Tabarca island near the city of Alicante Spain that feels very different from big tourist spots. Only around fifty people live on the island all year round and that small size has saved Tabarca from being swallowed by mass tourism.
Many visitors arrive in summer most are day trippers who come by ferry from Santa Pola to walk its quiet streets swim in calm clear waters and explore its historic town. Despite its fame Tabarca has managed to keep its natural beauty alive. Glass bottomed ferries running several times daily connect the island to mainland without overwhelming the island community.
Tabarca history runs deep. In the mid 1700s people from Tabarka in Tunisia were resettled here after pirate attacks and built the town in a neat grid. The island became a marine reserve in 1986 protecting its seas plants fish and coastline.
Now locals want to spread tourist visits more evenly through the year so the island life remains peaceful and services work well. Transport in winter is sparse and some old residents face trouble reaching medical care or getting to the mainland easily. The goal is to keep the peace and heritage alive so visitors enjoy the special feel of Tabarca and locals don’t lose the island they call home.
