Visit Tabarca - Europe's last pirate island - one of Alicante's biggest tourist attractions
Tabarca is Spain's least populated island, with only between 50 and 75 permanent residents. There is much to explore on this small island. A scenic island with a rich wildlife and with many beaches and bays to hide away for a little while. Restaurants with fantastic fish and shellfish.
"Pirate Island" Tabarca
Just outside Santa Pola is the wonderful island of Tabarca. It only takes 20 to 30 minutes by boat from Santa Pola depending on the type of boat you take. There are also boats from Alicante , Torrevieja and El Campello. Naturally, it takes a little longer. But the boat trip is very pleasant in itself. Tabarca is a treasure trove of history and natural beauty just outside Santa Pola. In the heart of the crystal clear Mediterranean lies this hidden gem, which piques the curiosity of travelers and adventurous souls. With a scenery and a fascinating history, which was once the haunt of pirates, it will take your breath away. Tabarca has a deep-rooted history dating back to the 18th century. The island was once used as a refuge for Berber pirates who ravaged the Mediterranean. But in 1768 the island was colonized by King Charles III of Spain, who established a settlement to protect the coast from pirate attacks. The old fortifications and city walls that stand proudly today are testimony to this turbulent past. Exploring the narrow streets of the small village, which is protected behind the walls, is like taking a step back in time and experiencing history up close. Gastronomically, Tabarca, like Santa Pola, is known for its fresh fish and seafood. The local restaurants offer delicious paella, fresh shellfish and other seafood dishes that will delight the palate of any food enthusiast. Tasting local specialties while enjoying the fantastic view of the azure sea provides a very special experience of the island's culture. Many boats settle outside the island, both rental boats and people's own boats. The restaurants have their own boats that can pick you up from the private boat or from the mainland in Santa Pola if you want to eat at the restaurants. The island has some hotels with a perfectly decent quality, although not luxury. But waking up early in the morning to take a bath in the sea all alone before people arrive by boat to the island is an experience. And then the breakfast at the hotel afterwards tastes incredibly good.
Natural beauty and outdoor life at Tabarca
Although Tabarca is small, it does not lack natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor activities. The crystal clear waters around the island are a playground for water sports enthusiasts. Diving and snorkeling offer the opportunity to explore underwater life and discover underwater caves and hidden treasures. The boat trip out to Tabarca is also a very pleasant trip. If you take the right boats, they have a glass bottom where you can see the wonderful life in the sea from inside the tourist boat. The island is also home to the marine environment around Tabarca, a protected marine reserve that provides an incredible diversity of marine life. This makes the island a paradise for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, and it's a great place to explore on foot. It takes about 1 hour to walk around the entire island, a little depending on what speed you want. Paths criss-cross the landscape and provide fantastic panoramic views of the sea and the surrounding coastal area, often with a lovely fresh breeze. In the many small bays you often see people who want to be a bit romantic alone. And there are many small places for this in Tabarca. This island should be visited if you haven't already.
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