# A night on Tabarca island, an hour from Alicante A morning boat, snorkelling and caldero, the island empty at sunset, stars at Punta Falcón and a breakfast with sea views before heading back. An hour from Alicante. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/itineraries/one-night-tabarca-island-from-alicante · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dónde: Tabarca Island Tabarca by day is an excursion; at night, it is another place. Around five the last Kontiki boat leaves for Alicante and the island is left to its residents and to those sleeping on it. It is an hour by boat from Alicante and a quarter of an hour from Santa Pola, so one night is enough to watch the sunset from the harbour, look for stars at Punta Falcón and swim in the morning with nobody around. ## What is in the getaway? WhatTimePrice in 2026 Kontiki boat from Alicante1 h each way€24 return Tabarbus from Santa Polaabout 15 mincheck when booking Snorkelling with an instructor1 h 20 min€21 Nueva Tabarca Museum30 minfree Caldero on the islandmeal€20–35 ## Where to sleep There are three checked options in the village. The three-star Hotel Boutique Isla de Tabarca, open all year, with a panoramic café; it does not accept pets. The Hostal Masín, with quadruple rooms for families and one with a sea-view balcony in its annexe. And Cala Tabarca, six rooms with breakfast, four with a sea-facing terrace. ## El plan ### Saturday · 10:45 · Boat from Alicante Cruceros Kontiki leaves from the Paseo de los Mártires de la Libertad; in an hour you are at the quay. From Murcia or Elche, drive to Santa Pola and cross with Tabarbus. ### Saturday · 12:00 · Museum and walls The Nueva Tabarca Museum, free, and then the San Rafael Gate and the streets of the 18th-century walled town. Leave your luggage at the hotel. ### Saturday · 14:00 · Caldero At Los Pescadores, on the central beach: rice cooked in rockfish stock, with the fish served separately with alioli. Book ahead. ### Saturday · 16:30 · Snorkelling in the marine reserve With Tabarca Snorkel, 1 h 20 min with instructor and equipment, or on your own in the inner waters. ### Saturday · 19:00 · Sunset and stars The island, now without boats. Dinner in the village and, at night, walk to Punta Falcón, the eastern tip, a Starlight site. ### Sunday · 09:00 · Breakfast and lighthouse Breakfast at your accommodation and a walk to the San José Tower and the lighthouse before the heat. ### Sunday · 11:00 · Church and a swim The church of San Pedro and San Pablo, at the far end of the village, and a swim at the beach before the first boats arrive. ### Sunday · 16:00 · Return Kontiki boat at 16:00 or 17:00; Tabarbus leaves every hour. ## Un consejo más Bring a head torch for Punta Falcón: outside the village there is no light, which is why you can see the stars. ## Cuándo no ir A Saturday in August without accommodation booked: the island has few beds and they fill up. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does the getaway cost? Boat, €24; accommodation depending on the season; lunch and dinner, €40 to €70; snorkelling, €21. ### Can I go in winter? Yes: the Hotel Boutique opens all year and there are boats. Check which restaurants are open. ### Can I take my dog? Kontiki accepts pets, but the Hotel Boutique does not; the others do not say. Ask beforehand. ### What should I bring? Snorkel goggles, water shoes, a cap, water and a torch for the night. ## Dónde dormir without a car - **Boutique Hotel Isla de Tabarca**: Staying overnight on Tabarca changes the island: from the last afternoon boat, the village goes back to belonging to those who live in it. The Boutique Hotel Isla de Tabarca is an independent three-star hotel with 14 rooms at Calle Arzola, 2, inside the walled village. Turisme Comunitat Valenciana lists it as open all year. Thirteen doubles and a junior suite The hotel has 13 double rooms, bright and colourful, and a Family Junior Suite. The doubles take two adults and one child; some have sea views, which the hotel allocates according to availability, so ask when you book without taking it for granted. The Junior Suite is larger and set up for four people. All have free wifi, air conditioning, heating, a Smart TV with satellite channels and a safe. If you need a cot or an extra bed in a double, the hotel asks you to check directly. Breakfast and the café Breakfast is among the room services and the hotel has a café with views of the Mediterranean. The website does not say whether breakfast is included in all rates or what time it is served: ask when you book. There is no restaurant for lunch and dinner, but on the same Calle Arzola, at number 27, is the Nou Collonet, and on the central beach you have, among others, Mar Azul and Los Pescadores. Arriving with luggage You can only reach Tabarca by boat and no cars circulate on the island: from the quay you walk to Calle Arzola. The hotel does not say it collects luggage at the harbour. Kontiki, from Alicante, accepts suitcases on board and lets you use the return part of the ticket on the day you come back; Tabarbus, from Santa Pola, has its last return boat at 21:00. The car stays on the mainland. What to do when the boats leave As evening falls the wall and the harbour can be walked without crowds. At night, the path to the tower and the lighthouse leads to Punta Falcón, the eastern end, certified as a Starlight site: in winter you see Orion and Gemini; in summer, Scorpius and Sagittarius. And first thing in the morning, before the boats arrive, the beach is almost empty. Dogs and children Pets are not allowed. With children, the double works for two adults and one small child; for four, the Family Junior Suite. - **Hostal Masín**: Simple rooms in the middle of the village The