Even though it’s a small island, spending the day on Tabarca Island is one of the best activities you can do if you’re on vacation in Santa Pola, Elche, Alicante, or nearby. The best way to get to Tabarca Island is from Santa Pola, as it is the closest port and in 25 min. by Catamaran or 15 min. by Speedboat, you’ll be on Tabarca Island. Our plan is quite simple:
- Try to go as early as possible; at Transtabarca, we have a wide range of schedules to go to Tabarca Island from Santa Pola. You’ll avoid queues and have more time to enjoy the island with fewer people.
- As soon as you arrive and if you intend to eat on Tabarca Island and taste the local cuisine, we advise you to book a table at the restaurant you like best. Ask the waiters about the menus and check the menu. Tabarca’s Caldero is our recommendation for what to eat on Tabarca Island if you’ve never tried it.
- Next, if you want to stay on the beach, it’s best to rent an umbrella and some sunbeds. You’ve got your spot reserved, so it’s time to make the most of your time; the sea isn’t going anywhere.
- Early in the morning, with less heat, is perfect for a walk around the countryside, where you can see the old jail, San Jose Tower, Tabarca Lighthouse, or the cemetery.
- If you go all the way to the end, you’ll see Nao Islet, the cliffs… You can also swim in the many coves you’ll find along the way. We recommend wearing water shoes as all of them have stones and you could hurt yourself.
- It’s time to return to the beach and relax, take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters, and have a drink while you wait for lunchtime. As we mentioned, for lunch, we recommend Tabarca’s Caldero, but you can opt for other rice dishes like black rice or creamy rice. They won’t leave you indifferent if you want a seafood noodle dish or a grouper gazpacho. For starters, grilled squid or some sardines, as we’re in full season.
- For the afternoon, after the «siesta» on the beach, you can visit the town area. Its streets are a collection of beautiful corners. If you’re an Instagram fan, you’ll find thousands of Instagrammable spots to share on your social networks, and it’s even better if you tag us. Throughout the town, you’ll find the Church of San Pedro and San Pablo, which you’ll enjoy much more if you’re lucky enough to find it open. In the northern part, you have the best-preserved area of the ancient defense wall, and along it, you’ll find different gates: Levante or San Rafael Gate, Trencada or San Gabriel Gate, or Tierra, Alicante, or San Miguel Gate. Each one has its peculiarities. But we’ll stick to the basics. The Levante gate is the first one we’ll encounter and gives access to the town from the beach. The Trencada gate is the westernmost one, giving access to the Cantera area and is the best spot to watch the sunset on Tabarca Island. Finally, the Tierra Gate faces north, as its name suggests, facing the mainland. It gives access to the old port and is a perfect place for a final swim of the day. This would be a very good plan for what to do on Tabarca Island in a day trip from Santa Pola. You can ask any of our staff about other things to do on Tabarca Island. They are all great connoisseurs of the island and can tell you secrets that only the locals know.
