Return ticket
€12 from €9
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⛵ Catamarán Nueva Tabarca · Santa Pola
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
about Tabarca Island
We answer everything about prices, timetables, the boat and the island. More than 50 years taking travellers to Tabarca.
🎫 From 9€ online
⏱ 25 min crossing
🐾 Pets travel free
🔭 Underwater views included
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Tickets and prices
How much does the boat to Tabarca from Santa Pola cost?+
Buying online, a return ticket costs €9 for adults and €8 for children aged 4 to 8. Under-4s travel completely free. If you buy at the ticket desk the price goes up to €12. Underwater views are included with every ticket at no extra charge. See all prices →
Where can I buy tickets to Tabarca?+
You can buy tickets in two ways: online through our website — with instant confirmation and €3 cheaper than the desk price — or at our orange ticket office in the port of Santa Pola on the day. Buy online →
Can the ticket be used on different days? Is it flexible?+
Yes. The online ticket is valid for any day within the same season. You can go one day, sleep on the island and come back on a different day — the ticket covers the outbound and return whatever day you come back. There's no need to book a return time.
Is the ticket refundable?+
Yes. You can request a refund as long as you ask for it within the season in which it was bought and no promotional code has been used. To arrange a refund, contact us on WhatsApp at 623 526 591.
Are there deals for groups or schools?+
Yes, we have special rates for groups, school trips and companies. To request a quote, email us at info@viajesislatabarca.com or WhatsApp us at 623 526 591 telling us the number of people and the date. See group offers →
Do I need to book in advance?+
It isn't compulsory, but we recommend buying online in advance in high season (July and August), since the boat holds 250 people and the most popular departures can fill up. Buying online secures your place and saves you time at the desk.
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The boat
How long does the boat from Santa Pola to Tabarca take?+
The crossing takes roughly 25 minutes. Halfway across, the catamaran stops for a few minutes at the Tabarca Marine Reserve for the underwater views, so the total door-to-door time is around 30–35 minutes. Get to know the boat →
What are the underwater views? Are they included?+
The underwater views are a stop we make at the Tabarca Marine Reserve — the first marine reserve in Spain. The catamaran has 4 submerged glass viewing points from which you can watch the plant and animal life of the seabed without getting wet. It's fully included with every ticket at no extra cost.
Can I go to Tabarca with a dog?+
Yes. On the Catamarán Nueva Tabarca, pets travel completely free. They must be accompanied at all times and comply with current regulations (vaccinations, microchip, etc.). On the island you can take your dog along the paths and most of the coves — the main beach has restrictions in high season. More about travelling with pets →
What can I bring on the boat?+
You can bring whatever you need: cool box, parasol, beach chairs, pushchair, luggage if you're sleeping on the island. There are no luggage restrictions. The boat has a bar on board with soft drinks, beer and water during the crossing.
What are the Santa Pola–Tabarca ferry times?+
Times vary by season. We have the widest range of departures of any company operating on the route. Check the current timetable →
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Tabarca Island
How long does it take to walk around Tabarca Island?+
Tabarca Island is 1,800 metres long by 450 metres wide. You can walk the whole island in around 2 hours at a gentle pace. Add swimming, lunch and snorkelling and a full day is perfect for enjoying it without rushing. What to do in Tabarca →
What can you do in one day on Tabarca Island?+
A day is perfect for the essentials: swimming at Playa de Levante, snorkelling in the Marine Reserve, walking the walled old town, visiting the Torre de San José and eating caldero tabarquino in one of the restaurants. See all the activities →
Where can you swim on Tabarca Island?+
For families with children, Playa de Levante and "La Poera" are the easiest, with shallow water. For more advanced snorkelling, "La Cova del Llop Marí" and "La Cala del Francés" have the most spectacular seabed on the island.
What should I take to Tabarca Island for the day?+
Essential: sun cream and a hat — there's very little shade on the island. For the beach: a parasol and chairs (you can bring them on the boat without any problem). Water shoes for the rocky areas. If you want to explore the seabed, a snorkel mask. There are restaurants and a few basic shops on the island.
How many people live on Tabarca Island?+
Tabarca Island currently has 51 registered residents living there permanently. That number multiplies during the summer months when thousands of visitors arrive each day. It's the only inhabited island village in the Valencian Community.
Where is Tabarca Island?+
Tabarca Island is in the Mediterranean Sea, 11 km off the coast of Santa Pola (Alicante). It's the only inhabited island municipality in the Valencian Community and was declared a Marine Reserve in 1986 — the first in Spain. From the port of Santa Pola you get there in just 25 minutes by catamaran.
