Cádiz and Tarifa in the 2027 Total Solar Eclipse: Times, Path Edge and Weather

On Monday 2 August 2027 the Moon's shadow crosses Cádiz province at about 10:45 in the morning (CEST, UTC+2). Tarifa gets about 4 minutes 39 seconds of total eclipse, the longest anywhere on mainland Spain, while Cádiz city, close to the northern edge of the path, gets about 2 minutes 53 seconds. The further south-east you go along the Costa de la Luz, the longer totality lasts. This guide gives the timetable town by town, shows where the path ends, and covers the weather, the tours still open and how to protect your eyes.

Last updated: 19 October 2026

How long will totality last in Cádiz and Tarifa?

The table below uses our own calculation (skyfield with NASA JPL's DE421 ephemeris) for each town centre. Published figures differ from ours by a few seconds. Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) gives Cádiz 2 min 54 s, and TresEclipses gives Tarifa 4 min 41 s and Conil 4 min 4 s. Those small differences come from the Moon's uneven edge and the models used. Treat every time as accurate to within about 5 seconds, and check your exact spot before the day.

Eclipse timetable for Cádiz province (2 August 2027, CEST, UTC+2)

Place Partial begins Totality Duration Partial ends Sun altitude
Tarifa 09:41 10:45:09 – 10:49:47 4 min 39 s 12:01 38°
Bolonia 09:41 10:45:03 – 10:49:33 4 min 30 s 12:00 38°
Facinas (inland) 09:41 10:45:12 – 10:49:37 4 min 25 s 12:01 38°
Zahara de los Atunes 09:41 10:45:02 – 10:49:26 4 min 24 s 12:00 38°
Barbate 09:41 10:45:02 – 10:49:18 4 min 16 s 12:00 38°
Vejer de la Frontera 09:41 10:45:05 – 10:49:11 4 min 6 s 12:00 38°
Conil de la Frontera 09:41 10:45:00 – 10:49:01 4 min 1 s 12:00 38°
Benalup-Casas Viejas (inland) 09:41 10:45:26 – 10:49:16 3 min 50 s 12:00 38°
Chiclana de la Frontera 09:41 10:45:15 – 10:48:44 3 min 29 s 12:00 38°
Medina Sidonia (inland) 09:41 10:45:35 – 10:48:56 3 min 21 s 12:00 38°
San Fernando 09:41 10:45:20 – 10:48:35 3 min 15 s 12:00 37°
Cádiz (city) 09:41 10:45:26 – 10:48:19 2 min 53 s 12:00 37°
El Puerto de Santa María 09:41 10:45:44 – 10:48:12 2 min 28 s 12:00 37°
Rota 09:41 10:45:43 – 10:47:57 2 min 14 s 11:59 37°
Jerez de la Frontera 09:41 10:46:18 – 10:47:55 1 min 37 s 12:00 38°
Sanlúcar de Barrameda 09:41 none (partial, max 10:47) — 11:59 37°

Computed by Tember for each town centre; partial times rounded to the minute. The Sun stands about 37–38° high, almost due east (azimuth about 95°), at mid-eclipse.

Where does the path of totality end?

Cádiz sits only about 23 km inside the northern limit of the path. That limit crosses the Atlantic coast between Chipiona and Rota and runs inland just south of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Our calculation puts Chipiona exactly on the line and leaves Sanlúcar just outside it, with about 99.9% of the Sun covered. That is impressive, but it is still a partial eclipse: no corona and no darkness. Near an edge, a few hundred metres change everything. If you are staying in Sanlúcar, Chipiona or Jerez, drive south before the morning of the eclipse.

NASA's path table, computed by Fred Espenak, places the northern limit at 36°42.4′ N where it crosses longitude 7°04.9′ W, and our own calculation agrees with that to within about 100 m. The Junta de Andalucía counts 31 municipalities in Cádiz province inside the path of totality.

