Transport30 min each wayFree cancellation up to 24h before

Santa Pola: return ferry to Tabarca Island

Return ferry between Santa Pola and Tabarca Island: a 30-minute crossing, the fastest and cheapest way to reach the only inhabited island in the Valencia region. 4.6/5 with 1,822 reviews.

4.61,822 reviews

Photo credits

chisloup, CC BY 3.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
Enrique Íñiguez Rodríguez (Qoan), CC BY-SA 3.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
MOs810, CC BY-SA 4.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
Enrique Íñiguez Rodríguez (Qoan), CC BY-SA 3.0, vía Wikimedia Commons · source
Will Myers, Unsplash License · source
Senne Gilis, Unsplash License · source

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Practical details

Duration: 30 min each way
Guide languages: Spanish · English
Mobile ticket: No need to print
Instant confirmation: Right after booking
Wheelchair accessible: No
Minimum age: No restriction
Pets: Not allowed
Cancellation: Free up to 24h before

Highlights

The shortest crossing to Tabarca: 30 minutes versus 1 hour from Alicante
Hourly departures in season
Marine reserve with crystal-clear water for snorkelling
18th-century walled village and the island's fish stew

Our take

Tabarca is Alicante's sea excursion and the Santa Pola ferry is the smart way to go: cheaper, shorter and with more departures. Bring a snorkel mask: it has been a marine reserve since 1986 and it shows.

What's included

Return ferry ticket Santa Pola–Tabarca

Not included

Transport to Santa Pola
Food
Snorkelling gear

Good to know

What to bring

Swimsuit, towel and snorkel mask
Sun protection: there is little shade on the island
Cash for the caldero: some restaurants do not take cards

Things to keep in mind

Choose your return carefully: the last one is usually mid-afternoon
In rough seas the operator may cancel and refund you
Tabarca gets crowded at midday in August; take the first departure

Meeting point

Port of Santa Pola, Tabarca ferry pier

Santa Pola is 20 km from Alicante (25 min by car, bus from the bus station). Ferries leave from the fishing port; show your voucher at the operator's desk 20 minutes before. Choose your outbound and return times when booking.

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The experience

The crossing

Half an hour by ferry from the fishing port of Santa Pola to Tabarca Island, the only inhabited island in the Valencia region and Spain's first marine reserve (1986). In season there are hourly departures from 10 am; returns run until mid-afternoon.

What to do on Tabarca

The walled village: Charles III fortified it in the 18th century to settle Genoese fishermen rescued from Tunis. Three gates, the church of San Pedro and low, colourful houses.
The beach and the coves: the main beach is small and pebbly; the eastern coves towards the lighthouse are quieter. The water is among the clearest in the Spanish Mediterranean.
Snorkelling: seagrass meadows, bream, gilthead and, with luck, octopus. Bring your own mask.
The caldero: the island's fish stew. The harbour restaurants serve it from 1:30 to 4 pm; book in summer.

Getting to Santa Pola

From Alicante, 25 minutes by car on the N-332 (parking next to the port) or an intercity bus from the bus station. From Elche, 20 minutes.

Accessibility

Boarding involves steps. Check with the operator.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before with full refund.

Frequently asked questions

Better from Santa Pola or from Alicante?

From Santa Pola the crossing takes 30 minutes and costs half as much; from Alicante it is 1 hour and leaves from the city centre. With a car or staying in the south, Santa Pola; in Alicante without a car, the boat from Alicante's port.

How long do I need on Tabarca?

Between 4 and 6 hours: a walk around the walled village (30 min), a swim and snorkel at the beach or the eastern coves, and the caldero. A day is plenty.

What is the caldero?

The island's dish: a rockfish stew with rice, in the style of the Genoese fishermen who settled here in the 18th century. Book a table in season.