Santiago de la Ribera Santiago de la Ribera is a lovely town that sits on the shores of the Mar Menor. It started life as a simple fishing village, then grew into the prime holiday destination for wealthy Murcians. Today Santiago is popular with the Spanish for their vacations but also attracts tourists from all over Europe and although it has a modern air, it has still maintained its ‘fishing village’ atmosphere. Santiago has a very beautiful promenade, which is flanked by attractive palm trees. The promenade leads to an area known as La Ciudad del Aire ('City of Air') which was so named because many of the pilots and their families from the nearby air base lived there.
The main reason for visiting is to take the 40 minute ferry across to the Port of Tomas Maestre on the La Manga Strip. A single ticket costs 4€ and a return is 8€ per person, it is free for all under fours! You can put a bicycle on the ferry for an additional 1€ each way. The ferry departs Santiago every 2 hours starting at 11.30 and finishing at 21.30. It departs La Manga every 2 hours starting at 10.30 and finishing at 20.30. In the summer (March-November) it goes every day of the week, but during the winter it does not operate on a Sunday. In the height of summer the operating hours are extended for another 4 hours at the end of the day, making the last ferry depart Santiago at 01.00! For more information please call (0034) 649 201 610, there is usually someone who speaks a little English to answer your questions.
Most people tend to stay on the ferry and come straight back. If you want to get off and explore it is about a 10 minute walk to the marina and the cafes, bars and shops. After you go through the archway out of the port you can find some steps that access the rocky shoreline of the Mar Menor for bathing. If you are taking your bikes you can cycle along the road that leads up and down the narrow strip, but it is very busy in the summer with traffic, much better in the winter.
Key
Place of Interest Car Park for Beach, Promenade, Boat Trip
GPS Sat Nav N37o47.825 W0o48.436
Places of Interest • Beach: narrow sandy beach with official swimming area enclosed by nets to keep the jelly fish out! • Promenade: start of the 12 km long walk way around the edge of the Mar Menor • Boat Trip: B & F Ferry from Santiago to La Manga Strip Puerto Tomas Maestre
On the B&F Ferry Arriving from AP7 to Santiago de la Ribera Exit AP7 at Junc 784 sign Aeropuerto, at ® TL, SO under bridge, at ® SO sign Aeropuerto, at next ® (palm tree on ®) TL signed Santiago de la Ribera F34, SO barbed wire fence on RHS, behind which is military land, SO past large red and white storage tower, SO past entrance gates to military air base, immediately TR following white wall on RHS, SO as road bends slightly to the left, immediately TL following sign for parking (blue P), immediately TL, SO follow sign for parking, over 4 cross roads, TL into parking area. Walk back to the start of the car park and TL, SO over ® along Calle de Aguilar Amat to the sea. TR walk along the promenade to the Escuela Piragüismo (Kayaking school) large white building on the shores of the Mar Menor, opposite the Hotel Ribera. The wooden pier behind the kayaking school is where the B&F Ferry departs.
Puerto Tomas Maestre
Return to AP7 Junc 784 Exit car park TL, SO to T Junction opposite white wall TR, SO to T Junction TL, SO sign Aeropuerto, SO past entrance gates, past large red and white storage tower, past fence, at 速 1st exit sign AP7 Alicante Cartagena, at next 速 2nd exit sign AP7 Alicante, SO use slip road to enter AP7. Returning to Santiago de la Ribera