Total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027 in Almería: where to see it and where to stay near Cabo de Gata

On 2 August 2027, Spain will experience one of the most anticipated astronomical events of recent decades: a total solar eclipse whose path of totality — the exact line where the Moon completely covers the Sun — will cross southern Spain from west to east, entering through Cádiz and Ceuta and reaching the southern parts of the provinces of Málaga, Granada and Almería. It is the first total eclipse in more than a century whose path of totality crosses southern Spain, an event that will draw astronomy enthusiasts from around the world to the area.

On the Almería coast, the partial phase will begin mid-morning, at around 09:40, and totality — the moment when day briefly turns to darkness and the Sun is completely blocked out — will arrive at approximately 10:50 to 10:55, mainland Spain time, with the full eclipse (including the partial phases on either side) continuing until shortly after midday. These are approximate times: it's worth confirming the exact minute for any specific location closer to the date.

The duration of totality varies a lot depending on the exact viewing location. At the most favoured point, Ceuta, total darkness will last up to 4 minutes and 48 seconds, one of the longest durations along the entire path of the eclipse worldwide. In Almería province, municipalities already confirmed within the path, such as Roquetas de Mar (1 minute 31 seconds) or Adra (1 minute 43 seconds), give a realistic idea of what to expect in the area: roughly one to two minutes of total darkness, more than enough time to see the solar corona with the naked eye.

For guests staying in El Toyo, the two reference areas for seeing totality are Cabo de Gata to the south and Roquetas de Mar to the west. To the south, the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park — San José, Playa de los Muertos or the area around the Mesa Roldán lighthouse in Rodalquilar — falls within the path according to calculations published to date, adding the appeal of experiencing the eclipse with volcanic cliffs as a backdrop. To the west, Roquetas de Mar and Vícar offer another confirmed option, with more tourist infrastructure and parking.

On El Toyo and Almería city itself, it's best to be upfront: they sit very close to the northern edge of the path of totality, and published estimates vary depending on the source. Before assuming totality will be visible from the terrace or the garden, the most reliable approach is to check the exact point on the official interactive map from Spain's National Geographic Institute (astronomia.ign.es), which allows you to look up any location down to the second. That's why, for an event this singular, the recommendation is not to take the risk: book your stay at Oasis del Toyo and travel that morning to one of the already-confirmed points within the path.

That's where Oasis del Toyo has its strongest card to play: not as a guaranteed viewpoint, but as the perfect base for eclipse weekend. It's less than 35 minutes by car from both San José and the heart of Cabo de Gata, and from Roquetas de Mar, which means you can decide on your viewing spot in August 2027 itself, based on the weather forecast, without losing travel time. Almería airport is also just ten minutes away, which is handy for anyone travelling in specifically for the eclipse.

An astronomical event of this scale, with international coverage and a predictable influx of visitors starting months in advance, means the general advice from eclipse-tourism experts is always the same: book accommodation as far in advance as possible, and decide calmly, in the weeks beforehand, which of the area's confirmed spots best suits the weather and the group's plans.

To enjoy the eclipse safely, certified solar eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2 standard) are essential throughout the entire partial phase, both as the Moon moves in and as it moves out; it is only safe to look directly without protection during the seconds of full totality, when the solar disc is completely covered, and only from the exact location where totality occurs.

With almost a year to go until the big day, anyone booking their stay now at Oasis del Toyo will have plenty of time to plan, at a relaxed pace, the best way to experience a total solar eclipse that won't happen again in southern Spain for a very long time.