Hostal Masín is at number 22 Carrer d'Enmig, the central street of Tabarca's walled enclosure. It is a family business: two brothers opened it in 1998 and they present it as a home more than a hotel. It has one-star status and a nearby annexe, the Nuevo Masín, on Calle Virgen del Carmen, which the island's official guide lists as a guesthouse. The rooms At the Hostal Masín there are three types. The double with a double bed has a balcony onto the main street, a desk and a marble floor; the double with two beds overlooks an inner terrace; and the quadruple has four single beds. All have a private bathroom, air conditioning, wardrobe, fridge, television and free wifi. At the Nuevo Masín the rooms have a sitting room: a double with a sitting room on the ground floor, a quadruple with a sitting room with a double bed and two singles, and the superior quadruple, with the same layout and a balcony with sea views. They also have a private bathroom, air conditioning, television and wifi. Practical rules According to its FAQ, check-in is from 16:00, as an approximate time, and check-out until 12:00. When you arrive on the island you can leave your luggage at the guesthouse even if the room is not ready, and the same on the day you leave until you catch the boat. As a general rule pets are not allowed; if you are travelling with one, call and ask. Bookings made on its website are paid in full in advance. They answer by phone on 676 974 423, from 9:00 to 13:00, and on 639 122 618, from 17:00 to 20:00, or by email at info@hostalmasintabarca.com. The website does not publish prices or whether it opens all year: availability is checked by dates in its search tool. Getting there You reach Tabarca by boat from Alicante or from Santa Pola. From the quay to the guesthouse you walk, in a few minutes, because no cars circulate within the village. Who it is for For families and groups who want to stay a night on the island without paying for a hotel: the quadruples allow four people to sleep in one room. From the door you are a few minutes from the church of San Pedro y San Pablo, the Nueva Tabarca Museum and the beach. - **Cala Tabarca B&B**: Six rooms named after sea animals Cala Tabarca is a small bed and breakfast on Calle Pascual Ros Aguilar, inside the island's walled village, with breakfast included in the stay. It has only six rooms and each is named after an animal of the sea around the island, which is a marine reserve. Its motto is the true spirit of Tabarca: sleeping on the island once the day-trippers' boats have gone and the village goes back to belonging to those who live in it. The rooms There are three pairs of rooms, according to its website: Pulpo and Estrella de Mar: doubles with a patio. Pulpo has a double bed and Estrella de Mar a large double bed. Medusita and Caballito de Mar: doubles with a terrace and sea views, with a large double bed and a sofa bed. Suite Deluxe Caracola: with a sea terrace, one large double bed and two single beds, for four people. Suite Deluxe Medusa: with a sea terrace, a double bed and a single bed, for three. The website does not detail equipment such as air conditioning, television or wifi, nor check-in and check-out times, nor its policy on pets or children. Ask before booking on 691 228 811 or at info@calatabarca.com. Direct booking Booking is through its online engine, which gives prices and availability by date. Its website offers, for direct bookings, a best-rate guarantee, free cancellation within the period stated on each booking and late check-out at no cost when available. It also sells gift cards. Getting to the island You cannot reach Tabarca by car: you go by boat from Alicante or from Santa Pola, and from the quay to the B&B you walk through the village. Travel light: no cars circulate within the village and the suitcase goes by hand. If you leave the car at the departure port, expect to pay for parking for every day of your stay. What to do from here The B&B itself suggests what makes sleeping on the island worthwhile: snorkelling in the marine reserve over the posidonia meadows, kayaking or paddle surfing around the island, the walk round Tabarca, a tour of the walls, gates, squares and church, the coves and caves when the sea allows and, above all, the evening stroll when the last boats leave. For that, on the island you have snorkelling in the marine reserve, the walls and the San Rafael Gate, the church of San Pedro y San Pablo and the San José tower and the lighthouse. It is accommodation for couples or small families looking for calm more than hotel services. ## Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Boutique Hotel Isla de Tabarca**: Staying overnight on Tabarca changes the island: from the last afternoon boat, the village goes back to belonging to those who live in it. The Boutique Hotel Isla de Tabarca is an independent three-star hotel with 14 rooms at Calle Arzola, 2, inside the walled village. Turisme Comunitat Valenciana lists it as open all year. Thirteen doubles and a junior suite The hotel has 13 double rooms, bright and colourful, and a Family Junior Suite. The doubles take two adults and one child; some have sea views, which the hotel allocates according to availability, so ask when you book without taking it for granted. The Junior Suite is larger and set up for four people. All have free wifi, air conditioning, heating, a Smart TV with satellite channels and a safe. If you need a cot or an extra bed in a double, the hotel asks you to check directly. Breakfast and the café Breakfast is among the room services and the hotel has a café with views of the Mediterranean. The website does not say whether breakfast is included in all rates or what time it is served: ask when you book. There is no