Eclipse times in Tarifa
- Partial eclipse begins
- 09:40:48
- Totality begins
- 10:44:59
- Maximum eclipse
- 10:47:19
- Totality ends
- 10:49:40
- Partial eclipse ends
- 12:00:35
- Duration of totality
- 4m 41s
- Sun’s height at maximum
- 38°
- Sun’s direction at maximum
- 95° (E)
Local time, UTC+2, for the town centre. Times can shift by a few seconds across town.
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Tarifa and the path of totality
Tarifa is the large yellow dot. The dark band is the path of totality; the further you are from its edges, the longer totality lasts.
What the eclipse will look like from Tarifa
Where to look
The Sun will be 38° above the horizon towards the east. That is roughly the height of a raised fist held at arm’s length, stacked 4 times above the horizon. Pick a spot with nothing tall on that side: a beach or hillside facing east is ideal, while narrow streets and tall buildings to the east can block the view.
Watching the eclipse in Tarifa
Tarifa is the southernmost town in mainland Europe and sits close to the centre of the path. The beaches of Los Lances, Valdevaqueros and Bolonia give wide views to the east, where the Sun will be. Expect the town to be very busy on eclipse morning and plan your parking the day before.
Historical weather records give Tarifa about a 77% chance of a clear sky at eclipse time in early August, according to climatologist Jay Anderson’s analysis.
Getting to Tarifa
Nearest airports are Gibraltar (about 45 minutes by road) and Jerez or Málaga (about 1.5 to 2 hours). Ferries run from Tarifa to Tangier.
Good questions
- Is Tarifa in the path of totality?
- Yes. Tarifa is inside the path of the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, so the Sun will be completely covered.
- How long will totality last in Tarifa?
- About 4m 41s, from 10:44:59 to 10:49:40 local time (UTC+2), calculated for the town centre.
- Where in the sky will the eclipse be seen from Tarifa?
- During totality the Sun will be 38 degrees above the horizon towards the east. Choose a spot with nothing tall to the east.
- Can the Levante wind spoil eclipse morning in Tarifa?
- Tarifa is on the dry western side of the Strait, so an easterly Levante usually brings clear air here rather than cloud, but it also brings the Strait’s strongest winds, often 20 to 40 knots. Sand blows hard on exposed beaches, so a sheltered spot behind a dune or wall is worth finding the day before.
- Can I watch from the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia at Bolonia?
- Probably not from inside the site. 2 August 2027 is a Monday, and the archaeological site is usually closed on Mondays. The beach and the big dune next to the ruins are just as good for the eclipse.
- Can I take the ferry from Tarifa to Tangier on eclipse morning?
- It is risky. Early August is the peak of Operación Paso del Estrecho, when ferries are full of families crossing to Morocco, and the Tarifa route can be suspended in strong easterly winds. If you want to watch from Morocco, cross at least a day early.