More people than cats: What it’s like to live on Spain’s smallest inhabited island

Tabarca, Spain
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Spain’s Mediterranean islands have come to represent an ideal of lifestyle and leisure.

Chances are you’re familiar with the Balearic archipelago. Every year, millions flock every year to the islands of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera to wander whitewashed towns, soak up pristine beaches, embrace the laidback vibes — and, for some, indulge in a bit of partying.

A little farther south lies another Spanish island that captures much of this Mediterranean magic while remaining almost entirely unknown.

Look at a map of Spain, zoom in on its southeast corner and, if you pay attention, you’ll spot an elongated speck of land…