Tabarca island lies just a short boat ride from Santa Pola on the Alicante coast. It’s worth visiting at any time of year, but it comes into its own in the summer when you can spend the whole day over there and enjoy snorkelling in its tranquil waters.
Getting there is easy. First make your way to the port of Santa Pola. Once there you can’t miss the ticket offices for the different boat companies. They may look and act like touts, but they are legit! There’s not a great deal to help you choose from the different boats that take about 45 minutes each way but the departure times can vary a little so that may be a factor for you. At times the prices are suddenly lowered to generate extra business, but you can book online in advance if you really feel the need. We travelled on the catamaran Nueva Tabarca which has glass windows in the twin hulls so you can admire the marine life when they moor up for a few minutes off the coast of the island. Sadly the views are far from clear as the windows are not exactly clean, and the boat’s engines do churn up a lot of silt making fish-spotting even more difficult. Tabarkeras offer an almost identical service. Transtabarca also have a catamaran but if the idea of so long on the water fills you with dread and staring into the murky depths leaves you cold, they also offer a faster boat which gets there in 15 minutes. Tabarca Water Taxi offers only a fast boat but you will pay slightly more for the privilege. On a day with choppy waters it’s probably worth it! it is also possible to travel to Tabarca from both Alicante and Torrevieja, but the time spent on the water each way will be a lot longer.
Tabarca is the only inhabited island on the Valencian coast. People have lived there for centuries with the Barbary Pirates probably the most infamous of residents. They were so problematic for a couple of hundred years that King Carlos III decided to fortify the island and repopulate it with Genoese sailors and fishermen whom he had rescued from captivity in Tabarka, Tunisia. This is, presumably, how the island got its modern name.
The island is essentially divided into two parts. One is rough and wild, the other tamed by mankind. It’s fun wandering through the handful of streets with their boutique shops and cute restaurants. The fortified walls are a real joy to explore. You can even stay there with a few options for an overnight rest now. Although the options seem very similar price-wise, the Boutique Isla Tabarca stands out for the comfort it offers for not much more than the price of the hostels and fishermen’s cottages. The church has been steadfastly closed during our visits, but perhaps you will have more luck and get to see inside. There is a museum just as you leave the port, but once again we found its doors closed.
Its surrounding waters are a Mediterranean Marine Reserve offering protection to the rich variety of underwater flora and fauna. Lots of beaches and coves are accessible as you walk around the island. Right opposite the port is an expanse of golden sand and deep blue sea, but that is naturally where the bulk of people (and school groups) head to. Walk out towards the central square fort and the lighthouse, and you are bound to find a more secluded spot. Snorkelling in these crystal blue waters is such an amazing thing to do. Keep an eye out for the cormorants and seagulls. If they are active, they can be a lot of fun to watch.
We decided to take a picnic with us. Great as it was, there was no shade whatsoever, so make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen too! There are some great restaurants in the town if you want to splash the cash but, before complaining that they are a little on the expensive side, please bear in mind that absolutely everything has to be transported from the mainland. The fresh fish and paella are excellent, and there’s a local fishy stew which is the speciality of the island, simply called caldero.
Have you been to Tabarca? Please let us know what you thought in the comments.
