4 minutes 48 seconds, the longest totality in Spain
Totality begins at 10:45:22 and ends at 10:50:10 (Spanish mainland time, CEST). Maximum eclipse is at 10:47:46, with the sun 38° above the horizon. The partial phases run from 09:41 to 12:01.
Ceuta is the best place in Spain to watch the eclipse of 2 August 2027. The centre line of the path runs through the sea about twenty kilometres to the south, closer to Ceuta than to anywhere else under Spanish administration, and the city collects 4 minutes 48 seconds of totality. Tarifa, the best on the peninsula, gets ten seconds less. Melilla gets 4 minutes 34 seconds.
Ceuta is a Spanish city on the African side of the Strait, a peninsula of about twenty square kilometres attached to Morocco, with around 83,000 inhabitants. It uses the euro and Spanish mainland time, so no conversion is needed for any of the figures on this site.
The Spanish record for this eclipse
Fast ferries run through the day
Spanish territory, so no currency or clock changes
The hill at the end of the peninsula, 200 metres up, crowned by a fortress. The road around it gives views back across the Strait to Spain and along the African coast in both directions. This is the finest spot in the city and it will be full early.
The town beaches, on the southern side of the isthmus, facing the sea in the right direction. Central and easy.
The road north west towards Benzú runs along a wild stretch of coast under the Sierra Bullones, looking across at the Moroccan hills. Quieter than the town, with open horizons.
The 16th century navigable moat in the middle of the city, with the walls on either side. An unusual place to watch, right in the centre.
Early August is the peak of the Operación Paso del Estrecho, when hundreds of thousands of people cross between Europe and North Africa. The ferries from Algeciras run full for weeks. Add an eclipse and a same-day crossing becomes a genuine risk of missing the event. Book the crossing and a bed in Ceuta well in advance, and travel on 1 August at the latest.
Partial phases run from about 09:41 to 12:00. Totality in Ceuta runs from 10:45:22 to 10:50:10, with maximum at 10:47:46 and the sun 38 degrees above the horizon. These are Spanish mainland times, which is the local time in Ceuta.
Ferry: from Algeciras, about one hour on the fast boats, with several operators and many daily sailings.
Helicopter: a scheduled service links Ceuta with Málaga and Algeciras. Small capacity and expensive.
By land: the border with Morocco is at Tarajal. Crossing it in August is slow and unpredictable, so most visitors arrive by sea from Spain.
Accommodation: Ceuta has only a few thousand beds and is not a large tourist destination. For an event of this scale that is very tight. Book early or plan to stay in Algeciras and accept 4 minutes 26 seconds instead.
Documents: Ceuta is Spanish territory but sits outside the Schengen border zone in practice, and there are identity checks on arrival and departure. Bring your passport or national ID card.