restaurant for lunch and dinner, but on the same Calle Arzola, at number 27, is the Nou Collonet, and on the central beach you have, among others, Mar Azul and Los Pescadores. Arriving with luggage You can only reach Tabarca by boat and no cars circulate on the island: from the quay you walk to Calle Arzola. The hotel does not say it collects luggage at the harbour. Kontiki, from Alicante, accepts suitcases on board and lets you use the return part of the ticket on the day you come back; Tabarbus, from Santa Pola, has its last return boat at 21:00. The car stays on the mainland. What to do when the boats leave As evening falls the wall and the harbour can be walked without crowds. At night, the path to the tower and the lighthouse leads to Punta Falcón, the eastern end, certified as a Starlight site: in winter you see Orion and Gemini; in summer, Scorpius and Sagittarius. And first thing in the morning, before the boats arrive, the beach is almost empty. Dogs and children Pets are not allowed. With children, the double works for two adults and one small child; for four, the Family Junior Suite. - **Hostal Masín**: Simple rooms in the middle of the village The Hostal Masín is at number 22 Carrer d'Enmig, the central street of Tabarca's walled enclosure. It is a family business: two brothers opened it in 1998 and they present it as a home more than a hotel. It has one-star status and a nearby annexe, the Nuevo Masín, on Calle Virgen del Carmen, which the island's official guide lists as a guesthouse. The rooms At the Hostal Masín there are three types. The double with a double bed has a balcony onto the main street, a desk and a marble floor; the double with two beds overlooks an inner terrace; and the quadruple has four single beds. All have a private bathroom, air conditioning, wardrobe, fridge, television and free wifi. At the Nuevo Masín the rooms have a sitting room: a double with a sitting room on the ground floor, a quadruple with a sitting room with a double bed and two singles, and the superior quadruple, with the same layout and a balcony with sea views. They also have a private bathroom, air conditioning, television and wifi. Practical rules According to its FAQ, check-in is from 16:00, as an approximate time, and check-out until 12:00. When you arrive on the island you can leave your luggage at the guesthouse even if the room is not ready, and the same on the day you leave until you catch the boat. As a general rule pets are not allowed; if you are travelling with one, call and ask. Bookings made on its website are paid in full in advance. They answer by phone on 676 974 423, from 9:00 to 13:00, and on 639 122 618, from 17:00 to 20:00, or by email at info@hostalmasintabarca.com. The website does not publish prices or whether it opens all year: availability is checked by dates in its search tool. Getting there You reach Tabarca by boat from Alicante or from Santa Pola. From the quay to the guesthouse you walk, in a few minutes, because no cars circulate within the village. Who it is for For families and groups who want to stay a night on the island without paying for a hotel: the quadruples allow four people to sleep in one room. From the door you are a few minutes from the church of San Pedro y San Pablo, the Nueva Tabarca Museum and the beach. - **Cala Tabarca B&B**: Six rooms named after sea animals Cala Tabarca is a small bed and breakfast on Calle Pascual Ros Aguilar, inside the island's walled village, with breakfast included in the stay. It has only six rooms and each is named after an animal of the sea around the island, which is a marine reserve. Its motto is the true spirit of Tabarca: sleeping on the island once the day-trippers' boats have gone and the village goes back to belonging to those who live in it. The rooms There are three pairs of rooms, according to its website: Pulpo and Estrella de Mar: doubles with a patio. Pulpo has a double bed and Estrella de Mar a large double bed. Medusita and Caballito de Mar: doubles with a terrace and sea views, with a large double bed and a sofa bed. Suite Deluxe Caracola: with a sea terrace, one large double bed and two single beds, for four people. Suite Deluxe Medusa: with a sea terrace, a double bed and a single bed, for three. The website does not detail equipment such as air conditioning, television or wifi, nor check-in and check-out times, nor its policy on pets or children. Ask before booking on 691 228 811 or at info@calatabarca.com. Direct booking Booking is through its online engine, which gives prices and availability by date. Its website offers, for direct bookings, a best-rate guarantee, free cancellation within the period stated on each booking and late check-out at no cost when available. It also sells gift cards. Getting to the island You cannot reach Tabarca by car: you go by boat from Alicante or from Santa Pola, and from the quay to the B&B you walk through the village. Travel light: no cars circulate within the village and the suitcase goes by hand. If you leave the car at the departure port, expect to pay for parking for every day of your stay. What to do from here The B&B itself suggests what makes sleeping on the island worthwhile: snorkelling in the marine reserve over the posidonia meadows, kayaking or paddle surfing around the island, the walk round Tabarca, a tour of the walls, gates, squares and church, the coves and caves when the sea allows and, above all, the evening stroll when the last boats leave. For that, on the island you have snorkelling in the marine reserve, the walls and the San Rafael Gate, the church of San Pedro y San Pablo and the San José tower and the lighthouse. It is accommodation for couples or small families looking for calm more than hotel services.