Published · By Sailing Beyond Limits
2027 eclipse timings: Sotogrande, the Strait and the Costa del Sol
Exact IGN contact times, durations and coordinates for the 2 August 2027 total solar eclipse, from Ceuta and Tarifa through Sotogrande to Málaga.
On 2 August 2027, the far south of Iberia is the only mainland-European land inside absolute totality. The Sotogrande (San Roque)–Strait of Gibraltar axis is a prime seat for observation and nautical astro-tourism.
Why this zone sits near the centreline
The umbra is about 258 km wide. The shadow enters from the Atlantic and crosses the Strait west→east. Further south in Spain means closer to maximum duration. Sotogrande (~36°18′ N, 5°16′ W) lies in deep umbra.
Global maximum (~6m 23s) is near Luxor, Egypt. Spain’s peak is 4m 48s in Ceuta (IGN).
Reference durations
- Ceuta: 4m 48s (national max)
- Tarifa: ~4m 39s
- Gibraltar: ~4m 28s
- Algeciras: ~4m 26s
- San Roque / Sotogrande: 4m 17s (IGN)
Sotogrande timeline (IGN · San Roque)
- C1 09:41:00 — partial begins (ISO glasses on)
- C2 10:45:30 — totality; corona naked-eye
- Max 10:47:38 — Sun ~38.5°, azimuth ~96°
- C3 10:49:47 — diamond ring; glasses back on
- C4 12:00:56 — partial ends
Sailing southwest toward the channel axis can stretch totality toward ~4m 30s.
The sequence above is the IGN San Roque table. Pin any other coordinate — including the flotilla zone at sea — on the IGN 2027 eclipse map. To watch from the water at our viewing coordinates (4m 17s from 10:45:49 CEST), book a flotilla seat.
The Costa del Sol gradient
Heading east from the Strait, the coastline bends away from the centreline and totality shortens quickly. This is the single most important thing to understand if you are based anywhere between Estepona and Málaga.
| Location | Totality |
|---|---|
| Sotogrande (San Roque) | 4m 17s |
| Estepona | ~3m 40s |
| Marbella | ~3m 21s |
| Málaga city | ~1m 57s |
In other words, moving from Málaga to Sotogrande more than doubles your totality. Every kilometre west along the coast buys seconds, and the steepest part of that curve is exactly the stretch most Costa del Sol visitors are staying on.
For guidance on choosing between these locations, see our land vs. sea viewing guide.
Sotogrande Marina as base
An August Monday plus international demand means AP-7/N-340 and the Gibraltar frontier will jam. Boarding at Sotogrande Marina skips most road chaos; the flotilla leaves ~09:00 for open water.
Strait navigation notes
- Surface Atlantic current eastbound (~2–5 kn) needs active station-keeping.
- Levante: coastal orographic cloud; often clearer offshore.
- Poniente: clear shoreside views, early mist risk, Venturi gusts near the Rock.
- The flotilla stays outside commercial TSS lanes (COLREG), on the Spanish side.
Book
Limited seats with Sailing Beyond Limits: totalitysotogrande.com · +34 621 023 062 · booking@sailingbeyondlimits.com.
See the full charter booking guide for fleet details and pricing.
Sources: IGN — 2 August 2027 eclipse · TimeAndDate.