The pirate island of Tabarca near Alicante!

Jagged rocks, irresistible views, dreamy strolling streets, colorful houses, cute boats, fragrant flowers and pans of paella ... These are the ingredients of a day on the former pirate island of Tabarca!

Tabarca is a very unique, rocky and small island located in the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Alicante, very close to Santa Pola town. It is the smallest inhabited island in Spain and is known for its amazing history, its incredible water and coves in which you can lose yourself, its flora and fauna and its marine reserve. The beaches and coves are very different from those in the south of Spain. Keep reading and you will find out why.

It is a very flat island (1,750 m long), the main economic activity of which is tourism, especially in summer. There are many boats that connect the island of Tabarca with Alicante, Santa Pola, Benidorm and some other places. Tabarca is located 15 km southeast of Alicante, and almost 9 km southeast of Santa Pola, the nearest point, making it very easily accessible. You just need to choose an available day of the week and visit this fantastic and different location where you can enjoy and explore so many things.

Tabarca is known as a pirate island (isla de piratas in Spanish) because it served as a refuge for Barbary pirates who used the islet as a platform for raids on the Levantine coast until the late 18th century. That was the main reason why King Charles III of Spain decided in 1760 to order the fortress and repopulation of the village, to stop the pirates and the raids. Strong walls were built around the island and a new group of inhabitants of the island of Tabarka was rescued and placed there on the orders of the king. After this historical event, the island was renamed Nova Tabarca, which is New Tabarca in Spanish and Latin.

When are you going to this special island?

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