Saipan-Tinian ferry available Pika Festival weekend

The island of Tinian will host 12th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival and Pika Bike Race on Feb. 13-14, 2016. Ferry transportation between Saipan and Tinian is available for festival weekend. (Contributed Photo)

In conjunction with the 12th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival and Pika Bike Race on Valentine’s Day weekend, the Marianas Visitors Authority has chartered a ferry between Saipan and Tinian.

The ferry departs Saipan on Feb. 12 at 6pm, on Feb. 13 at 9am, on Feb. 14 at 9am and 4pm, and on Feb. 15 at 8am. The ferry departs Tinian on Feb. 12 at 8:30pm, on Feb. 13 at 6:30pm, on Feb. 14 at 2pm and 6pm, and on Feb. 15 at 12pm.

The cost is $38 round-trip and $19 one way. Children up to age 5 are free.

“The ferry is open on a first-come, first-serve basis, and we encourage everyone to buy their tickets early. Bikers who want to bring their bikes to Tinian for the 65K Pika Bike Race at 6am on Saturday (Feb. 13) morning will need to go down Friday (Feb. 12) night,” said MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “This is also a great opportunity for residents of Tinian who want to come to Saipan on Friday night for shopping or other purposes.”

Passengers may bring up to 70 lbs of cargo, including bikes. An additional $10 will be charged for each additional piece of cargo up to 70 lbs total. Coolers larger than 100 qt will not be accepted.

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Refunds will only be given if the ferry is cancelled due to weather. Payments may be made at the MVA offices on Saipan and Tinian.

The Super Emerald ferry will depart from the Port of Saipan in front of the Commonwealth Ports Authority building and main parking lot.

The Tinian Hot Pepper Festival highlights the island’s famously potent “donne sali” pepper. The two-day island-style celebration, known as the Pika Festival by locals, showcases local cuisine laced with the “pika” (spicy), eye-watering condiment.

Festival times will be from 2pm to 11pm on Feb. 13 and from 2pm to 11pm on Feb. 14. Activities will include non-stop live entertainment and arts and crafts sales. Competitions slated for the event include the “estafao pika” (spicy soup) cooking contest, the umang (hermit crab) races, women’s coconut husking and grinding contest, kendama (a traditional Japanes toy) tournament, a dragon boat race, and the donni sali eating competition, itself. The event will be held again this year at Kammer Beach within walking distance of the seaport and downtown San Jose.

The event is co-sponsored by the MVA, Tinian Mayor’s Office, Tinian Municipal Council, Bikers Association of Tinian, and members of the MVA, with support from other government agencies.

For more information, contact Vida Borja at 1.670.433.9365 or e-mail at vborja@mymarianas.com or Ryan Calvo at 1.670.664.200 or email at rcalvo@mymarianas.com. (PR)