# Boat to Tabarca from Santa Pola

What to do en Tabarca Island · Tabarca Island

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/things-to-do/boat-from-santa-pola · Revisado: 2026-11-13

- Duración: 15 min
- Temporada: All year; out of season it is the most frequent departure
- Para quién: For everyone

The short crossing: about 15 minutes from the Santa Pola quay with Tabarbus, departures every half hour in the morning and afternoon.

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.

Lo organiza: Tabarbus (https://tabarbus.es/)

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 38.1888, -0.5567

## Cerca de aquí

- [Glass-Bottom Catamaran from Santa Pola to Tabarca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/things-to-do/glass-bottom-catamaran), a 65 m
- [Church of San Pedro y San Pablo](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/things-to-do/church-of-saint-peter-and-saint-paul), a 6.9 km
- [Cala Tabarca B&B](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/where-to-stay/cala-tabarca), a 7.0 km
- [Hostal Masín](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/where-to-stay/hostal-masin), a 7.1 km
- [La Almadraba Restaurant](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/where-to-eat/la-almadraba), a 7.1 km
- [Boutique Hotel Isla de Tabarca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/where-to-stay/boutique-hotel-isla-de-tabarca), a 7.2 km
- [Walls and San Rafael Gate](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/things-to-do/walls-and-san-rafael-gate), a 7.2 km
- [Nueva Tabarca Museum](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island/things-to-do/nueva-tabarca-museum), a 7.3 km

## Consejos

### The midday gap
From 14:00 to 16:30 there is no return: plan your lunch on the island with that in mind.

### For stargazing, the 21:00
It is the last boat to Santa Pola; if you want to stay and watch the sky from Punta Falcón, you will have to sleep on the island.

### Call the day before in a levante
Sea conditions rule; confirm on 687 916 450.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take from Santa Pola to Tabarca?
About 15 minutes.

### How much does it cost?
Tabarbus does not publish prices on its website: they give them to you when you book by phone.

### Can I take the car to the island?
No. There are no cars on Tabarca; the car stays in Santa Pola.

### What time does the last boat back leave?
At 21:00, from the island.

Destino: [Tabarca Island](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/tabarca-island.md)