Map of the 2027 total solar eclipse path over Cádiz province and the Strait of Gibraltar The northern limit of totality crosses the coast between Chipiona and Rota. Cádiz city gets about 2 min 53 s of totality, Conil about 4 min 01 s, Barbate about 4 min 16 s, Tarifa about 4 min 39 s and Tangier about 4 min 51 s. Sanlúcar de Barrameda is just outside the path.Cádiz2 min 53 sConil4 min 01 sVejer4 min 06 sBarbate4 min 16 sZahara4 min 24 sTarifa4 min 39 sJerez1 min 37 sSanlúcarpartialTangier4 min 51 sNorthern limit of totalityCentre lineShaded: total eclipse. Computed by Tember (skyfield, DE421).
Path of totality over Cádiz province on 2 August 2027, computed by Tember. Durations are for each town centre.

Cádiz or Tarifa: which should you choose?

  • Tarifa and the Strait coast (Bolonia, Zahara): the longest totality on the Spanish mainland, close to 4½ minutes, with Morocco on the horizon. The catch is weather: the Strait is the cloudiest part of the western track (see below).
  • Conil, Vejer and Barbate: a good middle option, with about 4 to 4¼ minutes, beaches and white hill towns. Vejer sits on a hilltop, which helps if low sea cloud forms on the coast.
  • Cádiz city: under 3 minutes, but it has the most hotels, rail links and the best weather record of the coastal sites in the survey that Eclipsophile cites. If you stay in Cádiz, moving about 35 km south-east (as the crow flies) to Conil or Vejer adds more than a minute of totality.
  • Inland (Medina Sidonia, Benalup, Facinas): shorter or similar totality, but further from the sea fog. Eclipsophile's advice for this coast is, in short, to "go inland".

Will the sky be clear on 2 August 2027?

Meteorologist Jay Anderson (Eclipsophile) rates southern Spain well but not perfectly. In the survey his site cites, Cádiz had sun visible on 88% of days, while sites further south, including Atlanterra and Tarifa, averaged a "less promising" 74%. The reason is marine cloud and morning fog brought in from the sea, plus the Levante, the persistent easterly wind that makes Tarifa a kitesurfing capital and can blow for days. Anderson's advice for the Atlantic coast is to go inland, where the hills block ocean cloud.

The heat is milder than at the eastern end of the track. Cádiz averages a daily high of 27.9 °C in August (AEMET normals, 1981–2010), and inland towns are hotter. Totality comes at about 10:45, before the worst of the midday heat, but you will still stand in the sun for more than two hours, so bring water, a hat and shade.

Plan to stay mobile. Check the satellite images on the evening of 1 August and early on the 2nd, and keep a car or a taxi option to move 20–40 km inland if a sea-fog bank sits on the coast.

Eclipse tours to Tarifa: what's still open?

We checked these operators' pages on 19 October 2026. Prices and availability change quickly, so confirm with the operator.

  • Tours of Distinction, "Spain's Total Solar Eclipse 2027": 28 July – 4 August 2027 from Madrid, eclipse viewed from Tarifa, from $3,799 per person sharing. Both departures are marked sold out.
  • Creative Photo Adventures, Andalucía eclipse photo tour: 31 July – 7 August 2027, viewing in Tarifa, £2,470. Fully booked, with a waiting list.
  • Naturalist Journeys, Andalusia birding, nature and eclipse tour: 29 July – 9 August 2027 from Málaga, eclipse in Tarifa (the operator says the site may change for better visibility), $8,590 per person sharing or $9,345 single. No sold-out label was shown.

Two of the three Tarifa tours we found are already full, ten months ahead. If you are travelling independently, book refundable accommodation now and include inland towns in your search. Tour listings are not endorsements, and Tember has no affiliation with these operators.

What is Andalusia preparing?

  • The Junta de Andalucía is coordinating the 2026–2028 "trio of eclipses". Fundación Descubre will run a technical office (Oficina Técnica de los Eclipses de Andalucía) to give information and coordinate local plans.
  • On 2 August 2026 the Junta ran a test day in the path municipalities, checking access, parking, traffic, shade, water and medical cover.
  • The Junta has also named 10 May 2027 as a "mirror day", when the Sun's position is close to its eclipse-day position. It is a free chance to stand at your chosen spot and check the view to the east.
  • Its safety message: watch the partial phases only with certified eclipse glasses in good condition, and never through cameras, binoculars or telescopes without proper solar filters.

