ON August 12, a total solar eclipse will sweep across northern Spain and the Balearics – the first to cross mainland Europe since 1999, and the first visible in Spain since 1905.
For UK holidaymakers, it’s a rare chance to pair a week in the sun with a once-in-a-lifetime moment – totality arriving with the sun just degrees above the horizon, creating what astronomers are calling a “sunset eclipse”.
Astro-tourism is tipped to be big for this year off the back of this — but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
TravelSupermarket has done some digging to discover the perfect holidays to pair fun in the sun with a chance to view the eclipse.
Head of Holidays Chris Webber says: “What makes August 12 special is the timing.
“Because the eclipse arrives just before sunset, anyone on the Balearics will see totality with the sun sitting just above the horizon.
“Our advice is simple — if you want to be there, book now.
“The eclipse falls in the peak of the school holidays, and west-facing hotels on Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca are already getting snapped up.”
Here, LISA MINOT, Head of Travel, shines a light on six great places to see the phenomenon.
NOJA, CANTABRIA
TUCKED on Cantabria’s north coast, Noja is a proper Atlantic surf town and an under-the-radar shout for eclipse watchers.
Playa de Ris faces north-west, picking up clean swell off the Bay of Biscay and giving a clear, unbroken sightline as the sun drops — so you could even be out catching waves when it happens.
It’s not a polished resort town, more of a wild, local and friendly vibe.
Stay at La Casona de Noja, a small, intimate bolthole a short walk from both the town centre and the beach — plain but comfortable, with an on-site restaurant and bar.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the 2* La Casona de Noja is from £779pp including flights from Gatwick on August 6.
MADRID & TOTALITY DAY TRIP
MADRID sits just outside the path of totality, but it makes a brilliant base for combining a city break with the main event.
From the capital, it’s a straightforward run north into Castilla y León, with Burgos and Valladolid both in the path of totality.
Zaragoza is another well-connected option. On the day, the priority is an open view of the low western sky.
For your city stay, the 4* NH Madrid Balboa is a great choice in the upscale Salamanca district, minutes from the Retiro Park and the city’s designer shopping streets, with light, wood-floored rooms and a daily breakfast buffet.
GO: Three nights’ room-only at the NH Madrid Balboa is from £354pp including flights from Stansted on August 11, hand luggage only.
See tui.co.uk.
SALOU, COSTA DORADA
FOR families who want the eclipse built into a classic Med beach holiday, Salou is the pick.
The Costa Dorada sits in the path of totality, and Salou’s long, west-facing promenade means you can watch the eclipse without leaving your hotel terrace.
PortAventura is half an hour up the road if you want to build the week around theme parks too.
The Cala Font hotel is perched above its own cove just outside Salou, with pools, a spa and half-board dining — solid, sociable and built for a family week.
GO: Seven nights’ half-board at the 4* Cala Font hotel is from £868pp including flights from Stansted on August 6.
For more info, see travelsupermarket.com.
PEGUERA, MAJORCA
MAJORCA is arguably the most exciting spot of the lot.
The eclipse will reach the island with the sun only a couple of degrees above the horizon — a true sunset eclipse.
The west coast is the place to be for the clearest sightline, and Peguera, on the south-west, ticks the box — a laid-back resort with wide, west-facing beaches at Platja de Palmira and Playas de Paguera.
For your perfect stay, the 4* Hotel Vibra Beverly Playa sits right on the coast in Peguera, with two outdoor pools, a kids’ club and buffet dining for a great family break.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Hotel Vibra Beverly Playa is from £841pp including flights from Luton on August 11.
See firstchoice.co.uk.
SAN ANTONIO, IBIZA
SAN Antonio already has a reputation as the sunset capital of Ibiza — Café del Mar and the Sunset Strip exist for a reason.
That same west-facing orientation makes it one of the best spots on the island to catch totality as the sun drops into the Mediterranean.
The path of totality runs right across Ibiza, and San Antonio Bay delivers the open horizon needed to see it properly.
Stay at the THB Ocean Beach, a 4* adults-only on the seafront in San Antonio Bay, with a rooftop pool, Bali beds and direct access to O Beach Ibiza next door.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at THB Ocean Beach is from £1,374pp including flights from Gatwick on August 10, 22kg luggage and transfers.
See jet2holidays.com.
CIUTADELLA, MENORCA
IF Ibiza is the party end of the Balearic eclipse trail, Ciutadella is the quiet one.
Sitting on Menorca’s west coast, the old capital is already known for some of the island’s finest sunset spots.
Castell de Sant Nicolau is a ten-minute walk from the centre, and Pont d’en Gil and the Punta Nati lighthouse are both a short drive away, all with wide, unobstructed views west across the Mediterranean towards Mallorca.
For travellers who want the eclipse without the crowds, this is it.
The 2* Alfons Hotel is in the heart of Ciutadella, a short walk from the beaches and the town’s cobbled centre, with a small spa, sun terrace and restaurant.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Alfons is from £998pp including flights from Gatwick on August 11, 22kg luggage and transfers.