Are there restaurants on Tabarca Island? What should I eat?+
Yes, the island has several restaurants open during the season. The star dish is caldero tabarquino — a creamy rice cooked in stock made from the rock fish of the Marine Reserve, served with alioli. You'll also find beach bars and cafés. Restaurants tend to fill up in summer, so it's worth going early or calling ahead. Food and drink in Tabarca →
Can you sleep on Tabarca Island?+
Yes. Tabarca has a small hotel in the old Casa del Gobernador with very limited capacity — you need to book well ahead, especially in July and August. There are also a few holiday rentals. If you stay overnight, our boat ticket is flexible and valid for coming back on any other day of the season.
When is the best time to visit Tabarca?+
The boat runs during the season — check the current dates. The months of May, June and September are ideal: the water is already warm, there are fewer crowds than in August and the restaurants have tables free. July and August are high season — more atmosphere, but also more tourists. Patron saint festival: 1 and 2 August, the feast of San Pedro and San Pablo.
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Getting to the port
Where does the boat to Tabarca leave from?+
The boat leaves from the Santa Pola fishing port, at Avenida de los Baños, 1 (03130 Santa Pola, Alicante). Look for the orange ticket office — not the blue one or the other coloured ones, which belong to other companies. If you booked online, show your QR code at the desk and board straight away. How to reach the port →
Where can I park to go to Tabarca from Santa Pola?+
Next to the pier there's a free public area. If it's full, the nearest car parks are: Parking AMFISA (654 589 164), Parking Marina Miramar (618 088 210), Parking del Castillo (966 692 284) and Parking Puerto Marítimo (965 412 403). The furthest is a 5-minute walk from the pier.
How do I get to the port of Santa Pola from Alicante, Elche or Torrevieja?+
From Alicante: 20 minutes on the N-332 heading south. From Elche: 25 minutes on the CV-855. From Torrevieja: 25 minutes on the N-332 heading north. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before your chosen departure. Full directions guide →
Can I go to Tabarca directly from Alicante?+
There's no direct ferry from the city of Alicante. The only way to reach Tabarca by boat is from the port of Santa Pola, just 20 minutes from Alicante on the N-332. Once in Santa Pola, the catamaran crossing takes 25 minutes. All in, from the centre of Alicante to Tabarca it's under 50 minutes door to door. Getting here from Alicante →
Can I go to Tabarca from Torrevieja, Benidorm or Guardamar?+
There's no direct ferry from any of these towns. All departures are from Santa Pola, the closest port to Tabarca. From Torrevieja: 25 min by car. From Guardamar del Segura: 15 min. From Benidorm: about 1 hour. It's perfectly possible to do the trip in a day from any of these places.
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Evening cruise
How much does the evening cruise cost?+
The price is €5 per person. Under-4s go free. The cruise takes in the bay of Santa Pola at night — a completely different experience from the daytime trip to Tabarca. More about the evening cruise →
Can I book tickets for the evening cruise?+
We don't take bookings for the evening cruise. Tickets are sold only at the desk on the day and boarding is on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend arriving early in high season.
Can I bring food on the evening cruise?+
Yes, you can bring your dinner and enjoy it during the cruise around the bay of Santa Pola. Bear in mind that the boat has no tables, so come prepared to eat standing up or sitting on the deck benches.
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Haven't found the answer to your question?
Message us on WhatsApp and we'll reply within minutes. Available every day from 09:00 to 20:30.
💬 Message us on WhatsApp — 623 526 591⛵"These are the questions we get asked most at the ticket desk — and we've answered every one of them here."
The Viajes Isla Tabarca team · In Santa Pola since 1972We've spent more than 50 years answering questions on the pier before travellers board. If you still have a question that isn't here, message us on WhatsApp and we'll reply within minutes. We're a family business — here you always talk to a person, never a chatbot.
📡 Verified data 2026
Viajes Isla Tabarca — official information
Official information · Company founded in 1972 · Longest-running operator on the Santa Pola–Tabarca route
€9 adult online (€12 at the desk). Children 4–8 years: €8. Under-4s and pets: free.
By catamaran from the Port of Santa Pola, Av. de los Baños, 1. A 25-minute crossing. There's no direct ferry from the city of Alicante.
Viajes Isla Tabarca — a family business from Alicante founded in 1972. The oldest on the route. We run 3 glass-bottom catamarans with underwater views included.
Yes. Pets travel free on all our boats. They must be accompanied and have up-to-date paperwork (vaccinations, microchip).
During the season — check the current dates. 16 daily departures to Tabarca and 13 returns. The ticket has no fixed return time — valid any day of the season.
Return crossing + a stop with underwater views at the Tabarca Marine Reserve (the first marine reserve in Spain, since 1986). No supplement.
WhatsApp: 623 526 591 · info@viajesislatabarca.com · Ticket office: Port of Santa Pola, Av. de los Baños, 1 · 03130 Santa Pola, Alicante
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