Travel Guide Île De Tabarca

Located 11 nautical miles from the city of Alicante, it is the reference point for beaches in the region. The excellent quality of its waters and the biodiversity of its flora and fauna have allowed it to be declared a Mediterranean Marine Reserve. With a length of 1,800 meters and a maximum width of 400 meters, it is the only inhabited island in the Valencia region. Today it has only a dozen inhabitants. Formerly a refuge for pirates, it was also on this island that Carlos III built a village in the 18th century where several Genoese families from the Tunisian port of Tabarca settled. Its urban center is surrounded by walls, today classified as a property of cultural interest. The island can be reached by regular shuttles from Alicante, but also from Santa Pola, Guardamar, Torrevieja and Benidorm. On the menu of a day's visit, you can discover the village and the new small museum that it houses, laze on its beaches with crystal clear waters and enjoy the local gastronomy by trying the famous Caldero, a kind of broth made of fresh fish, rice, potatoes and aioli. Or if you are in a more athletic mood, walk the path that surrounds the island, which allows you to observe a wide variety of sea birds. There are no information points on the island, but there are signs in Spanish and English (lighthouse, beaches, tower...). The circuit is done in a few hours. If it suits you, you can also stay there.