Boat to Tabarca from Santa Pola

Santa Pola is the port closest to Tabarca, right opposite the cape, and from its quay Tabarbus crosses in about 15 minutes. It is the departure to choose if you are arriving by car from Elche, Murcia or the south of the province, and the one with the most boats when the other operators cut services.

A boat every half hour

Tabarbus works with a fast boat-taxi and publishes a very dense timetable. From Santa Pola it leaves every half hour from 9:00 to 14:00 and again from 16:00 to 20:30. From the island it returns every hour, from 9:30 to 13:30 in the morning and from 16:30 to 21:00 in the afternoon. Between 14:00 and 16:30 there are no boats, so if you eat on the island, the first afternoon return is the 16:30. The last one, at 21:00, lets you watch the sunset from the harbour before boarding.

Price and booking, by phone

The Tabarbus website does not publish fares or distinguish seasons. You book by calling 687 916 450, and it is on that call that they give you the price and confirm the day's timetables. The company advertises discounts at some of the island's restaurants and group prices for the boat and the meal: ask about them when you book, because the website does not detail them. It also says nothing about dogs or pushchairs; if you are travelling with either, ask on the same call.

Getting to the quay

Boarding is at the Santa Pola quay. Park around the harbour with half an hour to spare: in summer it fills up early. If you do not have a car, from Alicante city it is simpler to take the direct Kontiki boat, which leaves from the centre.

Out of season

In winter it is the safest option. The Alicante Tourism Board states that out of season the usual connection to the island is from Santa Pola. The Nueva Tabarca Museum opens in the morning with the arrival of these boats, Wednesday to Sunday. Between March and October you have another option from the same harbour: the glass-bottom catamaran, which takes longer but stops for ten minutes over the reserve.