, ferry service will be available from Saipan on Feb. 16- 19.

The Super Emerald ferry schedule is:

• Feb. 16, departing Saipan at 6pm and departing Tinian at 8:30pm;
• Feb. 17, departing Saipan at 9am and departing Tinian at 6:30pm;
• Feb. 18, departing Saipan at 9am and departing Tinian at 5pm; and
• Feb. 19, departing Saipan at 8am and departing Tinian at 12pm

Passengers will depart from the Commonwealth Ports Authority dock in Lower Base and must check in one hour before departure.

Ferry round trip cost is $20 for ages 3-11, $35 for ages 12 and older, and free for children ages 0-2.

For one way, the cost is $10 for ages 3-11, $18 for ages 12 and older, and free for children ages 0-2.

Advance ticket purchase is required and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Passengers are allowed up to 70 lbs of cargo, including bicycles. A $10 fee will be charged for additional cargo.

Ticket purchases may be made at the Marianas Visitors Authority Office on Tinian and Saipan. Cash payments only will be accepted.

The festival highlights Tinian’s famously potent donni sali pepper. The event is also co-organized by the Tinian Mayor’s Office and the 16th Tinian Municipal Council and sponsored by MVA members. Activities will include the road/off road 65K Pika Bike Race on Feb. 17 at 6am, cooking competitions, indigenous craft sales, and live entertainment including cultural dances.

Sample a variety of local dishes, catch the umang (hermit crab), join numerous sports activities (including beach volleyball), cook your best kadun pika (spicy stew), cha-cha to the championship, arm wrestle or join the donni sali eating competition itself. Festival times will be from 2pm to 11pm on both days.

“As one of the MVA’s annual signature event, the Tinian Hot Pepper Festival just keeps growing in popularity each year,” said MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “It’s a perfect President’s Day weekend getaway with family or friends, and we look forward to sharing Tinian’s charm and hospitality with more visitors this year.”

Tinian is also accessible within minutes of Saipan via airplane or via connecting flights from Rota and Guam.

Air service to Tinian is provided by Star Marianas.

Available hotels on island include Tinian Ocean View Hotel, Fleming’s Hotel, Lorilynn’s Hotel, Tinian Street Motel and Green Lion House Hotel, and some hotels offer airport shuttle as well.

For more information, contact the MVA Tinian office at 1 (670) 433-9365, email MVA Field Operations supervisor Vida Borja at vborja@mymarianas.com, or visit the Marianas Events Calendar at www.mymarianas.com. (MVA)