Isla Tabarca or Tabarca Island

First, the beautiful Isla Tabarca is also know as the flat island. It is situated nearby the coast of the Costa Blanca, in the East of Spain.
There fore, this location on the sunny coast is perfect for a day trip, when you are staying at the Costa Blanca.
Then, most of the time the weather is excellent to do a boat trip.
The boat trip to the island of Tabarca offers you a great time at the Mediterranean Sea.

Isla Tabarca or Island of Tabarca
Isla Tabarca or Island of Tabarca

Have a nice day at the Isla Tabarca.

In fact,  the Isla Tabarca is the only inhabited island of the region of Valencia.
Additionally, the  island is also the largest natural island at the Costa Blanca.
This beautiful place is located before the coast of Alicante.
Several  maritime lines are available from the different harbors from the mainland.
You can reach the island from Alicante, Torrevieja, Benidorm and Santa  Pola. You can count an hour to reach the island from Alicante.

Nice to know is that there are average 100 inhabitants during the year. But the island is crowdy in the summer season, because it is very popular with tourists for a day.
Because of this,  the locals are mainly engaged in activities related to the tourism and the fisheries.  Good to known  : the prices at the bars and restaurants are 15 % higher.
While the tourist are fascinated of the island background of pirates.
In the past the pirates used the island of Tabarca as a base to attack the coast and the fisher boats of the Costa Blanca.

Local cuisine of the Isla

Of course , this local cuisine is based on the local products coming directly from the sea.
So the small fishing village is very nice to strolling along.
At the  Isla Tabarca, there are  still remains of its defensive wall from the 18th century. The wall is now restored.

The Isla Tabarca got a Blue Flag for his clear water and the clean beaches.So it is very popular and it is ideal for water sports like snorkeling and scuba diving.

While you are snorkeling  at the Isla Tabarca you can observe the various sorts of fish like sardines, octopus, sea bass or red mullet .The water is very clear and unpolluted, you can enjoy the biodiversity of the sea.

Important to known: Tabarca is a marine reserve “ Reserva Marina de la Isla de Tabarca”.

Indeed, it is the natural home of several protected species and the  Isla de Tabarca is formed of volcanic origin.
As a result , the island of Tabarca has sandy beaches, as also coves and cliffs. As you can see, you can go on discovery with the children  and tell hem about the pirates. Fun assured!

Isla Tabarca : one of the smallest islands of the Spanish Coast.

In december, the regional  environment department of Alicante hosted a conference with  the regional governments of , Andalusian, Cataluna, Murcia and the Balearic.
In fact, this meeting has been held to preserve the small islands of the Spanish coast.
Specifically, researchers collect information  on these islands. In other words, more about the  flora and the fauna, the nature and the culture, the land and the sea.

Additionally, the islands feel the pressure of the tourist and the many possibilities of the islands for activities. In sum, the want to find a  balance between the demands of the tourist and the protection  of the islands.
As, Tabarca is the islands with an extensive nature  and cultural heritage it has been chosen for the meeting.
Therefore  the first marine reserve had been set up around the Island of Tabarca.

Access to the Isla Tabarca.

The island is easily accessible from different ports in the province of Alicante, Torrevieja  and Santa Pola .

First, the port of Alicante.
Second, the port of Santa Pola.
Third, the port of Torrevieja.
Then, the port of Benidorm.

Below you will find the schedule for the months of July, August and September.

If you want to spend a day on a boat than you can make a trip with one of the sea excursions in the  Mediterranean Sea to discover the Isle of Tabarca , the old Berber pirate island .
If you chose the glass bottomed catamaran, you can already see different fishes and underwater plant species.

Getting to the Isla de Tabarca

The port of Torrevieja Marina
Duration : takes you about 50 min. approx.Price : 24 € return ticket
On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday
Departure to the Island of Tabarca : 11.00 h .
Return from the Island : 18.00 h.

The port of Alicante:
Duration of the trip between 40 and 45 minutes
Price: 24, return ticket
Going back: 10:15, 11:15 and 12:30
Going back: 17:00, 18:00 and 19:30

 The port of Santa Pola.
Duration of the trip about 30 minutes
Adult price: 15,   Return
Price children (4 to 8 years): 11, Return
Going back: 10:30, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00
Going back: 11:30, 12:45, 13:45, 14:45, 16:45, 17:45, 18:45, 19:30

The port of Benidorm.

Duration of the trip: about 1 hour and 15 minutes
Adult price: 25, Return
Child Price: 15, Return

June, July and September Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
Going back: 11:00
Going back: 17:00

August Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Going back: 11:00
Going back: 17:00

Snorkling at Isla Tabarca
Isla Tabarca Isle Island of Tabarca Snorkeling

Restored

Visitors will be able to visit  the wall of Island of Tabarca declared a Spain heritage site .
In the past, in 2009 a part of the wall was already done. Now the regional government is investing in restoring the wall which looks over sea.

To end

Don’t mis a family trip to island by catamaran with a submarine vision. The children will  love it !
So everyone can enjoy the marvelous underwater flora and fauna of the marine reserve.