A trip to tiny Tabarca Island is like travelling back in time – there are no cars for a start. But this trip is more about what Tabarca does have. Choose to spend a full five hours exploring this historic islet, or split your time and include a visit to Alicante, too – Costa Blanca's capital.
Just a 20-minute boat ride from the mainland, Tabarca is an unmissable daytrip destination. The walled town is home to about 60 residents and just a handful of streets. Then there's the recently restored baroque church over by the sea, alongside a cluster of pretty little coves and beaches.
The rest of the island is an expanse of bushes and cactus punctured only by an old prison and lighthouse. To walk from tip to tip takes about half an hour – so it's as doable as it is enjoyable. And if you choose to add on a visit to Alicante, you'll get to see another side to life on the Costa Blanca – it's a buzzing city with a thriving street food scene and top-notch museums.
