Tabarca Island is a big secret kept from 90% of other tourists visiting Alicante. It can be practically guaranteed that when the sun is shining over Alicante during the hot Summer months there are usually lots of tourists heading down to the beach to make the most of the beautiful weather.
So sometimes you might want to escape from the busy beaches and take off to somewhere quieter and calmer. Tabarca Island can offer just this. You can sit and listen to the waves, walk along the sand or eat in quiet restaurants - a real difference to the hustle and bustle of Alicante's main beaches. Most tourists don't even know that Tabarca exists.
At just 2 km long and half a km wide Tabarca Island may be short on land but it's great attraction is something it isn't short of - tranquility, peace and the sea! It is a pleasant change from the tourism of the Costa Blanca.
The only way to get to this amazing little Island is by taking the ferry from one of the main harbours on the mainland. The journey only takes around 30 to 40 minutes. As you approach the Island it is plain to see that the sea is a marine reserve just by the vast amounts of wildlife both in the sea and on land. Once you are there you can spend the whole day there or just spend a shorter time should you wish.
Do not forget the following items:
1. Goggles or a snorkel
3. Swimming trunks / swimming costumes
3. Drinking water (plenty of it)
4. Some sandwiches although there are little restaurants there
5. Something to dry yourself with
6. Parasol to keep the sun off you and the children
7. Solid walking shoes
8. Plastic Shoes for paddling in the sea
There is plenty to see On Tabarca Island and the West of the Island is the part that is inhabited. Here there are small streets, quaint little houses on winding streets will greet you and they are adorned by beautiful flowers. A good idea is to walk around the island and there are some fascinating buildings originating in the 18th Century for you to see. Start in the town area of Tabarca. There is the watchtower and the old state prison. The old city walls are still in place and they provide a protection to the town as they snake around the island. There are 3 old gates which are the old gateways to the town and are still remarkably well preserved.
The churches in Spain are splendid and the church on Tabarca Island simply doesn't disappoint. It is a fine example of late 18th Century Neoclassical architecture and well worth stopping at when you are on your wander around the island. The small museum is also worth a visit. Finding out a little bit about where you are visiting is to be recommended.
Moving on from something sensible to simply crazy - which is the cove jumping. You will see people throwing themselves off the high rocks into the sea. To be honest it is great to watch them have fun. If you want to give it a go then why not!
The beach and the sea are the biggest attraction of Tabarca. The sea is clear, tranquil and beautifully clean. It really is a haven for the wildlife. If you can do so do take some snorkelling equipment because the sea really is teeming with wildlife and you don't have to go too far out to see it, enjoy it and marvel at it. So you don't have to be a strong swimmer, just be confident enough to get in and stay close to the shore and you will be rewarded by a wide variety of sea life just swimming on by.
The main business of the Island is tourism and therefore there are hotels and restaurants. There isn't too much choice so visitors are a 'captive audience' so to speak so you may find the prices slightly higher than the mainland would charge. But the wonderful thing about the Island is that it isn't too tourist orientated which means that the Island still retains its genuine culture.
The restaurants will be more than happy to serve you a lovely meal and the local dish is a rice and fish stew. Why not give it a try? Or you can of-course take along your own packed lunch and have a picnic somewhere on the Island.
After a relaxing day on Tabarca make sure you catch the last ferry back to the mainland! If you decide to stay then you are in for a treat because Tabarca is eerie during the evening but the one thing you must make sure you don't miss is the wonderful sunset which will take your breath away.
So sometimes you might want to escape from the busy beaches and take off to somewhere quieter and calmer. Tabarca Island can offer just this. You can sit and listen to the waves, walk along the sand or eat in quiet restaurants - a real difference to the hustle and bustle of Alicante's main beaches. Most tourists don't even know that Tabarca exists.
At just 2 km long and half a km wide Tabarca Island may be short on land but it's great attraction is something it isn't short of - tranquility, peace and the sea! It is a pleasant change from the tourism of the Costa Blanca.
The only way to get to this amazing little Island is by taking the ferry from one of the main harbours on the mainland. The journey only takes around 30 to 40 minutes. As you approach the Island it is plain to see that the sea is a marine reserve just by the vast amounts of wildlife both in the sea and on land. Once you are there you can spend the whole day there or just spend a shorter time should you wish.
Do not forget the following items:
1. Goggles or a snorkel
3. Swimming trunks / swimming costumes
3. Drinking water (plenty of it)
4. Some sandwiches although there are little restaurants there
5. Something to dry yourself with
6. Parasol to keep the sun off you and the children
7. Solid walking shoes
8. Plastic Shoes for paddling in the sea
There is plenty to see On Tabarca Island and the West of the Island is the part that is inhabited. Here there are small streets, quaint little houses on winding streets will greet you and they are adorned by beautiful flowers. A good idea is to walk around the island and there are some fascinating buildings originating in the 18th Century for you to see. Start in the town area of Tabarca. There is the watchtower and the old state prison. The old city walls are still in place and they provide a protection to the town as they snake around the island. There are 3 old gates which are the old gateways to the town and are still remarkably well preserved.
The churches in Spain are splendid and the church on Tabarca Island simply doesn't disappoint. It is a fine example of late 18th Century Neoclassical architecture and well worth stopping at when you are on your wander around the island. The small museum is also worth a visit. Finding out a little bit about where you are visiting is to be recommended.
Moving on from something sensible to simply crazy - which is the cove jumping. You will see people throwing themselves off the high rocks into the sea. To be honest it is great to watch them have fun. If you want to give it a go then why not!
The beach and the sea are the biggest attraction of Tabarca. The sea is clear, tranquil and beautifully clean. It really is a haven for the wildlife. If you can do so do take some snorkelling equipment because the sea really is teeming with wildlife and you don't have to go too far out to see it, enjoy it and marvel at it. So you don't have to be a strong swimmer, just be confident enough to get in and stay close to the shore and you will be rewarded by a wide variety of sea life just swimming on by.
The main business of the Island is tourism and therefore there are hotels and restaurants. There isn't too much choice so visitors are a 'captive audience' so to speak so you may find the prices slightly higher than the mainland would charge. But the wonderful thing about the Island is that it isn't too tourist orientated which means that the Island still retains its genuine culture.
The restaurants will be more than happy to serve you a lovely meal and the local dish is a rice and fish stew. Why not give it a try? Or you can of-course take along your own packed lunch and have a picnic somewhere on the Island.
After a relaxing day on Tabarca make sure you catch the last ferry back to the mainland! If you decide to stay then you are in for a treat because Tabarca is eerie during the evening but the one thing you must make sure you don't miss is the wonderful sunset which will take your breath away.
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Want to find out more about Tabarca Island, then visit Kathy Williams's site on how to get the best out of your holiday to Alicante.
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