This pirate island tucked off Spain’s Mediterranean coast is filled with hidden treasures. From the friendly schools of almost transparent fish you’ll see as soon as you step into the water to perfectly placed cliff diving spots, this tiny island has something for everyone.
Tabarca Island is just over a mile long and sits off the Spanish coast near the cities of Alicante and Santa Pola. It’s Spain’s smallest permanently inhabited island, and while today it’s home to a lucky few, it used to be a refuge for Barbary pirates who raided the Spanish coast.
The pirate history is captivating, but the most impressive attraction on Tabarca Island is under the sea. The whole island is a protected marine reserve with ultra-clear waters home to a huge variety of ocean life.
From colorful striped fish and octopus to fried-egg jellyfish and even dolphins, this Island is full of marine treasures that make it one of the best spots to snorkel in Spain.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
How to get to Tabarca Island from Alicante (this is the option I always recommend)...
The best time of year to visit—avoid the crowds and have the whole island almost to yourself…
6 things to do on Tabarca Island (plus, the best snorkel spots)...
Where to safely cliff jump on Tabarca Island…
And everything you need to know before you go…
How to Get to Tabarca Island from Alicante
To get to Tabarca Island, you’ll need to take a ferry to the island. The ferries depart from the Alicante port (right next to the Explanada) and also from Santa Pola: a town about 20 minutes from Alicante.
The best option is to drive (or take a taxi) to Santa Pola and then take the boat from there to Tabarca Island. Why? It’s a shorter boat ride (25-30 minutes), tickets are cheaper, and you’ll have less waiting time.
In the summer months, boats from Santa Pola leave every 30-45 minutes, so you can show up whenever and just hop on a boat.
➡️ Get your round-trip tickets online here for just $10 USD each. (They’re about one dollar/euro cheaper when you buy them online.)
If you want to leave directly from Alicante, it’s a longer boat ride (about 1 hour) and the tickets are more expensive—in September 2026, round-trip tickets cost 24€ per person.
🤿 This 4-hour speedboat snorkeling tour takes you directly from Alicante to Tabarca Island.
When to Visit Tabarca Island
I’ve been to Tabarca Island in March, August, and September. During the summer months (June-August) the island is packed with tourists and the boats to the island are always full. If you’re visiting during the summer months, go during a weekday to avoid some of the crowds.
The best time to visit is September—the water is still warm, the weather is still in the high 80s, and the island is almost empty. My most recent trip was on the last Monday in September, and there were just a handful of people at my favorite snorkel spot. It was fantastic!
Now, you can visit Tabarca Island year-round. However, the ferry schedule is less frequent, and in the winter months (November-March), the ocean is cold and wavy; snorkeling is not advised.
Things to Do On Tabarca Island
Make sure you check these items off your Tabarca Island bucket list:
Walk to the Tabarca Lighthouse. Secluded on the eastern tip of the island, this cute little lighthouse is just a short walk away from the ferry dock.
Explore the walled village and the streets of Tabarca. It doesn’t take long to walk around the small village of Tabarca, but along the way you’ll quickly fall in love with the white and blue beachy houses and the narrow cobblestone streets.
Take pictures in front of the Puerta de San Rafael. This walled entrance framed with palm trees is a classic photo spot you don’t want to miss.
Chill at the beach. Rent a beach chair or swim around in the calm, ultra-clear water at Tabarca Beach.
Snorkel in the many incredible sea coves. You can snorkel almost anywhere around the island, but my favorite spots are below…
Cliff jump into the warm Mediterranean water. When I realized you could cliff jump here, it made me love this little Mediterranean paradise even more!
There are Airbnbs and hotels on Tabarca Island if you’d like to stay for longer than just a day… though you can realistically see the whole island, snorkel, and explore in just a single afternoon!
Best Snorkel Spots on Tabarca Island
After exploring beaches all across Spain’s Costa Blanca, this ex-pirate island has become my favorite place to snorkel.
You see, the best part about Isla Tabarca is that since it’s so small, you can almost explore the entire island in just one day! Here are my top two snorkel spots you don’t want to miss:
#1 Cala del Francés
Start your snorkel day at this fun spot! Here, you’ll find a few stairs that lead you down to a beautiful small cove that’s packed with fish. As soon as you step into the water, you’ll see them swimming around and nibbling on the rocky ocean floor.
