This site is for travellers deciding where to go, when to be ready and what equipment to carry. It separates totality from a very deep partial eclipse, because they are not the same experience.
- Be inside the path of totality. The path is about 258 km wide. Outside it, the solar corona is not visible and eye protection stays on throughout.
- Use compliant solar viewers. Eclipse glasses must meet ISO 12312-2, the internationally recognised standard for direct solar viewing filters.
- Prepare before travelling. Check the exact observing point, local time, transport plan and filter condition before setting out.
What happens on 2 August 2027
The Moon will completely cover the Sun along a narrow track. The path begins over the Atlantic, crosses the Strait of Gibraltar and southern Spain, then continues through Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. It goes on across the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Near Luxor in Egypt, totality reaches the global maximum of 6 minutes 23 seconds. This is the longest total solar eclipse visible from land until 2114. The long duration makes Egypt an important option, but southern Spain and other points in North Africa also provide substantial totality.
Southern Spain, North Africa or Egypt?
Southern Spain gives international visitors a choice of coastal and inland bases. Ceuta has 4 minutes 48 seconds of totality, Tarifa 4 minutes 39 seconds and Algeciras 4 minutes 28 seconds. Málaga is inside the path but has 1 minute 51 seconds. Almería city is outside it at 99.99%, while nearby Roquetas de Mar has 1 minute 37 seconds of totality.
North Africa offers a long stretch of the path through Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. The right choice depends on the exact track, border requirements and a transport plan that does not rely on a last-minute transfer.
Egypt contains the point of maximum duration near Luxor. Travellers considering it should plan the observing location as carefully as the journey. A hotel or landmark name is not proof that a site lies close to the centre line.
The where-to-see guide compares the main regions and the Spanish locations that fall just outside the path.
How long totality lasts in southern Spain
Duration changes quickly with distance from the centre of the path. These verified examples show why the exact observing point matters:
| Location | Totality |
|---|---|
| Ceuta | 4 min 48 sec |
| Tarifa | 4 min 39 sec |
| Melilla | 4 min 33 sec |
| Algeciras | 4 min 28 sec |
| Marbella | 3 min 17 sec |
| Cádiz | 2 min 52 sec |
| Málaga | 1 min 51 sec |
| Roquetas de Mar | 1 min 37 sec |
When the eclipse happens in Spain
On the mainland and the Balearic Islands, the eclipse runs from 09:41 to 12:16 CEST, with maximum eclipse between 10:46 and 11:01. Totality occurs between 10:45 and 10:52 wherever the observing point is inside the path. In the Canary Islands, the eclipse runs from 08:32 to 10:46 local time, with maximum at 09:34.
The Sun is well above the horizon: 35 to 47.6 degrees on the mainland and 24.6 to 29.1 degrees in the Canary Islands. The times page sets out the time windows, totality durations and partial coverage for the verified Spanish locations.
Eye protection is part of the travel plan
The partial phases are never safe to view directly without a proper solar filter. A Sun that is 99% covered can still injure the retina. Sunglasses, smoked glass and improvised filters are not substitutes for eclipse viewers compliant with ISO 12312-2.
There is one exception. Inside the path of totality, and only while the solar disc is completely covered, the eclipse may be viewed with the naked eye. Put the filter back on at the first point of returning sunlight. Read the full eye-safety guide before observing, and use the eclipse-glasses checklist to inspect filters.
About this site
EclipseSolar2027.com is an independent editorial project. The published durations, coverage figures and time windows use JPL DE421 ephemerides and have been checked against the Spanish National Geographic Institute. The guides focus on decisions a visitor must make before travel.
For the geometry behind the event, read what a solar eclipse is. For the next major eclipses over Spain, see the eclipse calendar.
Last updated: 14 August 2026 · Editorial team