TABARCA ISLAND, ALICANTE, SPAIN.

Tabarca Island used to be a base by the pirates until it was fortified by King Carlos III in the 18th century and then used by fishermen until the advent of the beach and sun tourism of the last decades.

After almost 3 months of lockdown (because of the coronavirus pandemic), I wanted to take advantage of my first weekend trip outside my home to go to a place near enough but different. It was decided that this was the nearest place that would have a different vibe because it is an island. It is a great place to visit knowing that the few restaurants there will have outdoor terraces, and everything that is outdoor will have good ventilation and therefore less risky for getting the unwanted coronavirus. Also the island is supposedly COVID free throughout the lockdown.

The island has rocky coves with crystalline waters excellent for snorkeling and I was just looking forward to do nothing in particular and to have a relaxing trip with a group of friends.

Our place was right in front of the only church and probably the biggest structure in the island – the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul constructed in 1776.

On the way to the island we took a taxi boat from Santa Pola town and it was a 20 min boat trip to the island.

Upon arrival we did request for one of those electric powered bicycles to pick us up so that we can bring all our pieces of luggage to our rented place. In this video you can see us and the luggage behind us.

The island has many little cliffs and coves but there is one in particular that lots of young people use for their dives. It looked dangerous but many young people were still diving ignoring signs that it is dangerous & actually not allowed.

In summer, the island is usually full of day trippers coming in from Alicante City or Santa Pola town but when the last boat leaves for the mainland the people who stay can experience a different type of experience.

One can enjoy beautiful sunsets, and can enjoy a relaxing breezy stay by walking around the island in the early morning just before the day heat or just before sundown.

In this video one can see the port entrance, the sandy beach of the island and the restaurant Almadraba. It is in this restaurant where we had the famous CALDERO dish which is the typical dish of the island. It is basically a delicious rice dish made up of freshly cooked fish locally sourced by the local fishermen.

It takes only around one hour to walk all around the island and both times with no crowds and just watching all the different birds that use Tabarca as their home. The island has a length of 1.8km and a width of 400 meters. The island is also a protected marine reserve with a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna.

The island has 3 main streets, a big church and no cars. There is a small sandy beach in the middle that divides the small village with the rocky grasslands on the other side of the island, of which there are only 3 structures – the lighthouse, a fortress and the village cemetery.

The island has no 5 star hotels nor any big building except for the 18th century church. Expect to stay in small pension houses or former fishermen homes converted to airbnb type rentals.

The best place to catch a boat to this island is from Santa Pola Town which is only 8km and just a 20 min boat away. It is very easy to park in their small harbor and it costs only 15 euros for a round trip boat ride per person.