Getaway to the smallest inhabited island in Spain, a refuge for pirates and a paradise for divers

8 km from the port of Santa Pola is one of the most popular tourist spots on the Alicante coast.

, a rocky and flat islet inhabited by around 50 inhabitants, fills with tourists in summer attracted by its history, its artistic and cultural heritage and its turquoise and transparent waters full of protected flora and fauna.

The entire island has been declared a

and its waters a Marine Nature Reserve.

It is

and its 1,800 m long and 400 m wide make it possible to explore the entire island on foot to discover all its charms.

Walls, fortifications, an 18th-century church, coves with transparent waters, sandy beaches and a charming old town full of restaurants and bars where you can try the local cuisine are the main attractions of this unique place that is worth visiting.

The closest point to Tabarca is Santa Pola, from where boats leave that reach the island in just 25 minutes (price: 10 euros one way/fly. Online sale here), but it can also be accessed from Alicante and Benidorm.

Most visitors will spend the day, although there are also many who decide to stay longer staying at one of the local hotels.

pirate story

Before arriving at the port of Tabarca, the visitor already gets the idea of ​​what he is going to find.

From the sea you can see the great walls that surround the old town, in which the silhouette of

stands out , of baroque inspiration, built in 1779, with two square towers as bell towers.

Centuries ago, the island, on which evidence has been found that it was populated in Roman times,

who came from North Africa to attack Christian ships and even make incursions along the Alicante coast.

To put an end to this, King Carlos III ordered the fortification and repopulation of Tabarca in 1760. The wall, whose perimeter is adapted to the island, is made of stone and with external faces in ashlar masonry.

The battlements have almost disappeared, but there are sections that are still well preserved.

It has three gates, all in the Baroque style, which give access to the charming narrow streets of the town: the

, in front of the picturesque port where small fishing boats dock, the

, in whose surroundings necropolises and dumps have been found from Roman times, and the

Intramuros, in addition to the aforementioned church, is the

There are several walking routes that cross the island and pass by the only sandy beach in front of the bay where the boats anchor.

It is worth getting to the

, a 19th century building on the eastern end of the island from where you can enjoy the best sunrises and sunsets.

Before reaching it, you pass by the solitary

whose antecedent is in a construction carried out in the 14th and 15th centuries.

The tours also lead to several cobbled coves with transparent waters.

marine paradise

The surroundings of the island were recognized as

in 1986 (the first in the country), due to the spectacular flora and fauna found in its crystal-clear waters.

The nooks and crannies of the coastline and the small cliffs are a perfect place for diving and snorkeling.

About 1,400 hectares in size, the reserve has sandy bottom areas with

, where you can see groupers, dentex, gilthead bream, lobsters, sea urchins and starfish or sponges.

Also some other loggerhead turtle.

Where to eat

The traditional

is a typical dish of the island and well known throughout the Alicante area.

It is a complete meal that is served in two dishes, on the one hand the fish and on the other the rice, and receives the name of the container in which it is cooked.

On the island there are almost a dozen bars and restaurants where you can taste it.

Among them,

(tel.: 965 970 584), specialized in rice dishes and caldero (it has another place on the beach);

(tel.: 638 134 509), with good seafood, or

(tel.: 965 970 734), with Mediterranean dishes and menus at 18 euros.

Where to sleep

Vila Tabarca Quality and Luxury

(Soledad-tabarca street, 31; phone: 601 393 949).

Villa two minutes from the beach with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

It has a terrace and bar with sea views.

: from 960 euros/two nights.

Reservations here.

Hotel Boutique Isla Tabarca

(Arzola, 2; phone: 647 550 068).

Picturesque hotel in the city center in a restored 18th century building with views of the sea and next to the beach and port of La Caleta.

: from 130 euros/night.

Reservations here.

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