The eleven-kilometre crossing from Santa Pola to Tabarca became Spain's first marine reserve in 1986, protecting 1,400 hectares of Posidonia meadows and crystalline waters that host over 1,400 marine species. The island itself measures just 1,800 metres from east to west, its walled quarter built in 1770 by Charles III to house Genoese fishermen rescued from Tunisian captivity. What began as a garrison against Barbary pirates evolved into the Mediterranean's smallest year-round settlement, its 55 permanent residents swelling to 3,000 daily visitors during summer months. Boats to Tabarca from Santa Pola depart from Puerto de Santa Pola's east quay, where five operators run overlapping schedules between 09:30 and 20:10. The fleet divides into three categories: standard ferries completing the passage in 25 minutes, glass-bottom catamarans adding underwater viewing panels for the crossing, and underwater vision vessels with submerged observation chambers. All routes navigate the same channel past Cabo de Santa Pola, then turn southeast toward the island's north-facing harbour. Return crossings run until sunset, with the final departure typically at 18:30 from Tabarca's single pier. The ferry route passes directly over the marine reserve's western boundary, where the seabed drops from 12 to 35 metres and the Posidonia meadows give way to rocky substrate. Glass-bottom catamarans time their crossings to maximise light penetration, typically departing between 10:00 and 14:00 when Mediterranean sun angle allows visibility to 15 metres. The underwater vision catamarans descend passengers into a hull chamber with panoramic windows, offering views of gilt-head bream, octopus, and seasonal grouper populations without requiring snorkelling equipment. Standard ferries maintain the fastest schedule, prioritising throughput during July and August peak demand. Tabarca's harbour accommodates six vessels simultaneously, with priority berthing assigned to larger catamarans. The walled quarter lies 200 metres uphill from the landing pier, its grid of eight streets unchanged since the 18th century. The island prohibits motor vehicles, and the entire southern coastline falls within the marine reserve's no-anchoring zone, restricting private yacht access to designated buoys. Day-trippers typically spend four to six hours ashore before catching return boats to Tabarca from Santa Pola, allowing time for the 45-minute island circuit walk and lunch at harbour-front restaurants specialising in caldero rice.