Ramp collapse causes closure of Nicoya ferry

The ferry that runs between Puntarenas, on Costa Rica´s central Pacific, and Paquera, on the Nicoya Peninsula, will be out of service for at least a week.

The closure was ordered on Wednesday after an access ramp on the Paquera side of the Gulf of Nicoya collapsed. The Public Works and Transport Ministry´s (MOPT) maritime division is in charge of repairing the ramp.

Meanwhile, at least 4,000 daily ferry users will be affected and the company that runs the ferry, Naviera Tambor, expects to lose approximately $10,000 each day business is interrupted, according to the daily La Nación.

Those wishing to cross the Gulf of Nicoya may take an alternate ferry, operated by Coonatramar, that runs from Puntarenas to Playa Naranjo, about 25 kilometers via a gravel road from Paquera. The ferry will leave Puntarenas daily at 6:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The ferry from Naranjo will leave daily at 8 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Coonatramar said it could increase the frequency of ferry trips according to demand.

According to La Nación, the poor condition of the ramp had obligated a reduction in heavy traffic since early January and, beginning last Friday, only people, bicycles and motorcycles were allowed to pass on the ramp.