JENNIFER LUKE
Copywriter
An Afternoon on Tabarca Island
A week had gone by in Spain with my boyfriend, and the day of our return flight was quickly looming. Excluding the irritating mosquito bites, the days so far had been relaxing. But in order to make the most of our time in the sun, it became apparent that we needed to do something different. So, that afternoon, out came the decade-old guide book to Costa Blanca from the mis-matched book shelf in our villa.
After having a quick glance, I found out about a boat trip to a small island called Tabarca, located just off the coast of Santa Pola. I mentioned it to my boyfriend in a sort of half-hearted manner - he was enthusiastic and the idea kind of appealed to me too, I just really don't like boats.
In order to make an informed decision, I looked online hoping there would be more information. After all, was it worth feeling ill, simply to see a tiny little island? The site I found claimed that the boat would get us there in 40 minutes, which sounded manageable. I still debated it up until the day, but the look of anticipation in my boyfriend's face meant that I couldn't really say no.
So the day arrived and we drove to Torrevieja's port in plenty of time for the 11am departure. Car parking set us back €1.65 an hour. Not ideal for a full day, but considering there were no cheaper options - and that we were yet to spend a cent on parking since arriving at the villa - we decided to go with it.
At the sight of the catamaran that would take us to our destination, my trepidation grew - the last time I was on one, I did NOT feel good - but I thought once more, the journey's only 40 minutes, you can handle it for 40 minutes.
So after paying €23 per person for a ticket, we boarded the boat, choosing to sit next to an open window below deck. I thought that being out of the sun and having a breeze would help, but here's a warning; pretty much anyone who ends up being ill during the journey, will be downstairs.
I can't fault the views while on the boat - watching the coastline slowly change is captivating - but you will reach a certain point during your journey when you start to grow weary of the up-down-side-to-side motion. With me, this was definitely when I realised that the journey was going to be longer than 40 minutes. My frustration at the lie the website told me was the only thing keeping my mind occupied.
Nearly an hour and a quarter later, the island came into view. Needless to say, a wave of relief washed over me and the anticipation to plant my feet once more on dry, non-moving ground was overwhelming. And, as soon as I did, I started to feel better.
Credit: Montiboli
Walking along the little promenade from the catamaran, we were greeted by friendly locals handing out various restaurant flyers - it became clear at this moment that the island pretty much lives off of tourism.
I will admit. There isn't a whole lot to do other than eating, drinking, swimming, walking or sunbathing, but there doesn't need to be. You could spend hours in its crystal clear waters, watching fish, skimming stones, or simply gazing out to sea as the world drifts by. And despite the island's size there are at least 7 or 8 restaurants to pick from, all of which provide plenty of seafood options.
The main beach isn't what I'd call the neatest or even the prettiest, but the water more than makes up for it. It's not too cold, it's so clear that you can distinctly watch fish gliding past your feet, and the waves are so small that you can actually enjoy the water without getting bashed in the face every five seconds.
The island even provides peddle boats so you can venture further out to sea, before sliding into the water with a splash. The beach also has umbrellas and sunbeds on offer (€7 a pop, or €15 for two). We didn't quite have the time or money for either of these. If we decided to go back however, these would definitely be things to consider.
Credit: Alicanteabout
Our last moments on this glorious little island were spent, ice-cream in hand, taking in the views. With the time of our dreaded departure drawing closer, we were NOT looking forward to a repeat of the morning's journey, and, despite our short time there, we'd grown a little attached to this quaint island.
In the hopes that it might make the venture less distressing, we chose to sit above deck on the way back. I wasn't optimistic, but there weren't any decent spaces below deck, so we thought we'd take our chances. I was worried that being in the sun might make the return trip worse than the first, but it didn't. In fact, the ride felt much smoother. It took the same amount of time, yet it felt somehow quicker and more pleasant. I can't explain why, but I'm beyond glad that this was the case as it meant we had a calm and enjoyable end to an eventful day.
Just a note: if you love boats, then by all means catch the boat from Torrevieja like we did. But if like me you tend to feel a bit queasy on this type of trip, you can get to Tabarca on a similar boat from Santa Pola, which will make your journey ten times quicker and therefore ten times more bearable. They seem to run more often as well. It's always good to have the option. We'll definitely be doing this next time.
Thinking about visiting Tabarca yourself? You can find all the information you need at https://torrevieja.com/en/boat-trip-to-the-island-of-tabarca/
Credit: Communitat Valenciana