How do you get to Cádiz and Tarifa?

The nearest airports are Jerez (XRY) for Cádiz, and Gibraltar (GIB) and Málaga (AGP) for Tarifa. Seville (SVQ) has the widest choice of flights. Renfe trains run to Cádiz city. Tarifa has no railway, so you need a bus or a car, and ferries cross from Tarifa to Tangier, which is also in the path. Roads in the path will be busy on the morning of 2 August, so be in place the night before. We will cover flights, ferries and eclipse-day traffic in separate guides.

When do you need eclipse glasses in Cádiz and Tarifa?

For all of the partial eclipse: about 1 hour 4 minutes before totality in Tarifa and about 1 hour 11 minutes after it. Only during the minutes of totality is it safe to look with the naked eye, and only if you are inside the path. The moment the first bright bead of sunlight returns, put the glasses back on. If you are in Sanlúcar or anywhere outside the path, keep them on the whole time: 99.9% is still not totality.

Use viewers that meet ISO 12312-2, check each pair for scratches or holes before use, and never look through a camera, binoculars or a telescope with glasses alone. Our safe-use guide explains how, and our test certificates are published in full.

Your Cádiz and Tarifa eclipse checklist

  1. Pick your town from the table, ideally south of Conil for 4+ minutes.
  2. If you stay near the edge (Cádiz, El Puerto, Rota, Jerez), plan your drive south.
  3. Book refundable accommodation, and look inland too.
  4. Visit your spot on the mirror day, 10 May 2027, if you can.
  5. Pack ISO 12312-2 glasses for everyone, plus spares, along with water, a hat and sunscreen.
  6. Set alarms for 09:41 (partial begins) and 10:45 (totality).

Eclipse chasers from around the world are already booking the Costa de la Luz for 2 August 2027. Tember eclipse glasses are certified to EN ISO 12312-2:2015 (certificate CE-PC-260615-499-01-9A). Packs run from 4 to 100 pairs and include phone filters, so families and groups are covered. See the glasses. For the wider picture, read our guide to the 2027 eclipse in Spain or the Luxor guide for the longest totality of all.

Frequently asked questions

How long will totality last in Tarifa?

About 4 minutes 39 seconds, from about 10:45:09 to 10:49:47 CEST on 2 August 2027. Other calculations give up to 4 min 41 s. That is the longest totality on mainland Spain. Ceuta, across the Strait, gets about 4 min 48 s.

Is Cádiz city in the path of totality?

Yes, but close to the northern edge. Cádiz gets about 2 min 53 s of totality starting at about 10:45:26 CEST. The IGN gives 2 min 54 s. Moving about 35 km south-east to Conil or Vejer adds more than a minute.

What time is the eclipse in Cádiz?

The partial eclipse begins at about 09:41 CEST, totality runs from about 10:45:26 to 10:48:19, and the partial eclipse ends at about 12:00. The Sun is about 37° high in the east.

Are Jerez, Sanlúcar and Chipiona in totality?

Jerez is inside the path, with about 1 min 37 s. Chipiona sits right on the northern limit, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda is just outside it, with a deep partial eclipse of about 99.9%. From any of them, drive south for a longer and safer margin.

Which has better weather, Cádiz or Tarifa?

Historically, Cádiz. Jay Anderson's Eclipsophile cites sun visible on 88% of days at Cádiz against an average of 74% for Tarifa and nearby southern sites, because of marine cloud and the Levante wind. Inland sites usually avoid the sea fog.

Do I need eclipse glasses if I'm in the path of totality?

Yes. For more than two hours of partial phases you need ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses. You may take them off only during the few minutes of totality, and must put them back on as soon as the Sun reappears.

Sources

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