The longest totality on the Costa del Sol
Totality begins at 10:46:20 and ends at 10:49:58 (Spanish mainland time, CEST). Maximum eclipse is at 10:48:09, with the sun 39° above the horizon. The partial phases run from 09:41 to 12:01.
Of the Costa del Sol resorts, Estepona is the best placed for the eclipse of 2 August 2027. It gets 3 minutes 38 seconds, comfortably more than Marbella and twice what Málaga manages. The reason is simple geometry: the northern limit of the path runs diagonally across Andalusia, so the further west you are along this coast, the deeper inside the path you sit.
Everything from Sotogrande through Estepona to Marbella is inside the path with over three minutes. East of Marbella the numbers fall away quickly.
The best figure of any Costa del Sol resort
Room to spread out along the whole municipality
Resort infrastructure, unlike the small Cadiz towns
The main town beach runs for around two and a half kilometres in front of the centre, backed by a wide promenade. Easy access, plenty of cafes for the two hours of partial phases, and an open view to the east and south east where the sun will be.
A sheltered cove west of the marina, protected from the wind and facing the right way. Small, so it will fill fast, but pleasant.
The land rises quickly inland from Estepona towards Sierra Bermeja. The road up to Los Reales, at over 1,400 metres, gives an enormous view over the coast, the Strait and Africa. It is a narrow mountain road, so go up very early or not at all.
West towards Gibraltar, Manilva and Sotogrande add a few more seconds of totality and are generally quieter than Estepona itself.
Estepona to Gibraltar is about 45 minutes and takes you from 3 minutes 38 seconds to 4 minutes 27 seconds. Estepona to Tarifa is about an hour and a half for 4 minutes 38 seconds. Whether that is worth the drive on the busiest morning of the year is your call, but if you decide to move, move the day before.
Partial phases run from about 09:41 to 12:01. Totality in Estepona runs from 10:46:20 to 10:49:58, with maximum at 10:48:09 and the sun 39 degrees above the horizon. Spanish mainland times.
Car: the AP-7 toll motorway and the A-7 coast road both serve Estepona. The coast road is heavily congested in August even without an eclipse.
Plane: Málaga airport is about an hour east, Gibraltar about 40 minutes west.
Bus: frequent coaches along the coast from Málaga, Marbella and Algeciras.
Accommodation: Estepona, Marbella and the Sotogrande area between them have a very large stock of hotels and apartments, and all of it is inside the path. This is probably the easiest place in Spain to find a bed inside totality, though August prices are high and eclipse weekend will be higher.