As you venture further out into the cove, you’ll enjoy clearer, deeper water with more fish and sea creatures—almost every time I come here, I see at least one fried egg jellyfish floating around near the surface.
✅ Pros: Even non-swimmers can wade in the water and see the fish in the shallow area. Great cliff jumping spots.
❌ Cons: Very popular, lots of people. Water can be murky near the shore because of all the people splashing around.
#2 La Cantera
Walk through the town all the way down to the last stone arch on the easternmost side of the island. Here, the island ends and the snorkeling begins! This area is known as La Cantera, and it’s packed with fish and little sea nooks you can explore.
Some areas are very shallow, so make sure you float and try not to step on the marine habitat below you. You’ll see a ton of posidonia (a unique sea plant that forms dense underwater meadows) all around Tabarca Island and especially here.
✅ Pros: Lots of space to explore. Unique area of the island.
❌ Cons: Shallower area; for less experienced swimmers it might be hard to avoid stepping on the marine life below.
Do you need to pay for a snorkel tour to enjoy snorkeling on Isla Tabarca?
Nope. As long as you’re a good swimmer and have previous snorkel experience, you can find plenty of fish on your own.
That being said, there are a lot of great snorkel tours out there. If you’d feel more comfortable in an organized activity, this Tabarca snorkel tour guides you all through the island’s marine reserve (and it includes free underwater photos as well)!
Where to Cliff Jump on Tabarca Island
There are two fantastic cliff jumping spots on Tabarca Island—both in Cala del Francés. In the summer, you’ll likely see lots of teenage boys jumping off (and even cheering you on!) so you can follow them and see exactly where to jump.
The first spot (the yellow areas in the image above) is where most people jump. You can climb up the rocks from the ocean below or hop over the wooden barrier above and climb down. It’s about a 15-20 foot jump and there aren’t rocks below in this area.
The second spot (the red arrow in the image above) is higher—around 25-30 feet. You stand on the edge of the wall corner and jump into the ocean below. You do have to jump out a little further, but the water is deep and there aren’t any rocks below.
⚠️ Always be cautious while cliff jumping! And, if you go in the summer, make sure you double-check there aren’t any snorkelers swimming below.
What to Know Before You Go:
To make your time at Tabarca Island as enjoyable as possible, here are a few tips:
Bring swim shoes! The sea coves and beaches on Tabarca Island are rocky. It’s not unbearable if you’re barefoot, but it’s much more enjoyable with swim shoes.
Buy your boat tickets ahead of time—NOT at the dock! Get round-trip tickets from Santa Pola to Tabarca here online before you visit. At the dock, the different vendors will yell at you to try to convince you to buy their tickets, which isn’t enjoyable.
Pack your own lunch. I haven’t found a restaurant on Tabarca Island that has impressed me (though I’ve yet to try Restaurant Casa Glòria). So, I bring sandwiches and snacks and enjoy lunch by the ocean.
Bring your own snorkel equipment. There are not a lot of shops on Tabarca Island, and the few that exist are expensive. Make sure you buy your snorkel equipment ahead of time.
Stay hydrated! Bring lots of water (and Aquarius) and make sure to take water breaks in between snorkel adventures. The heat is intense, especially in the summer (even in September the sun still beats down hard!).
Spent the whole day on the island! I recommend coming early to beat the crowds and spending all day on the island to explore and snorkel as much as your heart desires. The timetable for the boat return trip can be a little wonky, so you might have to wait a bit before a boat comes.
My Favorite Snorkel Spot in Spain
For me, the perfect summer afternoon is one spent at Tabarca Island.
The morning boat trip that almost lulls you back to sleep as you gaze out at the deep blue waves. The excitement of seeing the fish gather around you when you step into the water at Cala del Francés. The moment your heart almost leaps out of your chest before you jump off the rocky cliff and cannonball into the warm Mediterranean sea below. The constant clicking of the underwater world as you explore, snorkel, and search for octopuses and fried egg jellyfish.
As you lie on your beach towel and feel the hot Spanish sun warm your tired body, you’ll realize that this is one of those days—the unforgettable ones. The ones you’ll dream about and tell your friends about and rave about for years to come.
You probably won’t find any gold coins hidden among the posidonia on the ocean floor. All the pirate treasure from years ago is long gone now. But after a day trip to Tabarca Island, I think you’ll agree that Tabarca itself is the best hidden treasure.